"Historic occasions are like buses: you spend ages twiddling your thumbs and then two come along at once. England have waited nine years for another home World Cup, wallowing all the while in memories of their win in 2017, and almost a century for a maiden women's Test at Lord's. Now both are being thrust upon them over the space of a single month, from 12 June to 13 July, in a true summer bonanza for women's cricket."
"First, though, a T20 World Cup dress rehearsal: three one-day internationals against New Zealand, followed by three Twenty20s against the same opposition, and another three against India. The 50-over series, which begins on Sunday in Durham, feels a little as if it has been plonked thoughtlessly into the calendar. The wicketkeeper Kira Chathli and all-rounder Jodi Grewcock could make their England debuts after all, the head coach, Charlotte Edwards, promised us she would look to the future after England's drubbing in last year's 50-over World Cup semi-final."
"All eyes are really on the first of the T20s against New Zealand, on 20 May at Derby, which will tell us a lot about where Edwards's head is at when it comes to her World Cup starting XI. Expect to see a team here that is full of familiar faces: the only potential debutant in the World Cup squad is the 18-year-old left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, and she is locked in a fight with her fellow left-armers Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith for a spot."
"The big ODI news is that the vice-captain, Charlie Dean, will be at the helm, after Nat Sciver-Brunt picked up a calf tear during a rare outing for the Blaze, her domestic team, last month. The fact that Dean was originally scheduled to miss the ODI series to manage her workload but must now double it may raise eyebrows. Nevertheless, this is a huge moment for Dean, who has never captained"
England’s women’s cricket calendar is set for a rare concentration of major events, including a home World Cup at Lord’s and a maiden women’s Test. Before the World Cup, England will play a T20 World Cup dress rehearsal consisting of three ODI matches against New Zealand, followed by three T20 matches versus New Zealand, then three T20 matches against India. The ODI series begins in Durham and feels awkwardly placed in the schedule. England may include future-focused debuts, with wicketkeeper Kira Chathli and all-rounder Jodi Grewcock possible, while attention centers on the first T20 against New Zealand to gauge the World Cup starting XI. Charlie Dean will captain the ODI series after Nat Sciver-Brunt’s calf injury, despite workload concerns.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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