England add Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Maia Bouchier for Women’s T20I against India

England have added Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier to their squad for the three-match women’s T20I series against India, which starts in Chelmsford on Thursday. However, Wyatt-Hodge will only be available for the final two matches, with the England and Wales Cricket Board confirming the change on Tuesday.

Downloading matters more than cleaning the selection. England are using this India series as their final set of competitive matches before the Women’s World T20 next month, and Wyatt-Hodge would otherwise go into that tournament on June 12 without having played internationally this summer. England and India will also play a one-off Test at Lord’s after the World Cup.

In a statement, the ECB said: “Danni Wyatt-Hodge will join the England Women’s squad ahead of the three-match Vitality IT20 series with India and will be available for the final two matches. As a result, Charis Pavely has now returned to Warwickshire.” He adds: “Maia Bouchier has been added to the squad for the India series, while Lauren Filer has been cleared to play for Durham against Surrey on Wednesday before returning to the squad for the remainder of the India series.”

Wyatt-Hodge, 35, missed England’s recent win over New Zealand after giving birth to her first child, while her partner gave birth last week. India’s series begins in Chelmsford, with the second and third T20Is to be played in Bristol and Taunton on May 30 and June 2, respectively.

Her return gives England an experienced option at the top of the order at a time when the side is still searching for its best combination. England are now without injured captain Nat Sciver-Bruntwho missed six white-ball matches against New Zealand and will also rule out the India series due to a calf injury. In Wyatt-Hodge’s absence, Alice Capsey bolstered her case as an opener with an unbeaten 74 to lead England to victory in the first T20 against New Zealand, while coach Charlotte Edwards admitted on Monday that she does not yet know her best XI. Incumbent point guard Sophia Dunkley scored eight, 26 and 22 against the White Ferns.

Although Wyatt-Hodge has not played internationally this summer, she has brought strong domestic form to this appeal, hitting two centuries and 96 in five 50-over games for Surrey at the start of the season. Charis Pavely has now returned to Warwickshire following the inclusion of Wyatt-Hodge, while Bouchier remains in the squad for the India series. Filer has since been cleared to play for Durham against Surrey on Wednesday before rejoining the England squad.

For England, the India series is not just another bilateral assignment. It is the final competitive checkpoint before the World Cup, with only official warm-up matches against Australia and India on June 8 and 10 to follow. Wyatt-Hodge’s return for the final two games, Bouchier’s inclusion and Sciver-Brunt’s continued absence mean the series will also affect how England settle their side before the bigger Test begins.

– The end

Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

26 May 2026 22:18 IST