England head coach Charlotte Edwards has admitted that her side's batting combinations remain unsettled ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, even as England sealed a 2-1 T20I series victory over New Zealand — the reigning world champions — in Hove on Monday, 26 May. The win, achieved without several senior players, highlighted the squad's growing depth but also exposed selection dilemmas that Edwards says are far from resolved.

Series Decider: Bowling Stars, Batting Questions

In the series-clinching third T20I, England dismissed New Zealand for just 80 before chasing down the target by seven wickets. Stand-in captain Charlie Dean and all-rounder Dani Gibson each claimed three wickets in the final match, while left-arm spinner Linsey Smith was named Player of the Series after finishing with six wickets across the three games. The bowling unit, Edwards conceded, is close to settled — it is the batting order that continues to pose problems.

Key Absences Open the Door for Young Players

The series was played without captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who is recovering from a calf injury, and experienced opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who was unavailable following the birth of her first child. Their absence created openings for younger players, with Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp both making strong cases for a starting berth in the World Cup XI.

What Edwards Said

'I absolutely don't know my best XI at the moment. But what players are doing is putting their hand up all the time. There's certainly different combinations that we want to look at. I'm probably more sure of the bowling, but I guess the batters are giving us a few headaches, which you want — you want people wanting to put their hands up,' Edwards told BBC Sport after the victory.

On Sciver-Brunt's readiness despite a lack of match practice, Edwards was characteristically confident: 'If there's any person in world cricket you don't mind having the lack of cricket she's had, it's Nat. We played without two of them and Lauren Bell, who was rested for the third match in Hove. That's been the most pleasing thing — we've got this depth in our squad now and we've just beaten the world champions, so we are really, really chuffed.'

India Series Next, World Cup on the Horizon

England are expected to welcome Wyatt-Hodge back for a three-match T20I series against India, beginning in Chelmsford on Thursday. The India series will serve as a final audition before the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, which gets underway on 12 June. Sciver-Brunt's return timeline, however, remains uncertain as she continues rehabilitation.

England's T20 World Cup Squad

England's confirmed squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge. With the tournament less than three weeks away, Edwards will be hoping the India series delivers the batting clarity her side still needs.