England ready for first game in six months
Anya Shrubsole is already casting a glance towards a bumper 2022 – which could include two women's World Cups and cricket's return at the Commonwealth Games – as she readies herself for England's first assignment in six months.
It was no certainty Heather Knight's side would take to the field this summer as coronavirus scuppered planned visits by India and South Africa, but the West Indies have come to England's rescue.
The five Twenty20s in the bio-secure bubble of Derby's Incora Ground could be foll owe d by a n oth e r ba r re n stretch, with the health crisis shifting England's defence of their 50-over WorldCup crown back to 2022.
But Shrubsole sees the upshot of the postponement because, as things stand, both limited-overs World Cups will be contested in two years' time, when the sport will make its first appearance in the Commonwealth Games since 1998.
Shrubsole told the PA news agency: "What it sets up is an amazing 2022 where we're going to have three major global tournaments. That's a year that a lot of people are really looking forward to.
"It's a massive carrot, I think anyone who says it isn't is probably lying. To have those three tournaments and we're due to have an Ashes around then as well, there's just not going to be a year like that ever again. We've got a whole year's worth of international cricket before that but that year is just going to be phenomenal for women's cricket. The game is in a really healthy place but that year could take it to another level.”
Tonight’s series opener against the Windies will be England's first match since their T20 WorldCupcampaign in early March.