Emma Lamb named in England's World Cup squad as Sarah Glenn misses out

Lamb made her ODI debut in the final match of the Women's Ashes series and will likely compete for an opening beth with Lauren Winfield-Hill

Emma Lamb has been named in England's squad for next month's World Cup.

The 24-year-old, who made her ODI debut against Australia in the final match of the Women's Ashes, is the only member of the squad to make the jump from the England A pool that has also been touring Australia.

Lamb, a consistent run-scorer for Thunder since the regional structure was introduced in 2020, offers a bowling option as well with her off-spin. She is yet to score a run for England in her two appearances, having also featured in a T20I last summer, although she didn't face a ball. Against Australia, she was dismissed by Ellyse Perry for a two-ball duck.

She has earned the nod over Maia Bouchier, however, with the Southern Vipers batter missing out despite featuring in the Ashes series opener, and will compete for a spot at the top of the order where Lauren Winfield-Hill was the incumbent alongside Tammy Beaumont until Lamb was drafted in at Junction Oval.

Leg-spinner Sarah Glenn is also absent; she has not featured in 50-over cricket for England since the ODI series against India last summer. Her arrival on the scene was viewed as a significant moment for the national side, who had been searching throughout Mark Robinson's tenure for a wrist-spinner.

Despite an impressive start to her international career, she found the going tougher in 2021, proving significantly more expensive in both white-ball formats than when she first made her mark. She played just once in the Ashes series – on the first night – and was taken down by Tahlia McGrath and Meg Lanning.

^{Sarah Glenn misses out on the squad (Mark Evans/Getty Images)}

Like Glenn, there is no place for Georgia Elwiss, another central contract holder, while Charlie Dean has reaffirmed her status as England's first-choice off-spinner, with Mady Villiers restricted to one of two travelling reserve positions.

Jonathan Finch, director of England Women's cricket, said: "The chance to refocus our intentions immediately after the disappointment of the Ashes is exciting and provides an opportunity to embrace the challenge of a global event.

"The England Women's A series that ran alongside the Ashes enabled a wider group of players to compete for a place in the squad which has made for some tough calls on selection."

Lauren Bell is also on standby; she was called up to the senior squad for the first time ahead of last month's Test but didn't feature.

Interestingly, for a side often considered to not have changed much in the last five years, only six of the side that featured in the last World Cup final remain part of this squad.

England have arrived in New Zealand for the tournament, having endured a nervous wait for a final batch of tests to come back negative before their flight. Players also had to opt in, given the Covid quarantine and living conditions faced on arrival, hence the timing of the announcement.

Squad: Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Amy Jones, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt

Travelling Reserves: Lauren Bell, Mady Villiers