Women’s World Cup 2025: England announce 15-member team, Danni Wyatt-Hodge returns

England Women have announced their 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, which will begin on September 30. Nat Sciver-Brunt, the ICC’s top-ranked women’s ODI batter, will captain England for the first time at an ICC event.

Heather Knight, the team’s former captain, returns to the squad after missing several months due to a tendon injury in her right hamstring. Sarah Glenn and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge both return to the England ODI squad after missing the India series earlier this summer.

Glenn will join a formidable spin contingent, captained by No. 1 Women’s ODI bowler Sophie Ecclestone. The English squad includes four specialist spinners, with six players poised to make their ODI World Cup debuts. Tammy Beaumont, Sophia Dunkley, Amy Jones, Charlie Dean, and Linsey Smith remain in the squad as England look to replicate their 2017 success.

Head Coach Charlotte Edwards expressed her delight at the squad announcement, emphasizing the prestige of representing England in a World Cup and the challenge of competing in India and Sri Lanka. She also revealed that playing in subcontinent conditions forced them to pick a few extra spinners in their line-up to get the maximum benefit out of the pitches.

“Being selected to play for your country in a World Cup is one of the biggest honours in sport and I’m delighted for all the players named in the squad. Like all global tournaments, it will be a huge challenge but we want to go as far as we possibly can in India and I believe that if we play our best cricket we can compete with anyone,” Edwards said in an official release.

“Conditions mean we have gone for the extra spinner and we’re lucky to be able to have such depth in this department. It’s fantastic to welcome Sarah Glenn back. That does mean there’s no room for Kate Cross, Maia Bouchier or Alice Davidson-Richards, which will be disappointing for them,” she added.

The four-time world champions will be aiming to add another title to their collection, having previously won the inaugural tournament in 1973, and later in 1993, 2009, and 2017. England will begin their campaign against South Africa on October 3. This game is slated to be held in Bengaluru, but may be shifted elsewhere owing to security issues.

“It’s also great to have Danni back in the squad, she’s been in good form in domestic cricket and she’ll bring dynamism and depth to our batting, alongside Heather, who we are absolutely delighted to be able to select. She’ll be a huge asset for us,” Edwards said.

“India is an amazing place to play cricket, and as a group we have a huge opportunity to go and do something special. ODI World Cups are the pinnacle of our sport. They only come around every four years and we’re so excited to get over there to start our preparation,” she concluded.