Cricket: Newton champions her unforgettable summer.Byline: BY PETER GUY THE summer of 2005 may forever be remembered for England's spectacular Ashes success, but credit must also go to Flintoff and co's female cricketing counterparts. Led by all-rounder Laura Newton Laura Kelly Newton (born Macleod, November 27, 1977 at Congleton, Cheshire) is a cricketer for the England women's team. She also plays for Wolverhampton and Staffordshire. , England's Women's cricket Women's cricket is the form of the team sport of cricket that is played by women. History Women's cricket has a long history and was first reported in The Reading Mercury on 26 July 1745. team also managed to defeat the Aussies in their own test-series - their first Ashes series This is a list of Ashes cricket series played between Australia and England. Most Ashes series have consisted of five Test matches between the two countries. The Ashes series with the fewest Test matches was the 1887-88 Ashes series, consisting of only one Test. victory since 1963. Laura, 29, from Cheshire, described 2005 as the best summer of her life: "It was an amazing time. To win the Ashes was absolutely magnificent, but my proudest achievement was beating the Aussies in some of the one-dayers. "Performance in women's cricket is recognised by results in the ODI's so to beat the world champions gave me a great thrill." The Australian's played five one-day internationals (ODIs), two Test matches and one Twen-ty20 International. The Aussies won two of the three ODIs, and were also looking to win the third, but a fine last over from Katherine Brunt Katherine Helen Brunt (born 2 July, 1985 at Barnsley, Yorkshire) is an English cricketer and member of the current England women's team. In 2006, she was named England women's Cricketer of the Year. External links
Brunt was also the heroine of the second Test, where she took nine wickets and made 52 in England's first Test win over the Australians since December 1984, and their first win in the Women's Ashes since 1963. Laura and her team-mates received a standing ovation at the Oval in the final men's test against Australia in September then went on the historic bus parade through Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square, in Westminster, London, England, named for Lord Nelson's victory at the battle of Trafalgar. The statue surmounting the Nelson memorial column (185 ft/56 m high) was sculpted (1840–43) by E. H. Baily. . Laura, who has two children, George and Harry, said: "The whole day was brilliant. I had a good chat with Freddie Flintoff, Michael Vaughan and Ashley Giles. To see thousands of people lining the streets in honour of our nations cricketing achievements was something I'll never forget." The medium-fast bowler and right-hand opening bat, made her England debut in the summer of 1997 against South Africa, and travelled to India for the World Cup in the winter of the same year. She also played for England against India in 1999 and toured Australia in 2000. A natural timer of the ball, she amassed a century in England's Test against New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. in 2004, while she also scored an elegant 98 when playing India in the 2002 Test Match at Taunton. To see thousands lining the streets in our honour was something I'll never forget LAURA NEWTON She made her England U19 debut aged just 15, before progressing through the England age groups, including an U19 tour to South Africa in 1998. Her cricket career began when she played boys cricket aged 12 and used to watch her father Stewart turn out for Crewe Rolls Royce Cricket team when she was a child. She said: "My father was an inspiration tome. "He has had a massive influence on my cricket career as he was an accomplished cricketer himself. Even in his 50s, he still plays when he can for his local team." Laura is currently recovering from a broken finger sustained on the tour of India. Sidelined for three months, her next challenge will come when India make the return trip to England next summer. As a Level Three cricket coach she coaches children at all levels, while she is also in the final year of studying sports science at Manchester Metropolitan University History During the last third of the 20th century MMU grew through the combination of several colleges, some of which were founded in the 19th century. The mergers began on 1st January 1970, when Manchester Polytechnic was formed from Manchester College of Art and Design, the . This takes her a career to a crossroads. After completing her degree, she isn't sure what to do. She said: "I have got to the stage where I have to decide whether to take up a career in something else. "Women's cricket is only amateur, but takes up the same amount to time, in terms of training and touring, as the professional mens game, so I have to decide whether to pursue a career, possibly in the bio-mechanics domain of sport. "Next summer is going to be crunch time for me." CAPTION(S): Laura Newton impressing for England against Australia |
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