England announce elite squad for test match in Austraila

Bowls England has named a 14-strong squad to participate in a series of matches in Australia to signal the start of preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The matches in Australia will include a three-day test match at Broadbeach BC against the hosts from Wednesday 26th to Friday 28th April.

This will be followed by a series of one day events against representative teams from across the Gold Coast from Sunday 30th April to Friday 5th May.

Selected Players:

Women:

Natalie Chestney (Devon); Ellen Falkner (Cambridgeshire); Rebecca Field (Norfolk); Sian Honnor (Kent); Wendy King (Kent); Katherine Rednall (Suffolk); Sophie Tolchard (Devon)

Men:

David Bolt (Durham); Jamie Chestney (Devon); Andy Knapper (Berkshire); Robert Paxton (Devon); Louis Ridout (Devon); Sam Tolchard (Devon); Jamie Walker (Northamptonshire)

Management Team:

Performance Director (Acting): John Bell (Cumbria)

Men’s Manager: Pip Branfield (Somerset)

Women’s Manager: Gail Gilkes (Oxfordshire)

The series will form the first part of Bowls England’s preparation programme that will ultimately lead to the selection of 10 players (five men and five women) to represent England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

It is expected that a squad of up to 10 players of each gender will be named in May 2017 to participate in the Commonwealth Games preparation programme.

Bowls England’s Para Sport teams (Mixed Pairs B2/B3 and Open Triples B6/B7/B8) are currently being selected with a view to participating in an international qualifying event on the Gold Coast, Australia, in June this year.