England Women announce squads for New Zealand tour, big names allowed to play WPL 2024

England Women’s Cricket Team have announced the squads for the upcoming New Zealand tour. The two teams will be locking horns with each other in the five-match T20I and three-match ODI series in the month of March.

England have allowed some of the big names to take part in the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024. The likes of Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Danielle Wyatt will be available from the fourth T20I after the Indian league concludes.

England skipper Heather Knight, who pulled out of the WPL 2024 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, will be leading the team in all the games. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has included Hollie Armitage and Linsey Smith in the T20I team for the three games as a replacement for players, who will be playing in the WPL.

Hollie Armitage, who has been playing in New Zealand in the Central Hinds in their Super Smash T20 competition, is in line to make her debut for the team. Linsey Smith has been recalled into the T20I team for the first time since 2019.

England women’s team coach Jon Lewis, who is the coach of the UP Warriorz in the WPL will be first heading to India for the tournament. He will join the team on 12 March, a week ahead of the first T20I between the teams takes place.

Talking about the upcoming series, England women’s team coach Jon Lewis said that the tour will be important for the team in their build-up of the T20 World Cup, slated to take place in Bangladesh. He added that they are hoping for a similar success they had last time around. He said:

“We are really looking forward to the upcoming IT20 and ODI series’ in New Zealand. This tour is another important step in our build-up to the IT20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year.

“Over the years New Zealand have always been a strong opponent and we look forward to the challenge of adapting to new conditions and playing entertaining cricket. We are looking to build on the successes we had in 2023 and help in growing the women’s game in New Zealand and at home.”

England women’s squad for the New Zealand tour

Here’s England women’s squad for the first three T20Is against New Zealand

Hollie Armitage, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Heather Knight (captain), Linsey Smith

Here’s the England women’s squad for the last two T20Is against New Zealand

Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Heather Knight (captain), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danielle Wyatt

Here’s the England women’s squad for the ODIs against New Zealand

Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Heather Knight (captain), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danielle Wyatt