England’s women are in the West Indies to begin their winter tour programme.Charlotte Edwards’s side face a Twenty20 tri-series against West Indies and New Zealand in Barbados, before a three-match one-day international series against the Windies in Trinidad.
The triangular series begins on Monday when the hosts face New Zealand, with England’s first game against the White Ferns on Wednesday.
England are without several players who are recovering from injuries.
Opener Heather Knight, who was England’s player of the series as they lifted the women’s Ashes this summer, misses the Caribbean tour after tearing a hamstring in the final ODI against Australia – though she hopes to be fit for the return series down under, which begins in January.
Also ruled out through injury are pace bowlers Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole and spinner Laura Marsh, while all-rounder Arran Brindle misses the tour for personal reasons.
It means there is an inexperienced look to England’s 14-strong squad, which includes uncapped seam bowlers Beth Langston and Kate Cross, as well as two players who made their international debuts earlier this summer – all-rounder Natalie Sciver, batter Lauren Winfield and left-arm seamer Tash Farrant.
West Indies have just beaten New Zealand 2-1 in a one-day series which finished on Thursday.
An improving Windies side were losing finalists at the Women’s World Cup in February, when England beat the Kiwis in the third/fourth place play-off. – BBC Sport
