Axed Tammy must fight to reclaim her England spot
ENGLAND have picked their “best squad” for the Commonwealth Games with Heather Knight set to captain the team, but opener Tammy Beaumont has missed out.
Cricket will be involved in the multi-sport competition for the first time this summer, with the women’s Twenty20 tournament in Birmingham due to get under way on July 29.
It will take place days after England complete their three-match T20 series with South Africa and head coach Lisa Keightley has named the same 15-player squad for both assignments.
Beaumont, a veteran of 99 T20 internationals, is a notable absentee but has been told it does not necessarily mean the end for her in the sprint format.
Keightley said: “We feel that is our best squad and the way we have approached it, we want to be quite aggressive up top.
“The players we have picked give us options to do that and also other options in the batting line-up. I think we have just got real good flexibility.
“Tammy is an amazing player and has performed really well over a long period. The challenge is out for Tam to work on things and show us why she should be in the squad.
“I am sure she will bounce back and that’s what we want.”
Beaumont’s spot at the top of the order could be filled by Bryony Smith, who hit 66 not out in a List A contest against South Africa earlier this month.
Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp, both 17, have also got the nod – alongside the experienced Katherine Brunt – and could feature in the eight-team tournament that will take place solely at Edgbaston between July 29 and August 7.
Team England squad: Heather Knight
(c), Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver (vc), Bryony Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt.