The England women’s cricket team is currently touring South Africa for an all-format series, comprising three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and a one-off Test, scheduled from November 24 to December 18, 2024. England has made a strong start by claiming a win in the series opener, but their campaign has been disrupted by injuries and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has subsequently confirmed replacements.
Last week, it was confirmed that all-rounder Paige Scholfield had withdrawn from the series after suffering an ankle injury. Earlier this week, it was also revealed that keeper-batter Bess Heath sustained a fractured thumb, ruling her out of the tour. Both players have returned to the United Kingdom for medical supervision.
The ECB has since named keeper-batter Seren Smale as a replacement in England’s T20I and Test squads, while pacer Ryana MacDonald-Gay has been added to the Test squad. Notably, both rising stars made their international debuts during England’s white-ball series against Ireland in September 2024.
Seren Smale (19) earned her T20I debut following a breakthrough domestic season, where she proved her mettle by amassing 207 runs from 9 outings in the T20 competition at a strike rate of 112.50 and an impressive average of 34.50. In the one-day format, she further impressed by piling on 515 runs from 13 outings, averaging 39.61. On her T20I debut, Seren delivered a composed 19-ball 25 batting at no. 3 and followed it up with a run-a-ball 10. She is yet to make her ODI or Test debut but remains a promising addition to England’s squad.
Ryana MacDonald-Gay (20) enjoyed a standout domestic season, claiming 8 wickets from 11 T20 outings and an impressive 21 wickets from just 10 matches in the one-day competition, maintaining an economy rate of 4.85. She also proved her all-round capability with the bat, contributing 159 runs across 9 One-Day innings at a healthy average of 31.80. Her domestic performances earned her a spot in the England setup, where she made an impactful start. In the ODIs, she delivered figures of 1/30 (8) and 0/22 (3), while in her T20I appearance, she returned figures of 1/25 (2).
England secured a tense 4-wicket victory in the first T20I, successfully chasing a target of 143 with just four balls to spare. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s crucial half-century will be a positive takeaway for England as she finds form early in the series. Meanwhile, hosts South Africa will hope that skipper Laura Wolvaardt builds on her promising start in the matches to come.
England’s T20I squad for South Africa series:
Heather Knight (C), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Seren Smale, Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
England’s ODI squad for South Africa series:
Heather Knight (C), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
England’s Test squad for South Africa series:
Heather Knight (C), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Seren Smale, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Ryana MacDonald-Gay
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