England win toss, bat vs West Indies
England women won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening T20I of their five-match series against West Indies.
It is the first international match between top-level women’s teams since the T20 World Cup final in early March, when Australia defeated India in front of more than 86,000 people at the MCG. This will be vastly different, behind closed doors at Derby’s Incora County Ground, but is a welcome return to action after England faced the prospect of playing no international cricket following the collapse of planned tours by India and South Africa in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Both teams are wearing the Black Lives Matter logo on their shirts as part of their combined commitment to support the movement, which also includes taking a knee before play in each of their matches throughout the series.
Tammy Beaumont and Danni Wyatt will open as England stick with the same team that played West Indies in their last encounter, during the group stages of the T20I World Cup. Beaumont’s promotion back up the order followed a period of acting as a floating batsman during the earlier matches in the tournament.
Deandra Dottin returns at the top of West Indies’ order as she continues her comeback from shoulder surgery, while captain Stafanie Taylor, who was stretchered off with a groin injury during that World Cup match against England, is fully fit and back at No. 3.
England: Danni Wyatt, Tammy Beaumont, Nat Sciver, Heather Knight (capt), Fran Wilson, Amy Jones (wk), Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn.
West Indies: Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor (capt), Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Chinelle Henry, Britney Cooper, Lee-Ann Kirby, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Shamilia Connell, Shakera Selman.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo