England, the defending champions, announced their 15-member squad on February 9, for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup to be played in New Zealand from March 4 to April 3.
Squad: Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Freya Davies, Charlotte Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Natasha Farrant, Amy Jones, Emma Lamb, Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danielle Wyatt
Player Profile
Heather Knight:
The captain of England team is a solid right-handed top order batter and more than a handy right arm off spinner. She has featured in 115 ODIs, scored 3250 runs in 110 innings, including 22 half-centuries and two centuries. With the ball, she has 53 ODI wickets in as many innings. She has led England in 60 ODIs so far and has won 40.
Tammy Beaumont:
She is a swashbuckling right handed opening batter. With 2949 runs in 77 innings, she is the fifth highest run-getter for England and the second highest in the current team. She has mustered 14 half-centuries and eight centuries, which is the second-most by any English woman cricketer.
Katherine Brunt:
The veteran speedster is the leader of the English bowling attack. She has accounted for 163 ODI wickets in 129 innings. She is a genuine wicket-taker and a good new-ball bowler. Apart from her bowling, she is more than a handy lower middle order bat. She has over 1000 ODI runs, including a couple of half-centuries.
Freya Davies:
The right-arm seamer is a disciplined bowler who is known to bowl in the right areas on a consistent basis. She is still new to international cricket having played just the six ODIs. She has six wickets in as many matches at an average of 35.66 and an economy of under five.
Charlotte Dean:
She is a right-arm off-spinner who made her international debut just last year. In seven ODIs, she has scalped 10 wickets, including the best of 4-26. She bowls stump to stump making it difficult for the batters to score off her. Apart from her bowling, she is a handy lower order bat.
Sophia Dunkley:
The right-handed middle-order batter has a good temperament and has the ability to hold the innings together. If required, she can up the gear and play the role of a finisher. In 10 ODIs, she has scored 163 runs, including one half-century. She can also roll her arm over to bowl a bit of leg spin.
Kate Cross:
She is a right-arm seamer and is a good middle-overs bowler. She has the knack to break partnerships at crucial junctures. She has picked up 55 wickets in 36 ODI innings, including two five and four-wicket hauls each. She is also a decent right handed batter in the lower order and can hit those big shots towards the end of the innings.
Sophie Ecclestone:
She is one of the best left-arm spinners in the world of women’s cricket. She makes good use of her height and makes it difficult for the batters. She is a regular member of the England team and has 55 wickets in 38 ODI innings, including a couple of four-wicket hauls. She can also handle herself with the bat lower down the order. She has the best score of 32 not out in ODI cricket.
Natasha Farrant:
The left-arm seamer adds variety to the English bowling attack which is dominated by right arm speedsters. She is an aggressive bowler and bowls stump to stump. She is still young in international cricket having featured in six ODIs to date. She has five wickets at an average of 38 and an economy of four and a half.
Amy Jones:
She is a right-handed middle order batter and a wicket-keeper. Filling up the big shoes of Sarah Taylor, Jones is slowly and steadily following the footsteps of England’s best wicket-keeper. She is a safe house behind the stumps and can stand up to the stumps for fast bowlers. With regards to her batting, she is an attacking player, with a strike rate of over 80. She has 1234 runs in 49 ODI innings, including nine half-centuries.
Emma Lamb:
She is a right-handed opening batter, who has just played the one ODI for England in February this year against Australia. Though she did not have the best of debuts she is a talented young cricketer and has a bright future ahead.
Natalie Sciver:
She is one of the best batting all-rounders in the world of women’s cricket. With an experience of 80 ODIs under her belt, she will be a player to watch out for in the World Cup. The right-handed middle order batter has scored 2275 runs in 71 innings, including 15 half-centuries and three centuries. With the ball, she has picked up 55 wickets in 70 innings, bowling right arm seam.
Anya Shrubsole:
She is an experienced right-arm seamer with 78 ODIs to her name. She has 97 wickets in 77 innings, including two five-wicket hauls and four four-wicket hauls and the best of 6-46. She is a good new-ball bowler and can swing the ball well.
Lauren Winfield-Hill:
She is a right-handed top-order batter and a wicket-keeper. She has featured in 53 ODIs for England since her debut in 2013 and has mustered 1174 runs, including three half centuries and a century. She is known to provide steady starts to England, opening the batting. She can keep wickets as seen during the Women’s Hundred for Northern Superchargers.
Danielle Wyatt:
Playing international cricket for more than a decade, she is a right-handed opening batter in the limited-overs format. She has scored 1218 runs in 70 ODI innings, including two half-centuries and a century. Together with Beaumont, she is responsible for giving England the right start.
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.