GILLINGHAM'S Linda Ryan has received a shock call up to the England bowls team for the first time in her career. The national selectors have surprised many people with their choices for the team which will defend the British title in the woman's home international series in Bournemouth next March.

Ten players have been dropped from the side that thrashed Scotland 151-85 at Auchinleck earlier this year, with seven players coming in for their first caps, including Ryan.

England president Joan Mason said: "I know we had a wonderful team last year and I hope we still have, but we had to go with current form, as show in our recent trials at Erewash."