Cricket May 30, 2026

England 'settling nicely' ahead of Women's T20 World Cup - but bigger test to come in India series

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
England 'settling nicely' ahead of Women's T20 World Cup - but bigger test to come in India series

First job done for England as they work through their pre-T20 World Cup checklist.

secured a seventh straight bilateral T20 series victory over New Zealand, with the next focus a three-match contest against India before opening their home World Cup against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12.

Positives from the 2-1 triumph over the White Ferns, in which a pair of sandwiched a included the captaincy of Charlie Dean as the off-spinning all-rounder stood in superbly for

England hope Sciver-Brunt will be fit for next month's World Cup and they will miss her batting if she is not - the 33-year-old has over 2,000 T20I runs, including 18 fifties.

But they look to be in safe hands leadership-wise should she suffer any sort of setback, and have been provided a huge boost by the return of star batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge after the birth of her first child.

Your Site' Nasser Hussain said: "I can't think of an occasion when England have bowled and fielded where they have lost the plot and Dean must take credit for a lot of that. Captaincy sits well on her shoulders and doesn't weigh her down."

With and key seam bowler Lauren Bell forming a menacing combination in the powerplay; , and Dani Gibson and Freya Kemp able to operate as fully fledged all-rounders after injury issues, England appear in good shape.

Gibson's three-wicket haul in the Hove romp included Melie Kerr and Sophie Devine in the same over.

However, Hussain offered words of caution, with the team having not won a global tournament since the 2017 50-over World Cup and often fluffing their lines under pressure in those intervening years.

Hussain said: "England beat sides convincingly but it is how you go against the gun players, how you go when the pressure is really on you. That's when you find out about your cricketers.

"You will coast through games but then get to a semi-final or a final and suddenly an Australian, a South African or an Indian batting line-up is coming at you.

"Things are settling nicely but don't judge England on how they have gone against New Zealand. India will be a different challenge.

"We have seen New Zealand collapsing at the top [of their batting line-up] but India have experience, Hundred experience - Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur - so that may be a better test."

Hussain's fellow pundit Tash Farrant feels India's "world-class" spinners will give England a stiff examination, but is enthused by home tweaker Smith, who ended the New Zealand series with six wickets in three games at an average of eight and economy rate of just 4.16 runs an over.

If there were any doubts over Smith's place following the emergence of 18-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman they have now evaporated.

She seems locked in to line up alongside fellow left-armer Sophie Ecclestone and off-spinner Dean in England's best side.

Farrant added: "Smith has nullified any chat. She is a brilliant powerplay bowler and that combination with Bell swinging it away and Smith swinging it in is really good. Smith has also worked on her death bowling, bowling those little skimmers."

The big decision for England, then, could be how to complete the batting line-up.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge is set to play in an international kit for the first time this summer as she return against India - and if/when Sciver-Brunt also comes back, there is quite the logjam.

Farrant concluded: "There are only three spots between Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey and Heather Knight as I think England have to play the two all-rounders in Kemp and Gibson.

"It is a bit of a battle and whoever is in form probably needs to play. Capsey has looked the most dynamic she has done for a long time so needs to be in there, for me."

All times UK and Ireland, all live on Your Site

Hosts England kick off the tournament on opening night with a game versus Sri Lanka at Edgbaston (6.30pm start).

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