The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced their squad for the forthcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, which is scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates starting October 3. Heather Knight will lead a squad of 15 players, with senior players Kate Cross and Tammy Beaumont excluded. England, the inaugural T20 World Cup champions, are placed in Group B, alongside Bangladesh, Scotland, South Africa, and the West Indies.
Newcomers to the T20 World Cup squad include wicketkeeper-batter Bess Heath and all-rounder Freya Kemp. Additionally, Danielle Gibson, who was a traveling reserve in the previous tournament in South Africa also earned a spot. The selectors also picked Sophie Ecclestone, the highest wicket-taker in last year’s T20 World Cup, and spinner Linsey Smith, who returned to the T20 squad earlier in 2024.
The 15-member squad will take part in a training camp in Abu Dhabi from September 13-24, ahead of the official ICC warm-up matches. Pace bowler Lauren Filer will join the squad during the camp in Abu Dhabi. After the warm-up matches, England will then compete against Bangladesh, South Africa, Scotland, and the West Indies in Group B, with the first three matches taking place in Sharjah and the fourth in Dubai.
Heather Knight, England’s captain, expressed her excitement for the T20 World Cup, adding that it is an honor to lead the team into another major event.
“World Cups are always special events to be involved in as a player and I’m really excited by the squad we have selected to take over to the UAE. It’s an honour to lead the team into another World Cup. We’re looking forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead,” said Knight.
Head coach Jon Lewis added, “Selecting teams and squads with this group of players has become incredibly tricky and tough. There are players who have been really unfortunate to miss out and they’ll be a big part of what we do with England Cricket in the future. I feel the 15 players selected give us a really well-balanced squad in terms of experience, youth and most importantly the skills to cope and excel in the conditions we feel we will be faced with in the UAE.”
England squad: Heather Knight (c), Danni Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Linsey Smith, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Bess Heath
England’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 schedule
Saturday 5 October, Bangladesh v England, Sharjah
Monday 7 October, England v South Africa, Sharjah
Sunday 13 October, England v Scotland, Sharjah
Tuesday 15 October, England v West Indies, Dubai
