England ‘settle nicely’ ahead of Women’s T20 World Cup – but bigger test to come in India series | cricket news

First up for England as they work through their pre-T20 World Cup checklist.

A crushing victory in Hove sunshine Having secured a seventh successive bilateral T20 series win against New Zealand, the next focus is on a three-match series against India before their home World Cup opener against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12.

Positive 2-1 win over White Fern, including a pair A seven-wicket success sandwiched a Defeated by 14 runs, Charlie Deane’s captaincy as an off-spinning all-rounder is included. Nat Sciver-Brunt suffered a calf injury.

England hope Syver-Brant will be fit for next month’s World Cup and will miss his batting if he isn’t – the 33-year-old has 2,000 T20I runs with 18 fifties – but they look to be in safe hands at the helm should he suffer any sort of setback.

Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain said: “I can’t think of an occasion when England have bowled and fielded where they have lost the plot and Dean has to take a lot of credit for that. The captaincy sits well on his shoulders and doesn’t put pressure on him.”

‘Don’t judge how England played against New Zealand’

with Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith And key seam bowler Lauren Bell is making a formidable combination in the powerplay; Alice Capsey scored an unbeaten 74 off 51 balls as the opener in the first T20IAnd with Dani Gibson and Freya Kemp fully capable of functioning as all-rounders after injury problems, England look in good shape.

Gibson’s three-wicket haul in the Hove romp included Mellie Kerr and Sophie Devine in the same over.

However, Hussain sounded a note of caution, saying the team had not won a global tournament since the 2017 50-over World Cup and had often fluffed their lines under pressure in those intervening years.

Hussain said: “England beat teams convincingly but how do you go against the guns, how do you go when the pressure is on you. That’s when you get to know your cricketers.

“You coast through the games but then get to a semi-final or a final and suddenly an Australian, a South African or an Indian batting line-up is coming at you.

“Things are settling in nicely but don’t judge how England went against New Zealand. India will be a different challenge.

“We have seen New Zealand collapse at the top (of their batting line-up) but India have experience, hundreds of experience – Smriti Mandhana, Shefali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur – so it could be a good test.”

Smith sure of the World Cup – but what about the batters?

Hussain’s fellow pundit Tash Farrant reckons India’s “world-class” spinners will give England a tough test, but is buoyed by home tweaker Smith, who finished the New Zealand series with eight averages of six wickets in three matches and an economy rate of just 4.16 runs an over.

Any doubts about Smith’s place have now evaporated following the emergence of 18-year-old Tilly Curtin-Coleman.

She looks locked in to line up alongside fellow left-armer Sophie Ecclestone and off-spinner Dean in England’s top team.

Farrant added: “Smith has ruled out any chat. He’s a great powerplay bowler and the combination of Bell swinging it and Smith swinging it is really good. Smith has also worked on his death bowling, bowling those short schemers.”

Then the big decision for England could be how to complete the batting line-up.

We’re yet to see Danny Watt-Hodge in an international kit this summer due to parental leave but he could return against India and if/when Syver-Bront returns too, there’s quite a logjam.

Farrant concluded: “There are only three places between Watt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey and Heather Knight because I think England need to play two all-rounders in Kemp and Gibson.

“It’s a bit of a battle and whoever’s in form has to play. Capsic has looked the most dynamic he’s been for a long time so that’s got to be there for me.”

England vs India match

All times UK and Ireland, All live on Sky Sports

• 1st T20 (Chelmsford) – Thursday 28 May (6.30pm)
• 2nd T20 (Bristol) – Saturday 30 May (2.30pm)
• 3rd T20 (Taunton) – Tuesday, June 2 (6.30 pm)

Watch Women’s T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports from June 12 to July 5. Hosts England open the tournament with a game against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston (6.30pm start) on the opening night of the tournament.