New Zealand v England: Heather Knight's side start build-up to 2024 T20 World Cup

19 Mar 2024

BBC

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New Zealand v England Heather Knights side start buildup to 2024 T20
World Cup

Heather Knight's England play five T20s and three one-day internationals in New Zealand, starting on 19 March.

After a year of mixed results, England's women are in New Zealand searching for consistency as they build towards this year's T20 World Cup.

Heather Knight's side impressed in drawing the Ashes against Australia at home and winning a T20 series 2-1 in India.

But a disappointing semi-final exit at the 2023 T20 World Cup and a chastening T20 series defeat by Sri Lanka at home have raised issues for England and coach Jon Lewis to address before this autumn's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.

They face New Zealand in five T20s and three one-day internationals, with the first T20 in Dunedin starting at 00:00 GMT on Tuesday.

WPL absences provide opportunity

Four of England's best players will miss the first three T20s, with Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt, Sophie Ecclestone and Alice Capsey given permission to stay in India to finish the Women's Premier League season, which ended on Sunday with Royal Challengers Bangalore beating Delhi Capitals in the final.

All-rounder Sciver-Brunt and the world's number one white-ball bowler Ecclestone were rested for the Sri Lanka series defeat and Sciver-Brunt missed the one T20 England lost in India.

England must prove in New Zealand they are not over reliant on the duo.

There are question marks over the middle order in Sciver-Brunt's absence, with Maia Bouchier, 25, still looking to cement a place and attacking batter Bess Heath, 22, having played just one international.

Wicketkeeper Heath could put pressure on incumbent Amy Jones, who has not scored an international half-century since December 2022.

However, there are signs England's depth is improving, with the emergence of all-rounder Dani Gibson, 22, and fast bowler Lauren Filer, 23, over the past year, while spinners Sarah Glenn, 24, and Charlie Dean, 23, are now considerably more experienced.

Time to answer spin concerns

England's batters need to address their weakness against spin, which has been regularly exploited by opposition and will play a big part in Bangladesh.

Since the end of the T20 World Cup in South Africa in February, England have lost 87 wickets to spin and 45 to pace, across all formats.

Australia off-spinner Ash Gardner took 23 wickets in the Ashes, Deepti Sharma dismantled the line-up in India and Sri Lanka packed their team with spinners.

Conditions in New Zealand will not be as spin-friendly as India or Bangladesh but the White Ferns do have talented spinners - most notably leg-spinning all-rounder Amelia Kerr, though she and Sophie Devine will miss the first T20 because of their WPL commitments.

Regardless, England are favourites to win both series, with the hosts dependent on Kerr and the long-serving trio of all-rounder Devine, captain Suzie Bates and seamer Lea Tahuhu.