The year 2025 has been a mixed one for England Women, with four wins from nine matches, including a tough 0-3 Ashes defeat in January that prompted major changes. The loss saw long-time skipper Heather Knight step aside, with Nat Sciver-Brunt taking over the captaincy, while Charlotte Edwards replaced Jon Lewis as head coach.
Despite the setbacks, several players have been standout performers. Amy Jones leads the batting charts with 410 runs, narrowly ahead of Sciver-Brunt’s 396. Sophie Ecclestone remains the spearhead of the bowling attack with 12 wickets from six matches, followed closely by Linsey Smith’s ten wickets in just four games.
The Ashes series against Australia in January set a challenging tone. England went down 0-3, though Sciver-Brunt contributed 115 runs and Ecclestone claimed seven wickets, showing early signs of individual resilience despite the series loss.
England bounced back with a commanding 3-0 sweep of West Indies in their home series between May and June. In the first ODI, England posted 345/6 and bowled out West Indies for 237, winning by 108 runs. The second ODI saw a similar dominance as England made 366/6 and restricted the visitors to 223, sealing a 143-run victory.
The third ODI involved a chase of 106 under DLS conditions, which England accomplished with ease, scoring 109/1 and winning by nine wickets with 61 balls remaining. Amy Jones starred with 251 runs across the series, while Beaumont added 213, and Linsey Smith impressed with seven wickets from just two games.
When India toured England in July, the hosts went down 1-2 in a competitive series. In the first ODI, India scored 262/6, edging out England’s 258/6 to win by four wickets. England fought back in the second ODI under DLS conditions, chasing 143/8 comfortably with 116/2, winning by eight wickets with 18 balls remaining.
However, the hosts fell short in the third ODI, as India posted 318/5 and England finished at 305/8, losing by 13 runs. Sciver-Brunt once again led from the front with 160 runs, while Ecclestone bagged five wickets, highlighting her consistency even in defeat.
Since finishing as runners-up in the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand, England have played 41 ODIs, winning 25. They remain one of the most successful teams in women’s ODI history, having lifted the trophy four times — in 1973, 1993, 2009, and 2017. The 2017 triumph at Lord’s remains iconic, as they edged India by just nine runs in a dramatic final.
Ahead of the 2025 Women’s World Cup, England fine-tuned their strategies in two warm-up matches against India on 25 September and Australia on 27 September. With a new leadership structure, a mix of experienced stars and emerging talent, and key players in form, the Women in White are determined to reclaim the trophy and make their mark on the global stage.
England’s schedule at Women’s World Cup 2025:
3 October 2025: vs South Africa – Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
7 October 2025: vs Bangladesh – Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
11 October 2025: vs Sri Lanka – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
15 October 2025: vs Pakistan – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
19 October 2025: vs India – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
22 October 2025: vs Australia – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
26 October 2025: vs New Zealand – ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
England’s squad for Women’s World Cup 2025:
Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt (C), Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
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