England Women name squad for West Indies T20I series

Georgia Elwiss is the only member of the group that reached the T20 World Cup semi-finals to miss out, having suffered a back injury

Sophia Dunkley and Katie George have been added to England’s squad from the T20 World Cup for their five-match T20I series against West Indies.

The South East Stars leg-spinning allrounder and Western Storm seamer have been named in a 16-strong party ahead of the matches against Stafanie Taylor’s tourists, with the first game between the sides on September 21.

The entire series will take place at Derbyshire’s Incora County Ground, where England have been based since returning to full training after the coronavirus-enforced delay to the summer.

Georgia Elwisss is the only member of the group that reached the T20 World Cup semi-finals to miss out, having suffered a back injury.

Dunkley hit 97 and took two wickets during Stars’ defeat by Storm at Beckenham during the most recent round of Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fixtures, where England head coach Lisa Keightley was in attendance.

Keightley said of the squad – the first she has picked for a series on home soil: “It’s been a challenging summer for everyone and we are privileged to be in a position to play an international series, and to get the chance to showcase the women’s game.

“We have worked hard since the group came back together in preparation for this series and we're in a great place going into the Vitality IT20s against West Indies.”

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Stars allrounder Bryony Smith and Northern Diamonds spinner Linsey Smith are both on standby for the squad.

Players not picked in the final group of 16 – including young seamers Lauren Bell and Issy Wong – have been available for their regions in the final set of Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy matches and the final.

Squad: Heather Knight, Tammyy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Katie George, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt

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