Gloucestershire Women start their 2019 season on Sunday with a new captain and new coach at the helm.

All-rounder Alice Hill will lead the side this summer with Jamie Diamond taking over the coaching duties.

And their first challenge comes in the form of a Devon Development XI who they face tomorrow at North Devon CC (11.30am start).

The 16-strong squad comes into the new season off the back of an enhanced winter programme that has seen coaching contact time doubled and the introduction of strength and conditioning support for the first time.

Winter training has been led by Jamie Diamond and supported by Lisa Pagett and Luke Sellers from the Gloucestershire Cricket Board (GCB) with guest sessions from Darren Franklin (ECB), Trevor Griffin (Western Storm) and Jack Taylor (Gloucestershire County Cricket Club).

A youthful squad has been buoyed by the return of Hill and opening bowler Mollie Robbins who missed last season but were a key part of the squad’s 2016 promotion-winning campaign.

Robbins, experienced seamer Sidra Khan and Chloe Skelton, who enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2018, have all taken on additional leadership responsibilities in the new-look set-up which features a healthy blend of youth and experience.

There are four new faces in the squad – Abby Whybrow (Dumbleton), Emma O’Connor (Poulton), Emily Parsons (Bristol YMCA) and Chloe Tingle (Brockhampton) – who are included after impressing during the winter programme.

Coach Jamie Diamond said: “I have been really impressed by the attitude, work ethic and commitment of the squad over the winter.

“We have seen huge individual improvement from each player and the squad should be entering into the season confident that the hard work has been put in. There is plenty of talent within the squad to win games and I am looking forward to getting the season started this weekend.”

GCB women and girls lead, Lisa Pagett, said: “There has been a few changes to the squad from 2018 and this brings the opportunity for different players to take step up and take advantage.

“While the squad is young, there is a huge amount of ability there and with some of the developments that are likely to take place in the women’s game moving forward, it is absolutely right we are giving our high potential youngsters the opportunity to show what they can do.”

Gloucestershire Women start their Royal London One Day Cup campaign on the Sunday 5th May, taking on Dorset Women away, before heading to Roche CC to play Cornwall Women on Monday 6th May.

The first home game is on Sunday 19th May at Hanham CC (11am start).

Gloucestershire Women 2019 squad: 1- Alice Hill (captain), 2- Abby Whybrow (Wkt), 3- Chloe Skelton, 4- Mollie Robbins, 5- Sidra Khan, 6- Cerys King, 7- Alice Mundy, 8- Izzy Carey, 9- Bea Ellis, 10- Chloe Tingle, 11- Helen Cutler, 12- Lucy Gladdy, 13- Emily Parsons, 14- Millie Rossiter, 15- Millie Ashford, 16- Emma O’Connor.