Rookie Freya's Ready As The New Kid On The Block

SELF-BELIEF isn’t just an advantage for Freya Davies – for a prospective England debutant, it’s a downright necessity.

- Dan Barnes

Next Thursday, the Sussex seamer flies out to India to join up with her contemporaries as a fully-fledged member of the England set-up, Davies primed and ready to make her international bow in three t20 fixtures against the Women in Blue.

Despite having earned her stripes whilst on a rookie contract and having previously toured with the ECB’s Academy squad, the 23-year-old will very much be the new kid on the block, having become the only addition to England’s list of centrally contracted players confirmed at the start of February.

If Davies is handed her debut in one of three games in Guwahati, then it’ll be time to put up or shut up.

“I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet – I don’t think it will until I’m actually on the plane,” she said.

“Obviously, it’s super-exciting. It’ll all feel a bit more real once I’m out there, I think.

“You’ve got to back yourself on the pitch because if you don’t, no one else will.