Tammy Beaumont is gearing up for a comeback to England’s Twenty20 squad, marking her first appearance since January 2022. The team is also potentially welcoming newcomer Lauren Filer, a 23-year-old seamer, as they kick off their New Zealand tour with the first of five T20 matches in Dunedin this Tuesday.
Beaumont’s exclusion prior to the 2022 Commonwealth Games was a strategic move by captain Heather Knight, who was in search of players to inject a sense of fearlessness and aggression into the 20-over format. Yet, Beaumont’s performance in August, scoring 118 runs from 61 balls for Welsh Fire, the highest score in the Hundred’s history, has certainly turned heads and challenged previous perceptions.
Lauren Filer, on the other hand, caught the eye of head coach Jon Lewis last summer, earning her a spot in the Ashes Test at Trent Bridge. Following this, she played in all three of England’s one-day internationals against Sri Lanka in September. Despite not having played a T20 match yet, the absence of Kate Cross and Issy Wong from the squad, coupled with Freya Kemp’s back injury recurrence, might see Filer making her T20 debut.
In a warm-up match against New Zealand A on Thursday, Beaumont was tasked with opening the batting alongside Sophia Dunkley by the coach. She did not disappoint, securing a half-century in just 32 balls. With Danni Wyatt away playing in the Women’s Premier League in India, Beaumont sees a prime opportunity to reclaim her top-order position permanently.
England’s team, traditionally dominant over New Zealand, faces a unique challenge this time due to the concurrent Women’s Premier League. Key players like Wyatt, Sophie Ecclestone, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Alice Capsey are missing the first three T20s, opting to stay with their franchise teams. Interestingly, Capsey was the only one among them to play in Sunday’s final, while Wyatt did not get a game for UP Warriorz throughout the tournament.
Despite the absence of these top players, leg-spinner Sarah Glenn reports that the team’s preparations are on track. The team is shaking off any rust and is coming together well, energized by the inclusion of new talents.
Among the newcomers are left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, returning after a hiatus since 2019, and the yet-to-debut 26-year-old batter Hollie Armitage. Both have been active in New Zealand’s domestic Women’s Super Smash, representing Central Districts, which could give them an edge in adapting to local conditions if called upon by Lewis.
New Zealand’s team welcomes back all-rounder Brooke Halliday after a foot injury. Halliday made an impressive debut against England in 2021 with consecutive half-centuries. However, the hosts face their own challenges with key players Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr missing the opener due to the Women’s Premier League, with Suzie Bates stepping in as captain.
In parallel, England A is competing in their own series against New Zealand A, comprising three T20s and three 50-over matches. This serves as a crucial depth test for both teams. England A has shown promise with victories in the first two T20s, highlighted by a swift half-century from 20-year-old Grace Scrivens, who is expected to advance to the senior team within the next year.