Lancashire Cricket Board: Rachel Dickinson Selected for England Women’s Development Programme

Rachel Dickinson Selected for England Women’s Development Programme
================================================================================
Dipesh Asher on 27/11/2012 10:01:00

At a time of year when most club cricketers have put their kit away for a few
months Ormskirk's Rachel Dickinson is preparing for intensive coaching at
Loughborough after being selected for the England Women’s Development
Programme at Under 15 level.

But Dickinson's selection for the prestigious squad is only the latest
achievement in a very promising cricket career which has seen the Brook Lane
opening bowler win the Under 13 national championship with Lancashire and even
gain a place on the Under 19 Emerging Players' tour to Dubai in February 2013.
"Rachel has always been primarily a bowler with a yard of pace and a strong
action," said Jenny Laycock, the Lancashire Cricket Board's Women’s & Girls
Cricket Development Officer and captain of the Lancashire Women’s team.
"She is a good athlete who has impressive baseline fitness through playing many
sports, including hockey. She took the wickets of the first four batters in the
Under 13 national final and this success gained her a place on the plane to
Dubai in February.
"Rachel attacks the crease hard and has an action that allows her to bowl at a
good pace. She also has the ability to swing the ball and has worked really hard
on her slower ball, a delivery which impressed people during her trial for Under
15 development squad.
"She is also a hard-hitting batter who is working on her decision making and
shot selection. On top of all this she is a reliable fielder who has a strong
throw and is fast across the ground. These attributes have earned her a key
boundary fielder position."
Dickinson is one of three Lancashire girls to be selected for the England Under
15 development squad. Along with Rainford's Ellie Threlkeld and Denton St
Lawrence's Hannah Jones, she will now attend three weekends of coaching at the
National Performance Centre at Loughborough University in January, February and
March 2013.
Three others have been chosen in the Under 19 age group, confirming the high
standing of Lancashire girls' cricket on the national stage.
“It's a fantastic achievement for all these girls to be recognised at these
levels," said Laycock. "The girls at Under 15 level had to go for a trial which
is always a daunting experience. However they reacted well to the pressure and
performed on the day. It’s all the result of hard work during the winter and
then putting it into practice during games."
Written by: Paul Edwards
5 other girls have been selected on the England Women's Development Programme,
find out more at: Lancashire Girls Reach The Next Level.