The left-hander, 37 next week, has not played for England since the 2023 ODI World Cup
Nasa has named the 18 astronauts — half of them women — who will train for its Artemis moon-landing programme.
The first woman and next man on the moon will come from this elite group.
Vice President Mike Pence introduced the astronauts on Wednesday at the close of his final meeting as chairman of the National Space Council. The announcement was made at Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre, beneath one of only three remaining Saturn V moon rockets from the 1960s and 1970s Apollo program.
Pence noted that the last of the 12 men to walk on the moon, the late Apollo 17 commander Gene Cernan, wanted nothing more than to remove “last” from his title. Cernan’s final lunar footsteps were on Dec. 14, 1972.
“He spent the rest of his natural life advocating for America to go back to the moon, and we are going to honor Gene Cernan’s memory,” Pence told the small crowd, seated several feet apart from one another.
Five of the astronauts — the only ones in attendance — walked onto the stage, waving and wearing masks.
Nasa Administrator Jim Bridenstine stressed there would be more astronauts joining the group. Nasa has 47 active astronauts.
The space agency is aiming for a moon landing by 2024, although the chances of that happening are growing increasingly dim. The upcoming change in administration also adds uncertainty.
Half of the NASA astronauts have spaceflight experience. Two are at the International Space Station right now: Kate Rubins and Victor Glover.
The two astronauts who performed the world’s first all-female spacewalk last year made the cut: Christina Koch and Jessica Meir.
It’s a fairly young group, with most in their 30s or 40s. The oldest is 55, the youngest 32. Only two — Joe Acaba and Stephanie Wilson — flew on NASA’s old space shuttles.
“The history is awesome, but we’re here to look toward the future,” Acaba told reporters after the announcement.
The other experienced members on the list include Kjell Lindgren, Anne McClain and Scott Tingle, all former space station residents.
“We are dreamers, but even more so, we’re doers,” McClain said.
She wants children from all backgrounds to take note of the diverse lunar team: “The doors are open, come on after us.”
Among those yet to rocket into space: Kayla Barron, Raja Chari, Matthew Dominick, Woody Hoburg, Jonny Kim, Nicole Mann, Jasmin Moghbeli, Frank Rubio and Jessica Watkins.
The left-hander, 37 next week, has not played for England since the 2023 ODI World Cup
The 27-year-old had been undergoing medical treatment since collapsing during Nacional's game against Brazilian side Sao Paulo on Aug. 22
In its seventh cohort, the initiative has enrolled over 300 Emirati and Arab women, enhancing their management and leadership skills to prepare them for success in the corporate world
The Gymkhana for People of Determination will also see contestants navigate an obstacle course, demonstrating their horsemanship skills
World number one Sinner fought back from a set and break down to defeat 140th-ranked Mackenzie McDonald
Our voices calling for our rights will never be silenced, says a protester
The National Centre of Meteorology said that the highest temperature recorded on Wednesday was 49.6 °C
Mother sued after daughter died in 2021 after attempting the blackout challenge using a purse strap hung in closet