After an eventful home season, marked by England staging a remarkable comeback to level the Women’s Ashes series 8-all, overcoming an initial 0-6 deficit, and an eye-opening series against Sri Lanka, the spin-struggling English women’s team is gearing up for their upcoming tour of India in early December. The squads for this multi-format have now been announced.
England’s upcoming 3-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series and a One-Off Test will be their first away series since dominating their tour of the Caribbean in December 2022. Bound to Mumbai, the team will contest the T20Is at Wankhede, followed by the red-ball Test at DY Patil Stadium.
Preparations for England have been in full swing well in advance, with head coach John Lewis addressing the team’s weakness against spin. Acknowledging the concern, a camp was organized in Mumbai ahead of the ongoing 09 edition of the Women’s Big Bash League, involving a select few players. Additionally, the team is scheduled to travel to Oman for a training camp from November 17 to December 2.
Strengthening England’s lineup is the latest development on star spinner Sophie Ecclestone. Included in both squads after undergoing shoulder surgery in September, Sophie is expected to continue her rehab and make a return to cricket leading up to the series in India. On the injury front, England also receives welcoming news with Tash Farrant in line to return following surgery for a stress fracture of the lumbar spine.
The squad named for both the T20Is and the Test holds no surprises or disappointments. Notably, selectors have shown confidence in wicketkeeper batter Bess Heath, who debuted in England’s One Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka in September and has a promising run. England’s recent international debutants – Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, and Mahika Gaur, who showcased noteworthy performances earlier this year, have successfully retained their spots in the squad.
England's Test Match Squad for India tour:
Tammy Beaumont
Lauren Bell
Alice Capsey
Kate Cross
Charlie Dean
Sophia Dunkley
Sophie Ecclestone
Lauren Filer
Bess Heath
Amy Jones
Heather Knight
Emma Lamb
Nat Sciver-Brunt
Danielle Wyatt#CricketTwitter #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/VPtmZSSjm7— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) November 10, 2023
England’s T20I squad for India 2023 tour:
Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Mahika Gaur, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight (C), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danielle Wyatt
In expected lines, Tammy Beaumont remains sidelined from the T20I squad, with her Test spot untouched and unchallenged following a Test double ton in the Women’s Ashes, while Bess Heath and white-ball mainstay Alice Capsey are in line for a potential Test debut.
England’s Test squad for India tour 2023:
Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Heather Knight (C), Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danielle Wyatt
England's T20I Squad for India tour:
Heather Knight (C)
Nat Sciver-Brunt
Lauren Bell
Maia Bouchier
Alice Capsey
Charlie Dean
Sophia Dunkley
Sophie Ecclestone
Mahika Gaur
Danielle Gibson
Sarah Glenn
Bess Heath
Amy Jones
Freya Kemp
Danielle Wyatt #CricketTwitter #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/WoITfAo03q— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) November 10, 2023
India v England, series schedule:
| DATE | EVENT | TIME (IST) | VENUE |
| 6-Dec-2023 | 1st T20I | 7:00 PM |
Wankhede Stadium |
| 9-Dec-2023 | 2nd T20I | ||
| 10-Dec-2023 | 3rd T20I | ||
| 14-17-Dec-2023 | One-off Test | 9:30 AM | DY Patil Stadium |
England ‘A’ Oman training camp squad:
Hollie Armitage, Hannah Baker, Alice Davidson-Richards, Georgia Davis, Charlie Dean, Tash Farrant, Lauren Filer, Mahika Gaur, Kirstie Gordon, Liberty Heap, Freya Kemp, Emma Lamb, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Kalea Moore, Sophie Munro, Grace Potts, Grace Scrivens, Seren Smale, Rhianna Southby, Mady Villiers, Issy Wong
| DATE | EVENT | TIME (IST) | VENUE |
| 29-Nov-2023 | 1st T20 | 1:30 PM |
Wankhede Stadium |
| 01-Dec-2023 | 2nd T20 | ||
| 03-Dec-2023 | 3rd T20 |
The England A players have been without any cricket action since the conclusion of the ’23 domestic season in September. In India-like surfaces and conditions, the Onam camp presents a perfect opportunity for these rusty bodies to warm up.
Both series, against India A and its senior team, are expected to be closely contested. With the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh just months away, it adds an exciting dimension to witness the teams’ ‘inspiring and entertaining’ approach on subcontinent tracks, while bench strength will also remain an aim to hit right.