Kate Cross believes England can beat any team when they are in top form and is confident of her “young and exciting” squad ahead of October’s T20 World Cup.
England ended their domestic summer in dominant fashion with comprehensive wins over Pakistan and New Zealand in multi-format white-ball series respectively.
Cross’s first tour of Ireland as England captain saw England meet some resistance, drawing the T20 series 1-1 before winning the one-day leg 2-1.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Beth Heath and all-rounder Freya Kemp have both been named in the World Cup squad, along with Daniel Gibson, who was on the touring reserve list when England reached the semi-final in South Africa last year but has since been promoted to the full 15-man squad.
“England can beat any team on their best day,” senior seamer Cross said. Sky Sports News.
“I think last summer’s Ashes really showed what we look like when we’re at our best.
“We have a young and exciting team competing and I wish them all the best from a very cold and rainy day in England.
“The players have been in the UAE for around 10 days and have put in excellent preparations.
“There are still a few days and games to go before the first game but I’m sure they’ll be going in with a lot of confidence.”
Opening batsman Tammy Beaumont and former South African squad member Cross are among those who missed out on selection, but manager John Lewis insisted the door was open to anyone who wasn’t selected.
England have chosen to field a team that combines youth and experience as they aim to win their first trophy since the inaugural tournament in 2009.
“I think we have some great veteran players on the team,” Beaumont added.
“If you look at Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones, I think they’re really consistent and playing how the team wants them to, which allows the younger players to come out and be themselves and compete.”
“You have players like Sophie Ecclestone, she’s a big senior player who has competed a lot. [T20] The best bowler in the world.”
Lindsay Smith, who returned to the England squad earlier this year, is part of the team’s spin bowling attack alongside Ecclestone.
England are currently taking part in a pre-World Cup training camp in Abu Dhabi from September 13-24.
The tournament, which was moved from Bangladesh to the UAE due to political unrest, will kick off with a warm-up match between England and Bangladesh on October 5 before Knight’s side face South Africa, Scotland and the West Indies in Group B.
The tournament will offer a record total prize pool of £6 million, with the winner taking home £1.77 million – more than double the previous prize money awarded to 2023 winners Australia (£756,335).
The losing finalist team will win £884,911, and each of the 10 participating teams will be guaranteed £85,088.
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Highlights from Kear Oval: England beat New Zealand in the fourth T20 international thanks to four wickets from Sarah Glenn.
Australia has been dominant in the World Cup and is aiming for a third consecutive title and seventh overall.
After the World Cup, England will tour South Africa to play three ODIs, T20s and one Test match in the run up to the 2025 Ashes.
“It’s always tough to travel overseas on any tour and win,” Cross added.
“We know there are some challenges ahead and preparing for a Test match is always a little bit different, especially from a bowling point of view, but it’s something we love and it energises us and we want to bowl more.”
“It’s something we’re looking forward to. Me and Tammy have a little bit more time to prepare than the girls who are currently in the UAE.”
England will play two warm-up matches against Bangladesh and South Africa respectively before their opening match against Scotland. Sky Sports.
England Women’s T20 World Cup match schedule
- Saturday, October 5: Bangladesh v England (Sharjah)
- Monday, October 7: England v South Africa (Sharjah)
- Sunday, October 13: England v Scotland (Sharjah)
- Tuesday, October 15: England v West Indies (Dubai)
- Thursday, October 17: Semi-final 1 (Dubai)
- Friday, October 18: Semi-final 2 (Sharjah)
- Sunday, October 20: Final (Dubai)
Women’s T20 World Cup Groups
- Group A: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
- Group B: South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Scotland
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