England Women have won every World Cup on home soil: can they hold on to that record?
England have been building to a home T20 World Cup ever since Charlotte Edwards took over as head coach last year.
Nevertheless, before the start of the summer, it was hard to put them alongside the likes of India, South Africa and Australia, as favourites to take home the trophy. With much the same batting lineup that’s seen them fall short at the last two T20 World Cups, as well as in last year’s Ashes and 50-over World Cup, any progress they made during Edwards’ first 12 months felt capped. With a strong bowling attack and having made progress on their fielding, semi-finals felt like both par and ceiling.
For the majority of their two T20I series in the lead-up to the tournament, that script was followed. They beat New Zealand, but not emphatically, and lost their opening match to India crumbling in a chase. With their captain injured, and the lack of ball-strikers in their batting lineup laid bare in direct comparison with India, the lack of true match-winners was stark.
However, the final match of their series against India at Taunton breathed new life into England’s World Cup hopes. Faced with a big chase, Alice Capsey demolished India’s attack with a boundary-fuelled 82. Having been the likely candidate to make way when Nat Sciver-Brunt came back in at the start of the tournament, she made herself impossible not to select, playing the kind of innings England had been crying out for.
Equally as important was Heather Knight in that match, who scored the fastest half-century of her T20I career. Knight had come under pressure following her innings in the opening match of the series, where she was unable to either rotate the strike or hit boundaries. The partnership from Capsey and Knight energised England’s batting order, showing potential in the kind of chase England haven’t pulled off in years.
The right side of the group
England have other reasons to be optimistic other than the last-gasp fire from their middle-order. They have on paper the far easier group, avoiding all three of Australia, India and South Africa until the semi-finals. Of the teams in their group, England have only ever lost a T20 World Cup match to one of them (West Indies).
Even so, for a side who have never lost a World Cup on home soil, making the final will still be a tough ask. England have lost every T20 World Cup knockout match they’ve played since 2018, and should they reach the semi-finals this time, it will be an assessment on whether their pressure demons from the last few years have been overcome.
The big guns
The news that England will have their captain back from injury for the World Cup is a huge boost, even if she won’t be fit to bowl at least for the start of the tournament. Nat Sciver-Brunt provides the kind of boundary-hitting ability England were lacking until their final pre-World Cup match at Taunton, and, with her in it, their middle order looks emphatically more formidable.
Alongside her, whether Capsey can translate her masterclass in Taunton to more consistent runs, and where she fits in the batting lineup will also be key. Edwards must make a decision on how Capsey fits in, whether it’s for Sophia Dunkley at the top of the order, or for someone else, and how the rest of the pack fits in around her.
All-rounder balance
While the batting lineup has been a source of worry for England, their bowling attack is up there with the best in the competition. Linsey Smith has added a dimension with the new ball since her recall to the side last year, while Lauren Bell is the highest-ranked T20I pacer in the world. While Sophie Ecclestone was off the boil against New Zealand and India, she remains England’s most prized spinner. The addition of Tilly Corteen-Coleman has also provided a competent back-up to the main three.
The only concern for England will be how to balance their side with only one specialist seamer. Dani Gibson and Freya Kemp have shown how formidable they can be as lower-order batters, but have been more hit and miss with the ball. With Sciver-Brunt unable to bowl, England will have to pick both to avoid compromising batting depth for another pace-option.
England squad at the T20 World Cup
Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones, Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Lauren Bell, Issy Wong, Lauren Filer.
England schedule at the T20 World Cup
June 12, 6:30pm: v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston
June 16, 6:30pm: v Ireland, Southampton
June 20, 6:30pm: v Scotland, Leeds
June 24, 6:30pm: v West Indies, Lord’s
June 27, 6:30pm: v New Zealand, The Oval
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