(Cricket news) England Women have picked their squad to represent Team England in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, to be hosted in Birmingham. The 15 players will make history as the first cricketers to represent England in the Commonwealth Games. There are first international call-ups for teenagers Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp, while Issy Wong will get a chance to represent her country in her home city – having been named in England’s T20 squad for the first time.
Heather Knight (Western Storm, captain), Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers), Katherine Brunt (Northern Diamonds), Alice Capsey (South East Stars), Kate Cross (Thunder), Freya Davies (South East Stars), Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars), Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder), Sarah Glenn (Central Sparks), Amy Jones (Central Sparks), Freya Kemp (Southern Vipers), Nat Sciver (Northern Diamonds, vice captain), Bryony Smith (South East Stars), Issy Wong (Central Sparks), Danni Wyatt (Southern Vipers)
Head Coach Lisa Keightley said: “We’ve picked what we think is our best T20 squad. We’ve got one eye on taking our T20 game forward, but we do believe this squad gives us the best chance of success in the Commonwealth Games – and that’s something to be really excited by. T20 cricket and women’s cricket in general is evolving all the time – and in order to put ourselves in a position to win global tournaments we have to move forward with it, be aggressive, be dynamic and part of our selection is about embracing that. Similarly we have selected players who are flexible, adaptable, fit in a number of roles and give us the most options for individual match-ups.
“It’s really exciting that we’ve got so much competition for places. Obviously, it’s hard for those that miss out, it’s never nice to not be selected in a squad, but we’re not accustomed to having to make such difficult decisions and they are part of the game and an indication of how much the game is progressing. We now have players across the domestic game putting their hand up for selection, which is testament to the regional game, and we have real strength in depth, and that’s so important."
Captain Heather Knight said: “It is such a massive opportunity for us and for the game to compete in the Commonwealth Games, especially on home soil. When you’re younger you watch these multi-sport events but, as a cricketer, you don’t imagine you’ll be out there representing Team England. It also gives us a brilliant chance to engage some young people in cricket who maybe haven’t played or watched it before. It’s a hugely exciting squad and for us as a group to have a chance to make history and be the first women’s cricketers to medal at the Commonwealth Games is something that can really drive us forward .”
The Commonwealth Games will be hosted at Edgbaston and screened live on the BBC, with England’s first fixture against Sri Lanka on Saturday July 30. England have named the same 15-strong squad for the Vitality IT20 series against South Africa, starting at Chelmsford on Thursday July 21.
Saturday July 30: England Women v Sri Lanka Women, Edgbaston, 6pm
Tuesday August 2: England Women v South Africa Women, Edgbaston, 11am
Thursday August 4: England Women v New Zealand Women, Edgbaston, 6pm
Saturday August 6: First semi-final, 11am. Second semi-final, 6pm. (The order of the semi-final matches will be determined upon completion of group matches)
Sunday August 7: Bronze medal match, 10am
Sunday August 7: Gold medal match, 5pm
Also read: Stokes rested from South Africa series
