England Women's national selector Lydia Greenway laid out her plan for the side to close the gap on the world's best, Australia, with a push for 'world-class' allrounders at the heart of their strategy. As part of that plan, all-rounders Dani Gibson and Freya Kemp have been starters throughout the summer, which included T20 series wins over New Zealand and India, as well as a run to the final of the T20 World Cup on home soil - before being beaten by Australia. Charlotte Edwards' side were also well beaten by India in a historic first women's Test at Lord's, but they ended their summer on a high with a 3-0 ODI series sweep of Ireland.
"We don't want to be behind Australia all the time, we've got to close that gap," Greenway told Sky Sports Cricket during the third ODI win over Ireland on Sunday. "And when you look at Australia, and how they're lined up in their top seven, they've probably got three or four bowling options - so we need to look at how we can do that. "We know in the women's game, it's the all-rounders who dominate, and we have to look at that not just in the short term, but in the long term as well.
"If you're world class at your first skill, there's then wiggle room with what you offer in your other two skills. But I think if you are a very good international cricketer, but not world class, you have to offer us something else. That's my personal opinion on how we want to move things forward.
I think that's really important." For the ODI series against Ireland, England also trialled Alice Capsey at wicketkeeper, instead of regular starter Amy Jones - with the aim, again, being to add to the multi-faceted nature of their top order. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "With Alice Capsey, ideally, we would've given her this opportunity if it was a T20 series. That's where we see her potentially, if she can add that string to her bow," Greenway explained.
"She's proven herself a really capable middle-order batter, and by her having the opportunity to keep, if she has that role moving forwards, it frees up other spaces. "It creates a bit more competition with Amy Jones, but she is very much the person who has the gloves at the moment." England wrapped up their international summer with a thumping 114-run win in the final ODI against Ireland in Worcester on Sunday, Sophia Dunkley starring with the bat as she cracked a run-a-ball 119 at the top of the order. Reflecting on what the side will take away from the 3-0 series whitewash, former England bowler Tash Farrant told Sky Sports Cricket: "They've learnt that Sophia Dunkley's form has transferred into the 50-over format after a brilliant Hundred [tournament].
"Maia Boucher too, back at the top of the order, they could potentially be a good opening partnership going forward. "They've also learnt that Tilly Corteen-Coleman is probably going to be in and around the team, playing with Sophie Ecclestone. "Other than that, I would have liked to have seen Grace Potts, and maybe Charis Pavely get a game.
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