Rosalie Birch

Allrounder Rosalie Birch burst onto the international scene in 2003 aged 19, scooping four wickets in a drawn Test with South Africa at Shenley. And her wicket-taking form at the highest level has continued, earning her the nickname Golden Arm for her ability to pick up victims at crucial phases and swing a match in England's favour. But this is nowhere more evidenced than in the one-day format of the game, where Birch has already recorded figures of 5 for 50, and her average has never gone above 17.5. In an international career with many high points, the pinnacle so far is undoubtedly helping England to win the Ashes in 2005 after 42 long years. Birch is developing into a key allrounder for England, and more than justified her place at the 2005 World Cup in South Africa, the Ashes squad and in the tour of Sri Lanka and India. She graduated with a 2:1 in linguistics from Sussex University, and plays her county cricket for Sussex. Since leaving university she has been working in Sussex CCC's communications department.
Jenny Thompson May 2007