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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the squads for the upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies Women, with fresh faces, strategic omissions, and a clear intent to reset under a new leadership regime. The series — comprising three T20Is followed by three ODIs — begins on May 21 and marks the official start of the Nat Sciver-Brunt and Charlotte Edwards era as captain and head coach, respectively.
No place for star spinner Sophie Ecclestone
Star spinner Sophie Ecclestone has not been included in either squad, as the selectors deemed her not fully match-fit after her recent return from a knee injury. Although she made a brief comeback for Lancashire, the coaching staff has chosen not to rush her into international duties.
“She’s been working incredibly hard and has shown great determination. But right now, she needs more cricket under her belt before she can be considered for international matches,” said head coach Charlotte Edwards as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Ecclestone’s absence joins a growing injury list that includes Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, and Lauren Filer, all of whom remain on the sidelines as they continue their recovery.
Alice Davidson-Richards and Emma Lamb make comeback
In contrast, the ODI squad sees the return of all-rounder Alice Davidson-Richards and top-order batter Emma Lamb, both rewarded for strong domestic performances. Meanwhile, Maia Bouchier, a familiar name from the Ashes squad, has been left out — another decision driven by form and balance within the team.
“We’ve picked these squads based on performances in the Metro Bank One Day Cup. The standard was impressive and the players have made the selectors’ job both exciting and challenging,” added Edwards.
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England set sights on a winning start
The announcement not only marks a transition in leadership but also signals a fresh competitive intent as England look to dominate on home soil. With a blend of seasoned campaigners like Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight alongside young guns such as Alice Capsey and Mahika Gaur, the squad reflects both experience and ambition.
England squads for the white-ball series against West Indies
T20I squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (captain), Emily Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Paige Scholfield, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
ODI squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (captain), Alice Davidson-Richards, Emily Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Mahika Gaur, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith
Also READ: ICC Women’s ODI Rankings: Australia hold strong at summit while India sit at the third spot
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
