BBC SPORT | Cricket | Exams ruin Guha's winter

Schoolgirl Isa Guha will miss out on her first overseas tour with the England Women's team because of exams.

England are to play a quadrangular one-day series in New Zealand, to be followed by two Test matches in Australia.

But Guha, 17, who took eight wickets in four one-day appearances this summer, is one of four players left out from an initial 18-strong winter training squad.

Caroline Atkins, who last winter was part of a Test record opening stand against India has been omitted from the touring party.

With more confidence we'll start to beat the leading countries

Coach John Harmer

And batsman Hannah Lloyd and all-rounder Melissa Raynard are the other two who will be staying at home.

England fell to New Zealand in the triangular tournament in Durham in July, after defeating India to reach the final.

But captain Clare Connor believes the winter's one-day matches will be a better indicator of performance ahead of the 2005 World Cup.

"It's an opportunity for us to begin challenging the world's top teams again," she said.

"And we should take the chance to stamp our authority on the tournament and show how much we've improved".

Sarah Collyer
Collyer will play state cricket in Australia before the series
The quadrangular series, also featuring New Zealand, Australia and India, will take place in Christchurch from 26 January to 9 February.

And the team then flies to Australia for Test matches at the Gabba in Brisbane and Sydney's Bankstown Oval.

Six members of the squad will take the opportunity to gain advanced experience Down Under by playing domestic cricket before the tournament.

Clare Taylor, Mandie Godliman, Charlotte Edwards and Claire Taylor will play in New Zealand while Dawn Holden and Sarah Collyer travel to Australia.

England squad: Clare Connor (capt), Charlotte Edwards, Clare Taylor, Claire Taylor, Dawn Holden, Laura Harper, Lucy Pearson, Laura Spragg, Nicki Shaw, Kathryn Leng, Mandie Godliman, Arran Thompson, Laura Newton, Sarah Collyer.


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