With the cricketing calendar in full swing, England’s women’s team is gearing up for a highly anticipated bilateral white-ball series against the West Indies, starting May 21, 2025.
Following a shattering Ashes campaign, the newly appointed leadership group has made several changes to the T20I and ODI squads, signalling fresh tactics and renewed ambitions. The West Indies challenge presents a golden opportunity for England to experiment and integrate new faces alongside familiar stalwarts as they look to build momentum and depth in the lead-up to future global tournaments.
From emerging talents set to make their mark, to returning players eager to reclaim their spot, these squad adjustments are more than just switches on paper; they reflect England’s evolving strategy and appetite for innovation in white-ball cricket, as the new era begins under Charlotte Edwards as the head coach and Nat Sciver-Brunt as a new leader at the helm. Let’s delve into the key changes to the squads, examining who’s in and what these moves could mean for England’s fortunes as they take on the Caribbean challenge.
Changes in the England Women Squad:
Emily Arlott (ODIs and T20Is)
The experienced veteran at the domestic level, the 27-year-old pacer Emily Arlott, is currently the joint highest wicket-taker of the ongoing edition of the ECB Women’s One Day Cup. She is representing Warwickshire and has been the stand-out performer for her side, with 14 wickets at an impressive average of 20.85 and an economy of 4.63 in seven innings with the ball, including a four-wicket haul for her side in the tournament. Besides her exploits with the ball, she has also scored 201 runs at a strike rate of 80.07 and a decent average of 28.71 in seven innings, including one century, 130 (141 balls) against Essex on 27th April 2025 at the County Ground, Chelmsford.
In the recently concluded edition of the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), Australia’s domestic 50-over competition, she picked up five wickets at an average of 39 and an economy of 5.90 in four innings, representing Western Australia in the competition. Emily Arlott is yet to make her international debut for England. However, the debut cap isn’t far away for her, and she is likely to receive it in the upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies.
Paige Scholfield (T20Is)
Another experienced veteran from the domestic circuit, the 29-year-old batter Paige Scholfield, has been picked in England’s T20I squad for the upcoming series. She has been representing Surrey in the ongoing edition of the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup. She is currently the 4th highest run-scorer for her side with 236 runs at a strike rate of 108.75 and an impressive average of 33.71 in seven innings, including one half-century, 87 (82 balls) against Lancashire on 7th May 2025, at Trafalgar Road Ground, Southport, batting at number four on most occasions for her side in the competition.
She was also impressive while representing England A in the all-format series, scoring 203 runs in a couple of innings in the red-ball format, 83 in the sole opportunity she got in the One-Day leg of the series, and 36 runs in a T20I game against Australia A. Her previous appearance in the T20I set-up for England came on 15th September 2024 against Ireland, in the 2nd T20I at Castle Avenue, Dublin.
Issy Wong (T20Is)
The 23-year-old pacer had a promising start to her international career; however, she has been off the selectors’ radar since then. She has been representing Warwickshire in the ongoing edition of the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup. She has picked up 6 wickets in six innings at an economy of 5.32 with the ball. She has also scored 106 runs at a strike rate of 75.17 and a decent average of 26.50 in six innings with the bat for her side in the competition. Her previous appearance for England was on September 15, 2024, in the 2nd T20I against Ireland at Castle Avenue, Dublin.
Alice Davidson-Richards (ODIs)
The experienced bowling all-rounder Alice Davidson-Richards is currently representing Surrey in the ongoing edition of the Women’s One Day Cup 2025. She has picked up 6 wickets at an economy of 8.03 in seven innings with the ball for her side. Apart from her contributions with the ball, she has also scored 257 runs at a strike rate of 107.08 and a sensational average of 51.40 in seven innings, including one century and one half-century for her side in the competition. Her previous appearance for England came in an ODI on 14th September 2023 against Sri Lanka in the 3rd ODI at Grace Road, Leicester.
Mahika Gaur (ODIs)
The 19-year-old youngster, Mahika Gaur, known for her raw pace, the left-armer is one of the brightest prospects for England. She has had a few injury setbacks alongside pursuing her educational goals. However, she gained full fitness and readiness to go again for England in their upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. She is currently representing Lancashire in the ongoing ECB Women’s One-Day Cup. She has picked up 4 wickets at an average of 41.25 and an economy of 5.89 in four innings with the ball for her side in the ongoing competition. Her previous appearance for England came on 14th September 2024 in a T20I against Ireland. As far as the ODI format is concerned, she last represented England on 14th September 2023 against Sri Lanka.
Emma Lamb (ODIs)
The 27-year-old batting all-rounder Emma Lamb has also been called up to England’s ODI squad for the upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies. She is currently representing Lancashire in the ongoing edition of the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup. She is in red-hot form, and currently the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 493 runs at a strike rate of 88.19 and an astonishing average of 82.16 in seven innings with the bat for her side so far, including four half-centuries and a century in the competition.
Besides her remarkable exploits with the bat, she has also picked up 12 wickets at an impressive average of 20.50 and an economy of 4.95 in seven innings with the ball for her side, showcasing her genuine wicket-taking ability with the ball, as and when needed. Her previous appearance for England came in the ODI format on 11th September 2024 against Ireland in the 3rd ODI at the Civil Service Cricket Club Stormont, Belfast.
As England’s women’s white-ball squads undergo these strategic changes ahead of the West Indies series, it’s clear that the team is focused on balancing experience with fresh talent.
This series will not only test England’s adaptability and depth but also provide invaluable opportunities for players to stake their claim on the international stage. Fans can look forward to an exciting contest filled with dynamic performances, as England aims to build momentum and reinforce their standing in the world of women’s cricket. The Caribbean challenge is set to be a defining chapter in England’s white-ball journey, one that could shape the team’s future for years to come.
