Picture Credit: ECB
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a 15-member women's T20I squad for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. Teenagers Alice Capsey and Freya Camp have been named in England's squad.
Apart from Alice and Freya, Issy Wong also have been included in the England squad for the Birmingham Games 2022.
England have named Heather Knight as the captain of the women's T20 squad. After the squad selection, she said, "It is such a massive opportunity for us and for the game to compete in the Commonwealth Games, especially on home soil. When you’re younger you watch these multi-sport events but, as a cricketer, you don’t imagine you’ll be out there representing Team England."
England will be playing four debutants in the tournament and have a chance to make history on their home soil. Heather asserted, "It also gives us a brilliant chance to engage some young people in cricket who maybe haven’t played or watched it before. It’s a hugely exciting squad and for us as a group to have a chance to make history and be the first women’s cricketers to medal at the Commonwealth Games is something that can really drive us forward."
Speaking on the squad selection, England head coach Lisa Keightley said, "We have picked what we think is our best T20 squad. We have got one eye on taking our T20 game forward, but we do believe this squad gives us the best chance of success in the Commonwealth Games- and that's something to be really excited by."
England women's T20I squad for CWG 2022:
Heather Knight (C), Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones (Wk), Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver (VC), Bryony Smith, Issy Wong and Danni Wyatt
After a List A men's tournament in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this will be the first time when cricket is included in the multi-sports event. India and Australia are slated to play the opening match of the cricket tournament in the CWG 2022 on July 29, while England will play their first match on July 30 in Edgbaston, Birmingham.