We're on track for the winter, claims skipper

Skipper Heather Knight says the fight shown by England to clinch a hard-fought T20 international series against New Zealand bodes well ahead of a massive World Cup and Ashes winter.

England wrapped up the series 2-1 by winning a tight final game at Taunton.

They now begin a five-match ODI series against the White Ferns starting at Bristol on Thursday. It offers a final chance to experiment and give opportunities in the format to youngsters before the Ashes. England have included uncapped Southern Vipers off-spinner Charlie Dean, 20, in their 15-strong squad.

Knight was encouraged by how her team responded at Taunton and by the way different players had stepped up to put in match-winning performances across the summer.

“The biggest thing is winning those big games under pressure and also starting series really well,” she said. “The way we played, the mentality we had in that first game of the series to put a really strong performance in was really pleasing. In the past we've probably started series a little bit slower, sort of eased in and got stuck in that way.

“The mentality to really take the game on and take the game to the opposition has been really pleasing. It's something we've talked about a lot and started to nail those first games, which is really great.

“That's what you need if you want to start a tournament really well, because that sets you up nicely and takes the pressure off the back end.”

She was pleased to see two young players make key contributions, highlighting Maia Bouchier’s 25 on debut at Hove and Sophia Dunkley who played another innings under pressure to see England over the line at Taunton.

Dunkley will play a key role at six for England in both T20Is and ODIs over the next year and Knight added she had been impressed by the youngster’s maturity and ability to keep her calm this summer.

“It’s something she's worked really hard at, something that probably didn't come naturally to her at the start of her career.

“But I think she's realised how much time she has and she's been so eager to learn, just improve and really work on her mentality as well as her cricket skills which are in a really good place.

“I’m really proud of her how she's worked it out. Now she feels a lot more calm, a lot more composed. She knows she's got the skills to take games deep. I’m just really impressed by her, how she's gone about things.”

With five ODIs in just 11 days, England will look to manage workload and rotate players, looking after fast bowlers in particular. That could mean giving other players opportunities as England look to build a squad to compete this winter.

Said Knight: “It's finding that balance about wanting to be successful and win the series against a good New Zealand side, but also trying to manage players and look to the future a little bit and give opportunities where we can because it's the only ODI cricket we've got before the World Cup and the Ashes.

“When you do that, you want to make sure that anyone you give opportunities to will improve the side. That’s what we look at when we're talking about selection which is getting harder all the time. The depth we have now is brilliant. That's a good sign for English cricket. It's going to keep us pushing forward.”

New Zealand will have similar aims for this series ahead of hosting the World Cup next March. Skipper Sophie Devine was proud of the way her team bounced back to win the second T20I after a rusty performance cost them in the first. Devine’s own return to form following a mental health break and Suzie Bates’ comeback after shoulder surgery are a huge boost for the Kiwis.

Dean, who was included in the T20I squad but did not play, took career best T20 figures of 5-19 for Vipers in June. She is the joint second highest wicket taker in the 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy this summer and a useful middle-order batter.

Meanwhile Kate Cross and Lauren Winfield-Hill both return to the squad, having missed out on the Vitality IT20 series, while Danni Wyatt is also back in the squad, having not been selected for the Royal London ODI series against India.

Head Coach Lisa Keightley said: “We're really looking forward to the Royal London Series. It's a great test for us, and five more important ODIs ahead of the ICC Women's World Cup next year.

“It's a very busy schedule and we'll need to work hard throughout it to ensure players are in the best position to get through it, and it may well be that we need to manage the group in order to do that.”

England squad: Heather Knight (Western Storm, captain);

Tammy Beaumont (Lightning); Katherine Brunt (Northern Diamonds); Kate Cross (Thunder); Freya Davies (South East Stars); Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers); Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars); Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder); Tash Farrant (South East Stars); Sarah Glenn (Central Sparks); Amy Jones (Central Sparks); Nat Sciver (Northern Diamonds); Anya Shrubsole (Western Storm); Lauren Winfield-Hill (Northern Diamonds); Danni Wyatt (Southern Vipers)

Royal London ODI series:

Thursday September 16: England v New Zealand (Bristol County Ground)

Sunday September 19:England v New Zealand (New Road, Worcester)

Tuesday September 21: England v New Zealand (The Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester)

Thursday September 23: 4England v New Zealand (The Incora County Ground, Derby)

Sunday September 26: England v New Zealand (The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury)