Two of England’s standout players, Kate Cross and Tammy Beaumont, impressed during the recent series against Ireland. Surprisingly they were not included in the 15-member squad for this year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Both were key members of the team that participated in the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa.
The tournament is almost upon us, marking the ninth edition of the global tournament. Initially set to be hosted in Bangladesh, the event was relocated to the United Arab Emirates due to political and social turmoil. This prestigious competition will run from October 3rd to October 20th.
England, winners of the first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup, are eager to claim their second title. Cross expressed strong belief in her team, emphasizing their ability to overcome any opposition on their best day.
She praised the “young and exciting” squad heading into the competition. England enters the tournament on a high note, having dominated their home summer series with clean sweeps over Pakistan and New Zealand in the white-ball formats. However, they faced some challenges during their tour of Ireland, where Cross made her captaincy debut. Despite a draw in the T20 series (1-1), England clinched the one-day series 2-1.
Speaking about her side, Cross remarked, “England, on their best day, can beat any team. I think the Ashes that we had last summer was a really good display of what we look like when we’re at our best. It’s a young and exciting team that’s gone out there and we’re going to wish them the best from a very cold, wet England.”
🏴 England’s T20 World Cup Squad 👊
• Heather Knight to lead England
• Wicket-keeper Bess Heath and Freya Kemp included#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup2024 pic.twitter.com/GBSYeRP97c— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 27, 2024
Already settled in the UAE, England’s squad has been undergoing intensive training in Abu Dhabi, giving them valuable preparation time to adjust to the local conditions. Cross commended this approach, stating, “The girls have been out there in the UAE for about 10 days now, so they’ve had a brilliant preparation. There’s still a few games and days before the first game but I’m sure they’ll go into it full of confidence.”
England’s squad, led by Heather Knight, has been carefully balanced with a mix of seasoned veterans and emerging talents. Newcomers Bess Heath and Freya Kemp are set to make their World Cup debuts, while Danielle Gibson, who performed well in The Hundred Final, is another exciting addition to the team. Notably, Beaumont, who wasn’t selected for this year’s squad, praised the leadership of the senior players, emphasizing their impact on the team’s younger members.
“I think we’ve got such great senior players in the team,” Beaumont said. “You look at Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Amy Jones, I think they’re really consistent and play the way that the team wants to play, and that allows the young players to go out there, express themselves and take the game on. Someone like Sophie Ecclestone too, she is a massive senior player having featured so many times and is the number one [T20] bowler in the world.”
In a significant step forward for women’s cricket, the ICC has announced an unprecedented prize pool for the 2024 T20 World Cup, amounting to nearly $8 million USD—more than twice the prize money from the 2023 edition. England will face relatively easy competition in Group B, where they are set to battle against Bangladesh, South Africa, Scotland, and the West Indies. Their first match is scheduled for October 5th against Bangladesh.
England’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024:
Heather Knight (C), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt
(Quotes sourced from Sky Sports)
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