THE new cricket season is six months away, but news comes of two young female players who have been selected to take part in a new competition.

Teenagers Lydia Greenway and Natalie Lane have been chosen as two of the top 48 players in the country who will be split into four teams of 12 competing in the round-robin style event.

The tournament, titled the National Super 4s, is the brainchild of ex-Australian women's cricket coach Joan Harmer, now manager of the England national women's squad.

These games will be used as preparation for future England international matches.

Lydia and Natalie are both members of the successful Hayes Hurricanes' Cricket Club, which won National League 3, and promotion, as well as the National Knockout Cup last season.

Last season the pair were in outstanding form while playing for Kent's under-17 team in the ECB National Trophy. Kent scored more than 900 runs in their five qualifying games, including four centuries two of which were scored by Natalie and one by Lydia.

November 20, 2001 13:17