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 Breakthrough English schoolgirl poised to join boys' cricket team
Posted: Friday July 16, 1999 03:28 PM
LONDON (AP) -- A 15-year-old schoolgirl is on the verge of making history by breaking into England's under-15 boys' cricket team. It was only last year that the Marylebone Cricet Club, the game's last bastion of male exclusivity and cricket's former world governing body, voted to admit women as members for the first time. But now Laura Harper, a spin bowler from Cornwall, is poised to become the first girl to play at the under-15 boys' level. She's already reached the penultimate selection phase after being named in the West of England boys team, and England coach Paul Farbrace is, by all reports, a huge fan. England Cricket Board spokeswoman Cath Harris said there were no rules preventing Harper from being selected for an England boys team. "She's a very talented off spinner and the rules allow for it at age 15 for her to play for the England team," Harris said. "And she's a good chance on merits -- Paul Farbrace thinks she's got a lot of potential." Harper took up the sport at age 8 when her mother suggested she go to a local club to find something to occupy her time. And she's played the bulk of her cricket with the boys ever since. She's already achieved representative honors in the women's game, earning a berth in the England under-17 squad. On Saturday she's scheduled to fly out with the England A squad for the European Cup in Denmark. Jane Powell, coach of England's women's A team, said Harper's inclusion in the national boys team would be "ground breaking for sports in general, not just cricket." "If she performs well and the selectors are open-minded enough to select her, then it'll be a big boost for women's sports," Powell said. After the A squad practiced Friday Powell said Harper was a little bit embarrassed with the exposure she's suddenly getting. "She's quietly pleased I think but she says cricket is a team game and she's focussing on that." Harris said England had a "good crop" of young female cricketers coming through. Charlotte Edwards, 19, scored a maiden test century for England in the one-off test against India on Thursday, while 18-year-old Sarah Collyer is also in the English lineup. "There's more chances for girls to play cricket these days, even in the primary schools with Kwik Cricket, and girls like Laura are showing how talented the girls can be," Harris said.
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