Despite Pakistan omission, Dunkley, Beaumont 'still in talks' for T20 World Cup

Sophia Dunkley will need to rediscover her rhythm and find her best cricket if she is to return to the England side for this year's T20 Women's World Cup after being left out of the squad for the home white-ball series against Pakistan.

Dunkley was overlooked for both the T20I and ODI squads for the visit of Pakistan, which begins with the first of three T20Is in Birmingham on 11 May. Tammy Beaumont was only named in the ODI squad after temporarily reclaiming her T20I spot during the recent tour of New Zealand, where Maia Bouchier excelled to secure her place in the top order.

England Women's head coach Jon Lewis said Dunkley and Beaumont were still "very much in the conversation about who should play in the top three" at the World Cup, which along with No. 7 remain the key places up for grabs ahead of the tournament in Bangladesh.

Dunkley didn't play in England's last home series against Sri Lanka at the end of the 2023 summer, but has since toured India and New Zealand.

In nine T20I innings since her half-century against Australia in Birmingham last July, Dunkley has reached double figures just three times and has not passed 32. She has played just one ODI since the Women's Ashes, scoring 1 against New Zealand in Hamilton last month.

Beaumont played her first T20Is in New Zealand since losing her place after the 2022 Women's Ashes, scoring 15, 19 and 37 before being dropped to accommodate Danni Wyatt's late arrival from the WPL.

Having batted in the middle order in limited England appearances over the past two years, Bouchier was promoted to opener for the first time during the visit of Sri Lanka, where she scored a 65-ball 95 in the third ODI at Leicester.

But it was during England's 4-1 T20I series win in New Zealand that she staked her claim at the top of the order. She batted at number three in the first three matches, scoring 43 not out, 12 and 71, and then made 91 from 56 balls after being promoted to opener for the fourth match.

Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith retained her place in the England T20I squad for the tour of New Zealand after an absence of almost five years. She took one wicket in her two appearances there and now has eight wickets from four appearances in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, which puts her third on the competition list.

Freya Kemp, who suffered a stress fracture in her back and a subsequent flare-up at the end of 2022, will only play as a batsman after being named in the T20I squad, but England hope to have her bowling and available as an all-rounder by the time of the World Cup.

Fast bowler Issy Wong remains on the outside after irregular appearances for England amid some rhythm issues of her own.

England identified a weakness in their batting against spin during last year's visit by Sri Lanka, who upset the hosts by winning the T20I series. Lewis responded by holding training camps in Mumbai and was pleased with the way his side put what they had learned into practice during their 2-1 T20I series win over hosts India in December.

As part of an increasingly busy schedule, England will head to Abu Dhabi to prepare for the T20 World Cup.

Fitting in another block of overseas preparation before the tournament is likely to mean that the vast majority of players heading to the World Cup won't be travelling to Ireland for three ODIs and three T20Is in September.

England Women T20I squad:
Heather Knight, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt

England Women ODI squad:
Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt