World T20 preview: England

England squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Kirstie Gordon, Jenny Gunn, Dani Hazell, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Linsey Smith, Anya Shrubsole, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt

Fixtures: 10 November v Sri Lanka, 12 November v Bangladesh, 16 November v South Africa, 18 November v West Indies

Best result: Champions (2009)

ICC ranking: 3rd

The talking point: England have included three uncapped players in their squad but have suffered a major blow with star wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor to miss the tournament as part of the ongoing management of her anxiety. Left-arm spinners Kirstie Gordon and Linsey Smith have been called up alongside allrounder Sophia Dunkley, while Amy Jones will step behind the stumps in place of Taylor. There’s also an injury cloud hanging over key quick Katherine Brunt, with skipper Knight saying in Guyana she hoped to see the Yorkshire product return to the England XI at some point during the tournament.

The star: Danielle Wyatt has enjoyed a breakthrough year with the bat at international level, striking two magnificent centuries against Australia and India. When she’s on song, there are few players in the world as damaging as the Melbourne Renegades star and England will be relying on her to have a big say at the top of the order, particularly in the absence of Taylor.

The one to watch: Jones has been handed more responsibility in the absence of Taylor, but has impressed. Few in the world possess the skill of Taylor behind the stumps, but Jones is up there with the best, while she has also taken major strides with the bat. Skipper Knight noted this week that the Jones of today is a vastly different player to the Jones of a year ago, thanks to her new-found confidence with the willow.

The verdict: England quite rightly go in as one of the favourites and will be buoyed by their success on home soil in last year’s 50-over World Cup. But they do have their share of concerns – namely the absence of Taylor and the fitness cloud hanging over Brunt – while they’ve also taken a punt on three uncapped players. But this England team know how to win and with the likes of Knight, Wyatt, Jones, Natalie Sciver, Danielle Hazell, Anya Shrubsole, Tammy Beaumont and Jenny Gunn in their ranks, it’s almost certain they’ll be there come the business end of the tournament in Antigua.

2018 ICC Women's World T20  

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

November 9: Australia v Pakistan, Province Stadium, Guyana

November 11: Australia v Ireland, Province Stadium

November 13: Australia v New Zealand, Province Stadium

November 17: Australia v India, Province Stadium

November 22: Semi-finals, Sir Vivian Richards Ground, Antigua

November 24: Final, Sir Vivian Richards Ground