Georgia Elwiss keeping an eye on her friends and ex teammates at Staffs

Former Staffordshire seam bowler Georgia Elwiss admits her old teammates will have a tough season ahead of them but she wouldn’t count them out.

Staffordshire women were promoted into division two last season and will now be playing the likes of Lancashire, Warwickshire and Durham this year and Elwiss doesn’t underestimate the task ahead of them.

The England international said: “Division two will be a great challenge.  They will be playing against some very strong sides.

“They have been training really well over the winter and have recruited Elyse Vaillani from Australia who is a great signing. She is a very destructive player.”

Vaillani who will be Staffordshire’s overseas professional this season has represented Australia in the twenty20 format six times at the age of 22 and already knows one of her teammates this summer. The opening batswoman plays for Victoria down under, the same team that Danni Wyatt played for this winter.

Elwiss states that she will be keeping a keen eye on her friends and old teammates, while she plays for Sussex in division one.

She added: “I do of course always love to see how they are doing. Staffordshire cricket will always be close to my heart, the coaches there helped me to get to where I am today.

“The girls have a fantastic spirit and I do hope they have a very good season and wish them all the success playing in division two.

“If they play well who knows what they can do.”

Elwiss was part of the England side that has just completed a victorious tour of New Zealand, where they whitewashed the White Ferns.

She said: “Obviously you want to play every game you can for England but that is part and parcel of being a world class side. There is huge competition for places and you have to fight to get your place in the side.

“The tour was amazing. We set ourselves the challenge of winning all eight games and only the rain prevented us from doing that.

“We are very happy with how it went.”

While keeping an eye on Staffordshire, Elwiss will be hoping to go one better than last year and win the division one title with Sussex.