England's women's cricket team is gearing up to reclaim their fearless brand of cricket as they embark on a multi-format series against South Africa following their disappointing early exit from the T20 World Cup. Danni Wyatt-Hodge, one of England’s senior players, remains optimistic about the team’s ability to bounce back and reestablish their dominance on the international stage.

England shrug off T20 World Cup criticism

England’s unexpected group-stage exit at the hands of West Indies drew widespread criticism, with media and former players questioning the team’s performance. However, Wyatt-Hodge was quick to dismiss the negativity, stating that one subpar performance does not define the team’s potential.

"We haven’t become a bad side in eight overs," Wyatt-Hodge said, reflecting on the crucial moments in their loss. She emphasized that the team remains united and focused on improvement, choosing to channel the criticism into motivation for the series against South Africa.

A renewed focus on fearless cricket

England’s hallmark of fearless cricket, a style that has brought them significant success in recent years, will be the cornerstone of their strategy in the upcoming matches. Wyatt-Hodge expressed confidence in the team’s ability to return to their aggressive and entertaining style.

“We’ve played some outstanding cricket over the years, and we’re excited to get back to what we do best,” she said. “We just want to enjoy our game and focus on playing with fearlessness.”

South Africa, runners-up in the T20 World Cup, present a formidable challenge for England. With key players like Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka rested, South Africa has introduced several young talents, making the series an unpredictable affair.

“They’ve got some outstanding players like Chloe Tryon and Laura Wolvaardt, but also some unfamiliar faces,” Wyatt-Hodge noted. “It’s going to be fun and challenging to face them in their conditions.”

England’s pace bowler Lauren Filer could be a key player in the series, with conditions in South Africa expected to favor her aggressive style. Wyatt-Hodge praised Filer’s progress, calling her “a handful” for batters in training and on the field.

Building momentum for the Ashes

While the series against South Africa is significant, it also serves as crucial preparation for the Ashes tour of Australia in January. Wyatt-Hodge acknowledged the importance of using this series to build momentum and refine their strategies.

“This series is massive for us. We want to showcase our skills and demonstrate how good we are,” she said. She also highlighted the team’s efforts to inspire younger players, emphasizing the role of senior players in leading by example.

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The tour will conclude with a historic one-off Test match in Bloemfontein on December 15. Wyatt-Hodge expressed her enthusiasm for the format, reflecting on the unique challenges and prestige of Test cricket.

“Playing a Test match is always special,” she said. “It’s such a different challenge, and it’s great preparation for the Ashes.”

England Women clinched a crucial seven-wicket win against South Africa Women in the final-over thriller of the Group B match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. 

After South Africa Women chose to bat first, they scored 124/6 in 20 overs. England Women successfully chased the target in 19.2 overs after losing three wickets. 

Stable opening partnership

South Africa had a stable opening partnership of 31 runs between the captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. At the end of the powerplay, South Africa Women scored 37/1 as Brits lost her wicket after scoring 13 runs. 

Bosch struggled; no boundary between 7th and 13th overs

While Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch had a 40-run partnership for the second wicket, Bosch struggled to move the scoreboard quickly. After the powerplay to 13th over, South Africa failed to hit one boundary.

After Bosch was out for 18 off 26 balls, Sophie Ecclestone bowled the opponent skipper Wolvaardt for 42 off 39 balls.

Star bowler Ecclestone, Kapp and Dercksen fought hard at the end

Marizanne Kapp (26 off 17 balls) and Annerie Dercksen (20 not out off 11 balls) played some useful innings to take the total to the challenging position. In the last four overs, South Africa Women scored 35 runs. 

Among the English bowlers, Sophie Ecclestone was exceptional, as she finished with the bowling figures of 4-0-15-2.

Slow start from England Women

In reply, England had a slow start while the opener Maia Bouchier was dismissed for eight runs in 20 balls. At the end of the powerplay, England Women scored 28/1.

Wyatt-Hodge and Sciver-Brunt successfully controlled the chasing

Although Alice Capsey had good intent, she was dismissed for 19 runs. But the other opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Nat Sciver-Brunt controlled the game very well. They had a 64-run partnership for the third wicket.

While Wyatt-Hodge scored run-a-ball 43 runs, Sciver-Brunt batted till securing England Women’s important win. In the last over, England Women required four runs. After Ayabonga Khaka delivered a dot ball on the first ball, Sciver-Brunt ended the game on the second delivery with a boundary. Sciver-Brunt remained not out for 48 off 36 balls. 

Inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup champions, England Women started their campaign in the ninth edition with a 21-run win against the tough Bangladesh Women. 

After choosing to bat first at Sharjah, England Women scored 118/7 in 20 overs. However, Bangladesh Women's batters failed to reply strongly as they were restricted to 97/7 in 20 overs. 

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English openers provided a solid start

England opening batters Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge set up a strong start as England Women scored 47/0 at the end of the powerplay. 

Bangladesh bowlers made a great comeback

After the end of the powerplay, Bangladesh made a great comeback by picking up regular wickets. Opener Maia Boucher scored 23 off 18 balls with three boundaries, while Wyatt-Hodge scored 41 off 40 balls with five fours. The next English batters failed to scare the Bangladesh side.

Incredible bowling continued in the final overs

England Women managed only one four and one six in the last four overs of the innings. They added only 27 runs in the final four overs. Apart from the openers, only Amy Jones (12*) reached the double-digit mark in that innings.

Bangladesh bowlers Nahida Akter (2/32), Fahima Khatun (2/18), and Ritu Moni (2/24) took two wickets each, while Rabeya Khan (1/15) picked up the other wicket.

A tough powerplay for Bangladesh

Bangladesh Women scored 20/2 at the end of the powerplay. Both the openers, Dilara Akter (7) and Shathi Rani (6) were dismissed in the single digits. 

Sobhana Mostary had no support

Sobhana Mostary fought bravely, but she hardly had any support in that low chase. She had a 35-run partnership with the skipper Nigar Sultana for the third wicket, but it wasn't enough as Sultana departed for 15 runs. Mostary was the other batter with a double-digit score in that innings, as her 44 off 48 balls only took them to closer the target.

Among the English bowlers, Linsey Smith (2/11) and Charlie Dean (2/22) took two wickets each. Also, Nat Sciver-Brunt (1/20) and Sarah Glenn (1/22) got one wicket each. 

England, the inaugural champions of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, shows signs of promising and robust performance in the upcoming 2024 edition happening in UAE. After their triumphant first tournament season, the English side reached the final three times but couldn't convert it into a trophy win.

As it implies, the team has been one of the strongest sides in the Women's Cricket domain; the side can be one of the strongest contenders for the upcoming edition. That said, here's the announced entire squad of the England Women's side, their probable XI for the tournament and the three players to check out for. 

Announced Women's England 2024 T20 World Cup Full Squad: 

Heather Knight (Captain), Danni Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (Wicketkeeper), Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Linsey Smith, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Bess Heath

England's Probable XI: 

• Maia Bouchier
• Bess Heath
• Alice Capsey
• Nat Sciver-Brunt
• Heather Knight (Captain)
• Amy Jones (Wicketkeeper)
• Freya Kemp
• Alice Capsey
• Sophie Ecclestone
• Linsey Smith
• Sarah Glenn

Also Read: 2024 Women's T20 World Cup: South Africa Women's Team squad, Probable XI & Top 3 players to check out

Top 3 players to check out from England in the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup:

Heather Knight

Heather Knight will be the captain of the upcoming 2024 Women's T20 World Cup, spearheading the Women's English side. Including her leadership assets, her skills as a top-class batter act as a cherry on the top. The England all-rounder has had a successful career, notably helping her team win the ODI Cricket World Cup final 2017.

Knight is a hitter to watch out for in the next event, having scored many runs in all forms and maintaining an excellent consistency. In her 119 matches T20I stint, she has made 2067 runs and scalped 21 wickets.

Sophie Ecclestone

Sophie Ecclestone is one of the players to check out from the squad, especially when it comes to the spin-friendly conditions of UAE. Ecclestone brings a deadly combination of talent, precision, spin, and bounce. She has been an essential part of England's recent success and is a top-ranked bowler in the ICC ODI and T20I rankings.

She is an economical wicket-taker who can strangle opposing batters to submission. She brings a wealth of experience, having previously played for England in the 2018 T20 World Cup final. In 86 T20I matches, she has taken 126 wickets at an economy rate of 5.85. 

Nat Sciver-Brunt

Nat Sciver-Brunt is a reliable right-hand batter and medium pacer. Sciver has competed in several T20I competitions worldwide and has extensive expertise in white-ball cricket. Sciver was a key member of England's Women's Cricket World Cup-winning side in 2017, playing in the middle order.

She has garnered various honours and acclaim for her on-field efforts. Not to forget her crucial contributions to the Mumbai Indians side in the WPL, where she was equally instrumental with the bat and ball. In her T20I stint, she has made 2513 runs and scalped 86 wickets in 122 matches. 

England secured a dominant 275-run victory over Ireland in the second ODI, sealing the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead. Winning the toss, England chose to bat, with Tammy Beaumont leading the charge. Beaumont, in top form, smashed her 10th century, becoming the leading century scorer for England in women's ODIs. Her commanding innings powered England to a formidable total of 320/8. Ireland's decision to bowl first backfired as they struggled to contain the English batters.

In response, England's bowlers were relentless. Skipper Kate Cross wreaked havoc early on, grabbing three wickets, including two in her first over, to leave Ireland reeling at 8/4. Lauren Filer added to the damage with her fiery pace, while Freya Kemp and debutant Georgia Davis contributed with two wickets each. Ireland crumbled under the pressure, with only opener Una Raymond-Hoey offering resistance, scoring 22 runs. The emphatic win by England marked their biggest ever margin of victory in women's ODIs.

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Analyzing the Spread of Tammy Beaumont's 150-Run Masterpiece

Tammy Beaumont delivered an extraordinary performance in England's second ODI against Ireland, smashing a commanding 150 off 139 balls to propel her team to a formidable total. Beaumont's innings was a masterclass in shot selection and control, as she accumulated runs all around the ground, showing her ability to handle both pace and spin with remarkable ease. The wagon wheel of her innings reveals a balanced approach, with runs scored both on the off and leg sides, a sign of her versatility and tactical acumen.

Against the pacers, Beaumont played with precision and aggression, accumulating 68 runs off 61 deliveries at a strike rate of 111.48. Her ability to find gaps, particularly on the offside, allowed her to build a strong foundation for her innings. The breakdown shows that she scored 34 runs square of the wicket on the offside, taking advantage of width provided by the seamers. Her boundary hitting against pace was also notable, striking crucial boundaries down the ground and through the covers.

When the spinners were introduced, Beaumont adapted her game brilliantly, collecting 82 runs from 78 balls at a strike rate of 105.13. She was particularly effective in manipulating the field, using sweeps and well-timed shots to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard ticking. The leg side was her dominant area against spin, with 41 runs coming from that side, including delicate flicks and aggressive pulls. Her footwork against the slower bowlers was impeccable, allowing her to control the tempo of the game.

Beaumont’s ability to pace her innings was key to England’s success. While she started cautiously, respecting the Irish bowlers in the initial overs, she gradually shifted gears. Her acceleration in the middle overs put Ireland on the back foot, and she played the spinners with finesse, capitalizing on every scoring opportunity. Her 10th century in the format cemented her place as one of England’s premier batters, and this innings was a reflection of her class and experience.

Overall, Beaumont’s knock was the backbone of England’s innings, and her ability to bat long and manage her scoring across different types of bowlers was instrumental in taking England to a challenging total. The combined efforts of her bat and the later contributions of England's bowlers allowed them to secure one of their most dominant wins in ODI history.

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England Women recorded their largest WODI win (by runs) after beating Ireland Women by 275 runs in the second WODI of the three-match WODI series to take a 2-0 lead in the series. English opener Tammy Beaumont created history with her 150 not out. 

This WODI series is a part of the 2022-2025 ICC Women’s Championship. After England Women chose to bat first, opener Tammy Beaumont dominated with the bat, while other top-order batters couldn’t score much. 

The 33-year-old Beaumont got strong support from Freya Kemp as they had a 101-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Kemp scored 65 off 47 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes. Although Kemp was dismissed in the 38th over, Beaumont continued her strong batting performance.

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Tammy Beaumont recorded the most WODI centuries for England Women

Beaumont completed her 50 runs in 62 balls. Later, the right-handed opening batter completed her 10th WODI century in 117 balls. With that century, Beaumont set a new record for most WODI centuries by an English batter. Former English cricketer Charlotte Edwards and present English star Nat Sciver-Brunt both recorded nine WODI hundreds. 

Meanwhile, with her 10th WODI century, Beaumont became the third batter in WODI history to record 10 or more WODI hundreds.

Most WODI centuries (Top 5)

Tammy Beaumont became fourth to score 150 or more runs twice in WODI history

Tammy Beaumont remained not out on 150 runs off 139 balls with the help of 16 fours and one six. Her batting helped England Women score 320/8 in 50 overs. It was their second-highest WODI total against any hosts. Their record in this list is 331/7 in 50 overs against the hosts Sri Lanka Women at Hambantota in 2019. 

It was Beaumont’s second 150+ knock in her WODI career. During the 2016 Taunton WODI against Pakistan Women, Beaumont scored 168 not out. With her latest knock, Beaumont became the fourth batter to score 150+ WODI knocks twice. 

Most 150+ scores by a batter in WODI history

Ireland Women were all out for 45 runs; England Women won by 275 runs

In reply, Ireland Women were bundled out for only 45 runs. Only the Irish opener Una Raymond-Hoey (22) reached the double-digit mark in that innings. It was the 12th lowest completed total in WODI history, but lowest for Ireland Women, whose previous lowest record was 46 all out against Australia Women at Dublin in 2001. 

Among the English bowlers, Kate Cross (3/8) and Lauren Filer (3/10) bagged three wickets each, while Freya Kemp (2/7) and the WODI debutant Georgia Davis (2/19) picked up two wickets each. 

England Women won the WODI match by 275 runs. It was their largest WODI victory (by runs). Their previous record for the largest WODI win (by runs) was winning by 239 runs against Denmark Women at Banstead during the ICC Women’s World Cup 1993. 

England Women’s 275-run victory was the eighth largest win (by runs) for any team in the WODI history.

India women’s team slumped to their first loss in the T20 World 2023 as they bottled up a chance to maintain their cent per cent record in the Group stage match against England on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 152 runs, Team India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (52) notched up a brilliant half-century but failed to find support from the other end as — Shafali Verma (8) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (4) — fell cheaply. Jemmimah Rodrigues (13) too couldn’t add much to the team tally. Mandhana was the top-scorer of the team. Her 41-ball innings included seven boundaries and one six.

However, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh (47 not out) played a resilient knock but it was not enough to take her side over the line. Her unbeaten knock of 34 deliveries was laced with four boundaries and two hits over the fence while Deepti Sharma was run out for 7 and Pooja Vastrakar (2 not out) remained unbeaten on the other end.

For England, leg-spinner Sarah Glenn was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 2/27.

Earlier, Nat Sciver Brunt (50) and Amy Jones (40) played crucial knocks to help England post a chaseable total of 151/7 at St George’s Park, Gqeberha. India’s Renuka Sigh, who addressed the press conference after the match, picked up a five-wicket haul but her effort went in-vain.

“I didn’t that these are the [bowling figures in a T20 World Cup, male or female]. Because I wasn’t thinking about five wickets. I was thinking about hitting the right areas,” Singh said.

“I had discussed with Troy earlier that I have not been able to take wickets in the power play. I had practiced and was able to execute this today. We had discussed that batters are reading beforehand, that I am bowling inswing. Thereby we practiced on straight ones, outswingers, and slower ones,” she added.

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