England name squads for white-ball tour of New Zealand
England have named three separate squads for the white-ball series against New Zealand in March.
White-ball regulars Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danielle Wyatt will miss the first three T20Is of England's tour of New Zealand in March this year due to their Women's Premier League (WPL) commitments.
The Heather Knight-led side will play five IT20s and three ODIs across March and April.
Hollie Armitage and Linsey Smith have been named in the squad for the first three T20Is and will subsequently be replaced by the four players who will return after the WPL.
England star all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt received two big ICC awards after her superb performances in 2022.
"We are really looking forward to the upcoming T20I and ODI series’ in New Zealand," head coach Jon Lewis said.
“This tour is another important step in our build-up to the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year.
The head coach was also delighted to welcome the two new players, who he believes will add depth to the squad.
“We’re delighted to bring in Hollie Armitage and Linsey Smith to the T20I group. I have been really impressed with Hollie across the course of last summer, especially over The Hundred which I think is a really good indicator of how she might play at the next level.
"Linsey has been performing for a long period of time at a high level and gives us a high quality left-arm spin option. With Sophie Ecclestone unavailable for the first three T20I matches, Linsey is, in my opinion, the second best left-arm spinner in the country in T20 format," Lewis added.
Danni Wyatt was in imperious form, scoring a blistering fifty for England against Ireland at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023
England T20I squad (1st three matches): Heather Knight (captain), Hollie Armitage, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Linsey Smith.
England T20I squad (last two matches): Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt
England ODI squad: Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Heather Knight (capt), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt