Sports Bulletin Report
London (UK): England Women have confirmed a 16-player squad to take on New Zealand in the Vitality IT20 series next month. Opener Sophia Dunkley is recalled to an otherwise unchanged group from those who sealed a T20 series victory against Pakistan in May.
Southern Vipers’ Freya Kemp will be available as an all-rounder during the series after being named as a batter against Pakistan. The two sides begin the IT20 series in Southampton (6 July) before matches in Hove (9 July) and Canterbury (11 July), finishing with two London fixtures at the Kia Oval and Lord's on 13 and 17 July respectively. This series follows three ODIs against the same opposition at Durham (26 June) Worcester (30 June) and Bristol (3 July).
Head coach Jon Lewis said: “This five-match series against a strong New Zealand side is really important for us and also vital preparation as we build towards the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. We are pleased to welcome Freya Kemp back as an all-rounder and we will hopefully see her bowl across this series as she returns from injury. Sophia Dunkley comes back into the squad after showing good form at regional level, she has earned the right to be in this squad. Mahika Gaur is not available to play due to a small side strain. We will look to have her in and around the squad preparing to return to play.”
England Women T20 squad: Heather Knight (Captain-Western Storm), Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers), Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers), Alice Capsey (South East Stars), Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers), Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars), Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder), Lauren Filer (Western Storm), Danielle Gibson (Western Storm), Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds), Amy Jones (Central Sparks), Freya Kemp (Southern Vipers), Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze), Linsey Smith (Southern Vipers), Danielle Wyatt (Southern Vipers)
Women’s IT20 Series (schedule):
6 July: 1st Women’s IT20 – The Ageas Bowl, Southampton
9 July: 2nd Women’s IT20 – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
11 July: 3rd Women’s IT20 – The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence
13 July: 4th Women’s IT20 – The Kia Oval, London
17 July: 5th Women’s IT20 – Lord’s, London
