England name two T20 squads for New Zealand tour
- Published
Nat Sciver-Brunt made her England one-day international debut in 2013
England will be without Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Alice Capsey and Danni Wyatt for the first three T20 matches of their tour of New Zealand.
The quartet have been given permission to finish the Women's Premier League (WPL) season in March before arriving.
Lauren Bell and captain Heather Knight have withdrawn from the WPL and are available for the entire series.
England women's cricket director Jonathan Finch said the WPL players had his "full backing".
The WPL, staged in India, runs from 23 February until 17 March, with the final scheduled just two days before the start of the first T20 in Dunedin, New Zealand.
WPL rules forbid mid-tournament replacements, meaning a decision on whether to withdraw must be made by players before the season opener on 23 February.
"The short window of just one or two days between the end of the WPL and the first T20 in New Zealand has meant we have needed to balance the challenges of long-term workload management for players, allowing participation in the WPL and ensuring we give clarity to the group of players preparing for the first three T20s," said Finch.
He added: "Lauren Bell and Heather Knight have withdrawn from the WPL to ensure they can be available for all T20 games in New Zealand.
"They withdrew once they learned that the WPL regulations don't allow for replacements mid-tournament, not wanting their respective WPL teams to be disadvantaged by their early departure."
England's head coach Jon Lewis, who also coaches UP Warriorz in the WPL, has made arrangements so that he can focus on the T20 tour.
He will leave the WPL early to lead the squad preparations in New Zealand, Finch said.
Northern Diamonds captain Hollie Armitage could make her senior T20 international debut after being named in the initial squad.
Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, who hasn't featured for England since 2019, has also earned a recall.
T20 squad for first three matches
Hollie Armitage (Northern Diamonds), Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze), Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers), Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers), Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers), Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars), Lauren Filer (Western Storm), Danielle Gibson (Western Storm), Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds), Amy Jones (Central Sparks), Heather Knight (captain; Western Storm), Linsey Smith (Southern Vipers)
T20 squad for fourth and fifth matches
Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze), 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), Danielle Gibson (Western Storm), Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds), Amy Jones (Central Sparks), Heather Knight (captain; Western Storm), Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze), Danielle Wyatt (Southern Vipers)
ODI squad
Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze), Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers), Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers), Alice Capsey (South East Stars), Kate Cross (Thunder), Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers), Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars), Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder), Lauren Filer (Western Storm), Danielle Gibson (Western Storm), Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds), Amy Jones (Central Sparks), Heather Knight (captain; Western Storm), Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze), Danielle Wyatt (Southern Vipers).