THE NORTHERN JETS have announced their playing squad for the 2019 women’s cricket season.

Following a series of three trial days, head coach James Lowe has selected a main squad of 15 players from across Durham, Northumberland and Cumbria.

The squad has a number of familiar faces, including Layla Tipton and Helen Fenby, who have represented Yorkshire Diamonds in the Kia Super League.

The new squad met earlier this month at the Northern Jets’ Regional Development Centre, run by Durham CCC, for an induction and skills session ahead of their main training schedule, which begins in early January.

Next season will be the first in which the set-up is officially recognised as an ECB Regional Development Centre, one of eight such centres in the country.

Former Durham player Lowe, who featured in nine first-class matches for the country between 2003-06, has joined the coaching staff as the programme looks to build on the positive progress that has been made over the last two years.

England Women international Danielle Hazell, ex-Durham bowler and current coach Neil Killeen and former all-rounder Will Gidman will provide specialist support alongside Marsha Davies, Rachel Hopkins and Mick Armstrong. The squad can also call on dedicated strength and conditioning coach James Bell.

Lowe said: “We finalised the squad and we’re really happy with it. All of the girls performed really well but we’re happy with the squad to move forward into the winter practice.

“It’s the third year now and will be our first as a Regional Development Centre. To gain such status is a huge achievement and we’re hugely thankful to the club for their ongoing and continued support for the programme.

“The standard is going up and up, which makes our job a lot harder, but it means that we’re doing the right things and the girls are responding to the work we’re doing.

“We’re really trying to add extra expertise to give the girls the best opportunity to develop their skills. Dani Hazell is coming back after the Big Bash to work with the girls, Neil Killeen will be working with the fast bowlers and we’ve had Gareth Breese working with the spinners.

“We’ll be forming development plans for each of the players which is going to be done over the break and they’ll be getting stuck into some practice both on the physical side and skill development work in between Christmas and the start of the season.

“Our aim is to continue to make big improvements and push their games forward ahead of the start of the season.”

Northern Jets 2019 squad: Bailey Wanless, Lizzie Scott, Layla Tipton, Ellie Tiffin, Ruby Hutchison, Harriet Robson, Annie Anderson, Jenny McDowell, Katie Chomse, Bethany Walker, Alice Heaton, Maddy Atkinson, Hollie Forsyth, Eve Thomas, Helen Fenby.

Northern Jets 2019 development players: Olivia Brinsden, Lucy Hughes, Ciara Boaden