England have announced a party of 17 – 15 squad players, plus two travelling reserves – to defend their World Cup crown in New Zealand next month.
Thunder opening batter Emma Lamb, who made her ODI debut in the final match of the Women’s Ashes, is included in the main squad, having been the stand-out performer with the bat on the ‘A’ tour; whilst uncapped fast bowler Lauren Bell, who was the joint-leading wicket-taker for England ‘A’, has been named as one of two travelling reserves, alongside Mady Villiers.
Leg-spinner Sarah Glenn and batter Maia Bouchier are the two to miss out from England’s main Ashes squad. Both played in the T20 leg of the Ashes, but neither did in either the Test or the ODIs.
England’s batting lineup takes care of itself, with Sophia Dunkley certain to return to the order having been left out of the final Ashes ODI to temporarily bring in an extra bowler to allow Nat Sciver a rest from bowling.
England’s key challenge will be managing their fast-bowling unit, especially Katherine Brunt who missed the final two ODIs with a “niggle”, across what they hope will be 9 games – 7 group matches, plus the semi-final and final. Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, who is bowling better than she has for quite some time, and Kate Cross, who has been England’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs over the past two years, look to be the first-choice options, with Freya Davies and Tash Farrant rotating in and out, and Lauren Bell waiting on the sidelines in case of injuries or COVID.
Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean are the only front-line spinners in the squad, although Emma Lamb bowls regularly in domestic cricket, and her off-spin could be an option for England to turn to, especially if they choose to play 3 quicks.
England arrived in New Zealand in the early hours of this morning UK time to begin 10 days of “MIQ” [Managed Isolation and Quarantine] prior to the tournament, which begins on March 4 with the hosts taking on West Indies, with England’s first game versus Australia the following day.
Possible Starting XI
- Tammy Beaumont
- Emma Lamb
- Heather Knight
- Nat Sciver
- Sophia Dunkley
- Amy Jones
- Danni Wyatt
- Katherine Brunt
- Sophie Ecclestone
- Anya Shrubsole
- Kate Cross
Full Squad
Heather Knight (Western Storm, Captain)
Tammy Beaumont (Lightning)
Katherine Brunt (Northern Diamonds)
Freya Davies (South East Stars)
Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers)
Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)
Kate Cross (Thunder)
Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder)
Tash Farrant (South East Stars)
Amy Jones (Central Sparks)
Emma Lamb (Thunder)
Nat Sciver (Northern Diamonds, Vice-Captain)
Anya Shrubsole (Western Storm)
Lauren Winfield-Hill (Northern Diamonds)
Danni Wyatt (Southern Vipers)
Travelling Reserves
Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers)
Mady Villiers (Sunrisers)
CRICKETher 
I’d wager a modest amount that LWH will open with Beaumont against Australia, rightly or wrongly. It would be somewhat un-England-like to shift from the tried and (in relative terms) trusted going into a major tournament. That said, Lamb will almost certainly play at some point and I doubt it would surprise anyone if she ends the comp as Beaumont’s new de facto partner.
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