Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean receive maiden call-ups as England Women announce squad for New Zealand T20Is

England women have announced a 15-player squad for the upcoming home T20I series against New Zealand women at home. While there haven’t been many surprises, Maia Bouchier and Charlie Dean have got maiden call-ups for the national team. The Southern Vipers duo has been on a roll in the domestic circuit and the national selectors decided to award them places in the national team.

Bouchier has played some sensational knocks in recent times and it would be interesting to see how her maiden international assignment pans out. She also was instrumental in taking Southern Brave to the finals of the recently-concluded The Hundred Women. On the other hand, off-spinner is the leading wicket-taker of the ongoing Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, having scalped 10 wickets in four games.

Notably, the duo is the only addition to the England team that beat India 2-1 in a three-match T20 series earlier this summer. At the same time, batter Fran Wilson is the only player to face the axe. Speaking of the selected squad, England head coach Lisa Keightley said the board is aiming to bring more players in the picture.

So many other players are sticking their hand up: England head coach Lisa Keightley

“We’re looking at more players than ever before, which is so exciting. In the past selection meetings have by necessity been quite focused on the Centrally Contracted group, but the fact that so many other players are sticking their hand up and pushing for selection is testament to the progress the domestic structure is allowing the women’s game to make,” said in a statement.

“We’re seeing improvements across the board, and there were a number of young English players who also shone in The Hundred, which bodes really well for the future. This is another big series for us, and I want the team to continue from where they left off in the series win over India,” she added.

Meanwhile, the three-match T20I series will get on September 1 at the County Ground in Chelmsford. Having defeated India in their last assignment, the Three Lions would be high on confidence. On the other hand, the New Zealand team will take the field for the first time since April and it would be interesting to see how they perform.