Fresh from returning from Sri Lanka last week, Women & Girls' Development Officer, Ann-Marie Presswell, reflects on this year's trip.

On 9 February 2025, 13 county players gathered at Exeter Services to start their exciting journey to Sri Lanka on the second Under 15 Girls County Tour. We were joined by County Age Group and Devon Women Lead Coach David Joseph, and Performance Pathway Coach and Devon Women player Katie Donovan.

"I had the absolute pleasure of being a part of the coaching staff for the Devon Under 15 Girls Tour to Sri Lanka," says Katie.

"Having been part of the Devon set up since I was 10, including going on the Women's development tour to South Africa when I was 14, I now had been given the opportunity to transfer my knowledge onto the new generation which was really exciting."

The girls were privileged to have Katie on tour. Not only was she able to share her wealth of playing experience with the girls during the tour, but she could draw on her own experiences of playing abroad to help get the girls through any challenges they faced. She had not only been on tour to South Africa but had recently returned from playing as captain of the Philippines.

On tour, the girls started gathering up team aims both for the tour and for the upcoming season, with a big emphasis on making a difference, such as taking responsibility, which is an important mantra to have, especially transitioning into national competitions as they will do in the next two age groups.

Of the 13 days on tour, the girls had six days of cricket, playing different opposition in grounds around the Colombo area. The girls were very much encouraged to say "Hello!" to the opposition and introduce themselves, and even learnt some phrases on the way to the grounds.

The heat was something that the girls had to get used to, and after a few days, they found the resilience to cope with that during the games, knowing when to take a break and work as a team to support themselves, which they did more and more as the tour progressed.

"The heat immediately hit us," says Grace Golsworthy. "I'm not going to lie, the thought of playing cricket in this heat was going to be a challenge, wondering how we would cope in such high temperatures! Even the hottest, sunniest day in England was nothing in comparison!

"However, this is what we came for, and we were all excited about the experience of playing in a new country in challenging conditions and seeing how cricket compared to home."

After each game, the Devon girls gave the Sri Lankan Girls a tour brochure each, and a batter, bowler and all-round player from the Sri Lankan team were presented with a shirt.

"The Sri Lankan girls were incredibly welcoming and supportive," comments Charlotte Wood. "We happily exchanged caps and shirts as mementos of the matches. We formed friendships and even exchanged contact information to keep in touch once we were back in Devon."

The girls came away with three wins and three losses, of which they should be very proud. Results and scorecards from the tour can be found on our Tour Archive page.

Speaking on the benefits of the tour, Rebecca Savory said:

"Sri Lanka provided an incredible opportunity for me to immerse myself in diverse cultures, gain independence, and enjoy playing cricket in a stunning environment.

"As a team, we developed tremendously and quickly bonded, giving us a fantastic head start for what promises to be a busy season ahead."

Off the cricket field, the girls were given the opportunity to experience the culture of the country. They visited a temple, went on safari, found out about the conservation of turtles at a turtle hatchery, and visited a school with the Wiltshire Under 15 Boys team, who were presenting children with cricket equipment that had been sent over.

"It was a real eye-opener to see the basic conditions of the classrooms and made us realise how lucky we are with the facilities we have in our schools at home and our cricket clubs," says Grace.

"After visiting the school and giving the children some shirts and cricket kit, we all played some cricket in the school grounds, which was brilliant fun! It was a really good opportunity for us all to come together, play the sport we love and just have fun."

Arriving home in the wind and rain, the players and staff felt that Sri Lanka was a world away, but the success of the tour meant that the girls take home stories that will last a lifetime.

All the girls worked hard to get the opportunity to represent their county in Sri Lanka. They should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved, both on and off the pitch. They made the tour the enjoyable and successful trip that it was. They go back to their clubs now as role models to inspire the next generation.

"Overall, the tour was an unforgettable experience, filled with cricket, culture, and new friendships," reflects Charlotte. "We returned home with wonderful memories and a sense of accomplishment, grateful for the opportunity to represent Devon Under 15 girls on this incredible journey."