All eyes on the main prize in South Africa - England preview

Heather Knight (c), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt. Travelling Reserves: Issy Wong, Dani Gibson.

11 February v West Indies at Boland Park, Paarl

13 February v Ireland at Boland Park, Paarl

18 February v India at St George’s Park, Gqeberha

21 February v Pakistan at Newlands, Cape Town

England will be looking for a statement win against India at St George’s Park, not only to potentially stamp their authority on the group, but also to put down a marker ahead of the knockout stages that they will absolutely expect to reach.

India are the second-highest ranked team in the group, and are not just a threat to England but to every side in the tournament, including the defending champions Australia.

England have failed to reach the final four just once, and have been in four World T20 finals, winning one of those back in 2009.

It was the bowlers who did much of the damage in the final against New Zealand on that occasion, with a young Katherine Sciver-Brunt ripping through the top order to take 3/6 from her four brilliant overs.

England have a host of important players, but none are quite as key to their tournament chances as Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Back in international colours after a brief absence towards the end of last year, Sciver-Brunt will hope to rekindle the 2022 form that saw her win the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

She is one of the world’s top-ranked all-rounders, and with the bat in hand will be one of the most feared players out in the middle during the tournament.

Her stunning knocks in the Cricket World Cup final against Australia and the during the Test series against South Africa last year highlighted her array of talents, and if she hits top-form then she will be the centrepiece of this English T20 batting line-up.

Sciver was part of the Team of the Tournament in the last T20 World Cup back in 2020.

England will have their eyes on World Cup glory in South Africa as they arrive with a squad containing an intriguing mix of experienced heads and exciting young talent.

Australia, who beat England in last year’s Cricket World Cup Final and the T20 World Cup Final back in 2018, will again be the team to beat. But the competition is catching up, and England will need to be at their best if they are to go all the way.

This is almost certainly the final hurrah for legendary bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt, who will likely form part of a fearsome bowling unit. Heading into the warm-up fixtures, England have three bowlers ranked inside the world’s top six – Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Sarah Glenn and the top-ranked spinner Sophie Ecclestone.

If the batting can stand up to the big tests and give the bowlers enough to work with then England will be a serious threat.