Knight set for World Cup return

Heather Knight is expected to be fit for the World Cup after being named in England's squad for the tournament, but her side will be without veteran seamer Kate Cross, who has been overlooked for selection.

Knight, the former England captain, hasn't played since injuring her hamstring during England's home series with West Indies in May but it's understood that her recovery is sufficiently on track to warrant her selection on Thursday.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge also returns to strengthen the batting after being omitted in the 50-over format throughout the English summer, having made her last ODI appearance during the ill-fated Ashes tour of Australia in January.

That means batter Maia Bouchier and allrounder Alice Davidson-Richards miss out, as does Cross, with England opting for four spinners to play in India and Sri Lanka during the tournament which starts next month.

Sophie Ecclestone leads the spin contingent, which also includes fellow left-armer Linsey Smith and offspinner Charlie Dean, as well as legspinner Sarah Glenn, making her return after featuring in the West Indies series but missing out on the subsequent visit by India through June and July.

England's seam attack consists of Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer and Em Arlott, who made her international debut in May. Nat Sciver-Brunt is hopeful of returning to bowling in her allrounder role after a long-standing Achillies problem.

Head Coach Charlotte Edwards said the tournament posed a "huge challenge" but she believed her side was capable of competing "with anyone".

"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," Edwards said.

"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.

"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."

Commentating on the women's Hundred match between Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets a few hours after the announcement, Cross expressed her disappointment.

"A lot for me to process," Cross said on Sky Sports. "It's probably been a disappointing summer in terms of England cricket. I feel like I've done quite well in this tournament. I performed for Lancashire.

"But it's difficult when you go into a subcontinent World Cup and you can tell that the head coach wants a little bit more spin in her armoury, then it makes sense in my head. So there's a lot of logic that's mixed with a lot of emotion at the minute."

Cross revealed she had only learned of her omission at 9am on Thursday, two hours before the squad was announced.

She will next play for Northern Superchargers against Invincibles on Saturday as her side, currently placed second on the table, look to keep themselves in finals contention.

Missing out on the 50-over World Cup places Cross at an interesting juncture in her career. She turns 34 in October and, while a home T20 World Cup beckons next year, she has fallen out of England favour in the shorter format.

She played her last T20I during the tour of Ireland in September 2024 while the first-choice squad were in the UAE preparing for the T20 World Cup, where England eventually crashed out in the group stages.

She has also forged a successful side-hustle in commentating, although she acknowledged the difficulties of her on- and off-field careers colliding on a day like this.

"I probably wouldn't have talked about this openly live on the television if I wasn't doing commentary," she said. "But I've got 24 hours to turn it around to play a game for the Northern Supercharges on Saturday.

"It's been a bit of a whirlwind but this is professional sport, we sign up to it, it doesn't always go your way, and I've held back the tears so there we go, we can finish talking about it."

The World Cup runs from September 30 to November 2 and will be the first ICC tournament in charge for Edwards and captain Sciver-Brunt.

England Women's squad: Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge