ECB announced a 17 member squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 slated to begin on March 4 at the Bay Oval in New Zealand.
ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022
The Heather knight-led squad includes a combination of fresh & experienced players selected based on their performances & skills.
Newbies Charlie Dean & Emma Lamb have made a cut to the World Cup squad while young pacer Lauren Bell & Spin bowling all-rounder Mady Villiers are named as traveling reserves. Kate Cross, Katherine Brunt, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, and Freya Davies will form the pace department along with Tash Farrant, who recently earned a place back on the list of centrally contracted England players after two years on the fringes. Sophie Ecclestone will lead the spin department with Dean included as a second spin option.
The Southern Vipers off-spinner Dean made her international debut against New Zealand during the England summer featuring in all five ODIs. In her second match at this level, she scalped 4 wickets for 36 to guide England to a gleaming win. She has scalped 10 wickets in seven ODIs so far. Lamb on the other hand made her international debut during the Women’s Ashes series where she got dismissed for a duck & was a part of England’s A squad, will feature in the squad as a backup opener to Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield-Hill.
Meanwhile, Maia Boucher has been excluded from the World Cup squad while leg-spinner Sarah Glenn has made herself unavailable after she was included in the squad as a travelling reserve.
“All players and staff were asked to opt into the tournament having fully considered the quarantine period and living protocols in place after quarantine,” a team spokesperson said. “The well-being of our players and staff is our number one priority and we support Sarah in this decision.”
Jonathan Finch, director of England women’s cricket, said that the World Cup provides a chance to “refocus our intentions immediately after the disappointment” and “embrace the challenge of a global event”.
“The England Women’s A series that ran alongside the Ashes enabled a wider group of players to compete for a place in the squad which has made for some tough calls on selection,” Finch said. “Emma Lamb, a consistent performer across domestic cricket, comes into the squad after making her international debut last summer and offers multiple options with the bat and as an all-rounder with her off-spin bowling.”
England Women’s team will enter the mega event on the back of a 3-0 loss to Australia Women in the ODI leg of the Ashes series. England Women will open their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 Campaign against Australia Women on March 5 in Hamilton, New Zealand.
ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, England Squad:
Heather Knight (Capt), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Amy Jones (wk), Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt.
Travelling reserves:
Lauren Bell, Mady Villiers