England Women’s opening batter Sophia Dunkley has been recalled for the T20I squad for the New Zealand series set to play on home soil this July. Dunkley is the only change in the England T20I squad which defeated Pakistan 3-0 last month.
The New Zealand Women’s tour of England 2024 will be played between June 26 and July 17 where a total of 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is will be played.
The 19-year-old left-arm seamer, Freya Kemp who has been named as the batter for the Pakistan series has been included as an all-rounder for the series.
Kemp made her international debut against South Africa during the English summer earlier in 2022 and impressed against India a few months later when she became the youngest England player, male or female, to make a T20I half-century. She returned home early from England’s tour of the Caribbean in December 2022 with a back stress fracture.
18-year-old fast bowler, Mahika Gaur, who has been absent from England’s squads this year while completing her A-Levels, will have finished her exams by the time the T20Is start but was left out of the squad due to a side strain.
Jon Lewis, England’s head coach, said he hoped to include Gaur in squad activities as she continues her development. Gaur made her ODI debut for England against Sri Lanka last September, having made her England T20I debut earlier in Sri Lanka’s tour after playing 19 games in the shorter format for UAE.
“This five-match series against a strong New Zealand side is really important for us and also vital preparation as we build towards the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh,” head coach Jon Lewis said.
Lewis also confirmed seam bowler Mahika Gaur will not be available to play due to a small side strain but is expected to train with the squad as she continues her rehabilitation.
“We are pleased to welcome Freya Kemp back as an all-rounder and we will hopefully see her bowl across this series as she returns from injury. Sophia Dunkley comes back into the squad after showing good form at regional level, she has earned the right to be in this squad. Mahika Gaur is not available to play due to a small side strain. We will look to have her in and around the squad preparing to return to play,” Lewis added.
England Women T20 Squad vs New Zealand
Western Storm’s Heather Knight will captain the T20I squad against New Zealand.
- Heather Knight (captain; Western Storm)
- Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers)
- Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers)
- Alice Capsey (South East Stars)
- Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers)
- Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)
- Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder)
- Lauren Filer (Western Storm)
- Danni Gibson (Western Storm)
- Sarah Glenn (The Blaze)
- Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds)
- Amy Jones (Central Sparks)
- Freya Kemp (Southern Vipers)
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze)
- Linsey Smith (Southern Vipers)
- Danni Wyatt (Southern Vipers)
ENG-W vs NZ-W 2024 T20I Schedule
The first T20I match of the series will be played on July 6 in The Ageas Bowl, Southampton.
- July 6: 1st Women’s IT20 – The Ageas Bowl, Southampton
- July 9: 2nd Women’s IT20 – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
- July 11: 3rd Women’s IT20 – The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence
- July 13: 4th Women’s IT20 – The Kia Oval, London
- July 17: 5th Women’s IT20 – Lord’s, London
