THE 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is just around the corner, and will see 10 teams from across the world battle it out in South Africa to be crowned World Champions for another three years.

In the lead up to the tournament, Rookie Me Central will be previewing the teams one by one, and taking a deep dive into their chances at the upcoming tournament.

In our penultimate preview, we take a look at England.

England has always been one of the top teams in international women’s cricket, but never quite been able to match it with the absolute cream of the crop. Making the semi-finals of major tournaments is a regular occurance for the English, but finals seem to be just out of their reach in the last few years.

At the last World Cup three years ago they were the unfortunate victim of the weather, but last year at a home Commonwealth Games they did not even come away with a medal, losing to New Zealand in the Bronze Medal match.

Reaching the semi finals again at this tournament should not be an issue for the English, the question is just whether they can take things a step further and make the final. They certainly have the talent in the squad to take that next step and make a final, but something just needs to click to make it happen.

Once again the side will be led by stalwart Heather Knight, but has a nice mix of youth and experience. On the more experienced end of the scale there is Nat and Katherine Sciver-Brunt. The daunting duo, now competing under their married names, are a scary prospect for any batter to face, and will be crucial for the English to get a good start with the ball.

Then there is also plenty of members of this English squad who have come off great Women’s Big Bash League seasons and will be keen to continue that form into this tournament. These include Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt, Sophie Ecclestone and Alice Capsey. Ecclestone and Capsey had particularly dominant tournaments, with Capsey really making a name for herself after making her international debut at the Commonwealth Games.

England Squad

Heather Knight (c), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt

England Fixture (all dates local)

February 11 – West Indies
February 13 – Ireland
February 18 – India
February 21 – Pakistan