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Teen star Alice Capsey in line for Test debut and Sophie Ecclestone fit for England's India tour
Big-hitting all-rounder in line to play her first Test in December in Bazball transformation of women's team as key left-arm spinner returns
Teen star Alice Capsey is in line for a long-awaited Test debut when England tour India next month, with Sophie Ecclestone returning from a serious shoulder injury.
Hard-hitting all-rounder Capsey has been a white-ball regular for England for 18 months but her handy off-spins means she is likely to play her first Test in Mumbai just before Christmas as part of head coach Jon Lewis’s Bazball-style rebuild.
Ecclestone’s return is most welcome after she underwent surgery having dislocated her shoulder during this summer’s Hundred. She is back bowling, and in line to play in both the T20s and Test.
“She’s the No.1 bowler in the world across both white-ball formats, she’s an obvious standout talent in women’s cricket,” Lewis said. “She’s a really good competitor, she loves winning. So she’s great to have around our side.
“She’s working her way back to fitness. We expect her to be fit to play. However, getting people back to fitness isn’t always a linear experience,” Lewis added. “So we’ll see how she progresses over the next three or four weeks. The medical people are telling me she will be [fit], but my experience tells me that’s not always straightforward. The thing that could be more tricky for her is hitting the ground when she fields.”
England will play three T20s and a one-off four-day Test, all in Mumbai. With World Cups approaching in Bangladesh (2024, T20) and India (2025, ODI), Lewis sees the tour as important subcontinental experience for his squad.
The inexperienced wicketkeeper-bat Bess Heath has made both squads, while young bowlers Mahika Gaur and Lauren Foiler are in the T20 and Test groups respectively. There is still no place for Tammy Beaumont in the T20 team, despite her fine summer across formats.
“We haven’t toured India for a number of years,” Lewis said. “We have players who have experienced playing in the Women’s Premier League but many haven’t played international cricket there before. Playing in Indian conditions is great preparation for our next two World Cups in the subcontinent and will be an amazing learning opportunity for both the players and the staff. We respect the Indian team and are really looking forward to the challenge.”
England have also selected an A-squad for a camp in Oman, which includes Issy Wong – who endured a difficult summer – and Tash Farrant as she returns from injury.