England target all-rounder depth to close gap on Australia
National selector Lydia Greenway says England must develop more players with multiple skills after completing a 3-0 ODI sweep of Ireland.
England will prioritise developing world-class all-rounders as part of an effort to narrow the gap with Australia, national selector Lydia Greenway has told Sky Sports.
Greenway said Australia’s top seven includes three or four bowling options, and argued that England must build greater versatility through the batting order. Dani Gibson and Freya Kemp have been regular starters during an international summer that included T20 series wins over New Zealand and India, a T20 World Cup final loss to Australia and defeat by India in the first women’s Test at Lord’s.
Alice Capsey was trialled as wicketkeeper during the ODI series against Ireland, with the move intended to increase the range of options available to England’s top order. Amy Jones remains the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper, while Capsey’s potential role is still exploratory.
England completed the series sweep with a 114-run win in the final ODI, Sophia Dunkley scoring 119. Charlie Dean also captained for the second time this summer in place of the rested Nat Sciver-Brunt, strengthening the team’s leadership options.
Sciver-Brunt remains England’s captain across all formats. Greenway identified Dean and Gibson as potential deputies, saying the team now has alternatives if the captain is unavailable.
