Report
Nat Sciver leads England with Heather Knight ruled out through injury
New Zealand win toss and choose to bowl vs England
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first in the first T20I against England at Chelmsford.
Heather Knight, the England captain, was ruled out with a right hamstring injury after pulling up sore during training on Monday. Knight’s injury will be monitored ahead of Saturday’s match at Hove, the second of the three T20Is between these sides. Nat Sciver will captain England in Knight’s place.
Knight’s absence means allrounder Emma Lamb will make her international debut, just four days after being drafted into the England squad when uncapped duo Maia Bouchier and Charlie Dean were ruled out of the first T20I because they had been identified as possible Covid contacts.
New Zealand’s batting line-up has been bolstered by the return of Sophie Devine, back after taking a break from the sport in late March, and Suzie Bates following shoulder surgery which has kept her out of action since the WBBL last November.
New Zealand: 1 Suzie Bates, 2 Sophie Devine (capt), 3 Amy Satterthwaite, 4 Maddy Green, 5 Brooke Halliday, 6 Katey Martin (wk), 7 Hayley Jensen, 8 Thamsyn Newton, 9 Hannah Rowe, 10 Jess Kerr, 11 Leigh Kasperek
England: 1 Tammy Beaumont, 2 Danni Wyatt, 3 Nat Sciver (capt), 4 Amy Jones (wk), 5 Sophia Dunkley, 6 Emma Lamb, 7 Katherine Brunt, 8 Sophie Ecclestone, 9 Sarah Glenn, 10 Mady Villiers, 11 Tash Farrant
Valkerie Baynes is a general editor at ESPNcricinfo
Source: ESPN Crickinfo