Women & Girls' Development Officer, Ann-Marie Presswell, is joined by Tour Coach Paul Heard and Tourists Maisie Barr, Beth Holmes and Ellie White in reflecting on the third Under 15 Girls Tour of Sri Lanka.
Ann-Marie Presswell
"Once again, the Under 15 Girls Tour of Sri Lanka was an experience to remember. Each time I return, the country and the people never fail to make us feel welcome, and there is always something new to learn about the landscape and culture.
"The girls were an absolute pleasure to take away; they were exemplary ambassadors for Devon Cricket. Before leaving, we asked them to make the most of opportunities given to them, and they certainly took that on board with each cultural outing we had: trying new foods and experiences... although for some putting their feet in the water to be cleaned by the fish was a step too far!
"As always, the cricket was the focus, and it was a pleasure to watch the girls take on the challenges of the heat and differences in play. They have certainly grown as a team and in resilience.
"Thanks once again to Lions Sports Travel, who made the tour the experience that it was, to the generosity of the sponsors to support the girls and the general tour, but mostly to the girls themselves."
Paul Heard
"Sri Lanka proved to be a superb country for both personal and cricket development. I hope the players take the time to reflect and share the incredible experience we had.
"This particular group showed great resilience in very tough conditions and against highly skilled opposition, and their ability to retain information and adapt will be pivotal to their growth going forward.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Sri Lanka and its people, and would highly recommend a visit for cricketers and non-cricketers alike."
Ellie White
"During the tour, we played seven cricket games, and although we had some rain, it only affected one game fractionally, and in a way, it made me feel a little more at home!
"The humid heat was the most challenging part of playing cricket in Sri Lanka, but I believe it has strengthened my game; it should make playing in British summers feel so much easier! The next most challenging part was all the spin bowling. So many spin bowlers! It has helped me face it and dare I say understand it a little more as a batter, I’m not sure I can quite say enjoy it yet though.
"The Sri Lankan people are so friendly, and even though games were competitive, at the end of the day it was fun, laughter and group photos.
"One of my favourite memories, aside from the cricket, was the safari in Yala National Park. We were lucky enough to see leopards, elephants, buffalo, crocodiles and many other reptiles and animals. It was amazing to see these animals in their natural habitat, something I had never experienced before.
"I'm so thankful to Ann-Marie, Steph [Hutchins, Head of Women & Girls' Pathway] and Paul for being with us on this tour. It's been an amazing journey, one I will treasure for many years.
"I'm excited about the upcoming season for us as a team to show how far we have come and how much we have learnt together."
Beth Holmes
"The highlights of my Sri Lanka tour were experiencing the different culture and meeting so many new people.
"I especially enjoyed facing spin bowling and learning more about how to play it. The heat was challenging during the first few days, but as a team, we gradually adapted to the conditions. Even though we didn’t have many wins, we grew stronger together and built great team spirit.
"The coaches were incredibly supportive throughout the long, hot, and humid days. They helped us become more confident batters and bowlers, and taught us how to adjust our approach to change the situation of a game.
"My favourite rest day was visiting the school, as everyone we met was so happy to see us and play cricket with us. It was a really special experience.
"Overall, it was an amazing experience that I will always remember, and I will truly cherish the strong friendships I have made."
Maisie Barr
"Sri Lanka was everything I had hoped for and more… the experience was amazing and the people are so friendly!
"The weather was definitely a challenge, but as a team we managed to cope and enjoy playing lots of cricket. I would most definitely love to have the opportunity to play cricket out there again."
Acknowledgements
A tour of this magnitude would not be possible without the extraordinary efforts of our hosts and supporters, and we would like to extend our sincere thank you to Dipan Suwarneraj, Wendy, Azleena and the Lions Sports Travel team for a successful tour.
Special thanks also go to the parents and staff who supported the tour and, crucially, to our headline tour sponsors:
| 2026 Headline Tour Sponsors | ||
| Welden & Edwards | Trowers & Hamlins | Tolchards Devon Women's Cricket League |
| Lions Sports Travel | Clayton Cabinets | Plymouth College |
Their contributions were vital in keeping the tour accessible and affordable for participants despite rising costs.
