Heather Knight included but big names miss out as England name squad for ICC Women's World Cup - 'We can compete with anyone'
Published 21/08/2025 at 11:54 GMT+1
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Heather Knight has been selected in England's squad for the Women's World Cup but the likes of Katie Cross, Maia Boucher and Alice Davidson-Richards all miss out. It will be a first ICC tournament for head coach Charlotte Edwards, who is confident England "can compete with anyone". The ICC Women's World Cup will take place in India and Sri Lanka, and gets underway on September 30.
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England have named their 15-strong squad for the ICC Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Katie Cross, one of England’s most experienced bowlers, has missed out, but former captain Heather Knight is included as she continues her comeback from a hamstring injury.
Elsewhere, leg-spinner Sarah Glenn and batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge have been recalled to the ODI squad. Maia Bouchier and Alice Davidson-Richards are other notable absentees.
It will be the first ICC tournament for head coach Charlotte Edwards, who is relishing the opportunity to mix it with the best sides in the world.
"Being selected to play for your country in a World Cup is one of the biggest honours in sport and I’m delighted for all the players named in the squad," Edwards said.
"Like all global tournaments, it will be a huge challenge, but we want to go as far as we possibly can in India and I believe that if we play our best cricket we can compete with anyone.
"Conditions mean we have gone for the extra spinner and we’re lucky to be able to have such depth in this department. It’s fantastic to welcome Sarah Glenn back.
"That does mean there’s no room for Kate Cross, Maia Bouchier or Alice Davidson-Richards, which will be disappointing for them.
"It’s also great to have Danni back in the squad, she’s been in good form in domestic cricket and she’ll bring dynamism and depth to our batting, alongside Heather, who we are absolutely delighted to be able to select. She’ll be a huge asset for us."
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The World Cup begins on September 30, with England opening their campaign against South Africa on October 3 as they seek to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 so far.
They lost the Ashes 16-0 in Australia to begin the year, and suffered T20 and ODI series defeats to India in the summer.
England got to the final of the last World Cup in 2022 but were beaten by Australia.
England Women’s World Cup squad
Em Arlott (Warwickshire)
Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze)
Lauren Bell (Hampshire)
Alice Capsey (Surrey)
Charlie Dean (Somerset)
Sophia Dunkley (Surrey)
Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire)
Lauren Filer (Durham)
Sarah Glenn (The Blaze)
Amy Jones (The Blaze)
Heather Knight (Somerset)
Emma Lamb (Lancashire)
Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze; captain)
Linsey Smith (Hampshire)
Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey)
Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze)
Lauren Bell (Hampshire)
Alice Capsey (Surrey)
Charlie Dean (Somerset)
Sophia Dunkley (Surrey)
Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire)
Lauren Filer (Durham)
Sarah Glenn (The Blaze)
Amy Jones (The Blaze)
Heather Knight (Somerset)
Emma Lamb (Lancashire)
Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze; captain)
Linsey Smith (Hampshire)
Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey)
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