Linsey Smith named in England T20 World Cup Squad

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), on Tuesday (August 27), named their squad for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 which takes place in the UAE in October. Heather Knight will continue to lead the side which will be without the experienced Tammy Beaumont and Kate Cross.

Left-handed all-rounder Freya Kemp and wicket-keeper Bess Heath have been selected in a T20 World Cup squad for the first time as is Danielle Gibson who was a travelling reserve in the 2023 edition in South Africa. England have plenty of depth in the spin department with Sophie Ecclestone being the marquee player. She was the highest wicket-taker in the previous edition of the competition.

Sarah Glenn and Linsey Smith had a successful time in The Hundred, and they have made it to the squad as well. Charlie Dean has also been included in the 15-member team. 

The squad will head to Abu Dhabi for a training camp (13-24 September) before the official ICC warm-up games, which will be followed by the group stage games against Bangladesh, South Africa, Scotland and West Indies in Sharjah and Dubai. Seam bowler Lauren Filer will join the squad for the preparation camp in Abu Dhabi.

Head coach Jon Lewis talked about the dilemma the board was in while selecting the players. “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," he stated. 

"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 also revealed the squad for the white-ball tour of Ireland in October which will be led by Cross. 

T20I squad: Kate Cross (C), Georgia Adams, Hollie Armitage, Hannah Baker, Tammy Beaumont, Mahika Gaur, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Charis Pavely, Paige Scholfield, Seren Smale, Bryony Smith, Mady Villiers, Issy Wong

ODI squad: Kate Cross (C), Hollie Armitage, Hannah Baker, Tammy Beaumont, Georgia Davis, Lauren Filer, Bess Heath, Freya Kemp, Emma Lamb, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Paige Scholfield, Bryony Smith, Mady Villiers, Issy Wong

The 2023 edition of the tournament saw England reaching the semifinals and getting knocked out by the home side South Africa. They won the inaugural edition of the same back in 2009.

England squad for Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Heather Knight (C), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath (WK), Amy Jones (WK), Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt