Laura Newton was such a natural athlete that if something wasn't working for her, she just changed it. In her decade playing for England she transformed herself from a middle-order batsman to opener, and she turned from a fast-medium seamer to an off-spinner. And it paid off. She struck just one Test hundred and her one-day best was 78, but in her explosive, flamboyant role, she had licence to go at the ball. She quit the game in May 2007 aged just 29, citing the pressures of being an amateur player in an era of more and more international cricket. She will be hard to replace. Jenny Thompson May 2007

All-rounder, medium-fast bowler and right hand bat. Made her England debut in summer of 1997 against South Africa, travelling to the World Cup in India later that year. Also played for England against India in 1999 and toured Australia in 2000.

Named NatWest Player of the Series against South Africa (summer, 2003) for innings of 68 and 77* consecutively whilst opening the batting.

Made England U19 debut aged 15 and played through the England age groups, including an U19 tour to South Africa in 1998. Started playing boys cricket aged 12, captaining the side at U18 level.

Laura has taken a couple of breaks during her England career, and has two sons George aged 2 and Harry, 3 months. She is a level 3 cricket coach and coaches boys and girls at all levels in Cheshire.