England's young guns ready to step up at Commonwealth Games

There’s no sign of England’s young guns taking a backward step now cricket medals are on the line at the Commonwealth Games.

England take on India, who they beat 2-1 in a T20 series last summer, in the semi-finals with the winner facing either world champions Australia or New Zealand in tomorrow’s final.

17-year-old Alice Capsey was the second-highest run-scorer in the group stage and quick Issy Wong, 20, has impressed with her aggressive powerplay bowling.

Veteran seamer Katherine Brunt said: “They’re like boxers. They talk a good game; they feel they’re never lose and that’s the kind of arrogance you need.

“It takes a lot to put yourself out there in front of thousands of people. I'm glad they’ve got it because that’s been a key ingredient for myself and my career.”

This summer, Team England, supported by funding raised by National Lottery players, comprises of over 400 athletes, all vying for medal success.

The Bello brothers have guaranteed a shot at a beach volleyball medal this weekend after a breathless 2-1 quarter-final win over The Gambia.

Born in Madrid with dad Luis a former professional player, Javier and Joaquin moved to London aged 10 and last year won Britain’s first-ever World Tour title.

Joaquin has just finished his fourth year of medical school at Imperial College London and Javier will soon graduate from Royal Holloway in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

In the men’s hockey England must inflict a first-ever Commonwealth defeat in Australia to keep their chances of gold or silver alive.

In Nick Bandurak, handed his international debut aged 29, they have the sharpest shooter in the competition with 11 goals.

His strike partner Phil Roper said: “You must match Australia mentally from minute one, they're always going to come hard from the start.

“If you can do that, then you have a bit of gold dust in your locker room. We want a good battle.”

All-around rhythmic gymnastics champion Marfa Ekimova can add to her pair of Commonwealth medals in apparatus finals.

The 17-year-old, born in St Petersburg, competes in the ball and ribbon finals.

There are more diving medals up for grabs too with flagbearer Jack Laugher aiming for the eighth gold medal of his Team England career in the 3m springboard individual competition.

He is just out of reach of the most decorated English athlete of all time, shooter Mick Gault, who won 18 medals and nine golds from 1994 to 2006.

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