Brunt, Taylor not making trip to India to face hosts and Aussies in a tri-series
England missing key stars for T20 series
England will be without stars Katherine Brunt and Sarah Taylor for their T20I tri-series against Australia and India later this month, naming three uncapped players who will be in contention for international debuts during the series.
Fiery fast bowler Brunt has been ruled out of the series in India due to a back problem suffered while playing for Perth Scorchers in the Rebel WBBL, while wicketkeeper Taylor – who has not played since the end of the Ashes last November – is being rested.
The loss of the match-winning pair is a blow for the world No.1s, with both players to also miss the three-match ODI series against India that will follow.
England have named a combined 16-player squad for both their T20I and ODI contests, with uncapped trio Bryony Smith, allrounder Alice Davidson-Richards and Katie George coming into the group, while wicketkeeper Amy Jones, seamer Kate Cross and young quick Tash Farrant have earned recalls.
They replace Georgia Elwiss, Laura Marsh and Lauren Winfield from the T20 squad that contested the Ashes last November.
Jones came into the Sydney Sixers squad as a replacement international during WBBL|03, while both she and Cross played for Western Australia in the Women's National Cricket League.
England coach Mark Robinson said he was looking forward to testing new players and adding new options to his squad.
"We've said for a long time that we need to play more games and it's exciting that we've been able to arrange this very competitive series outside of the ICC Women's Championship," Robinson said of the T20I tri-series.
"It gives us a chance to see other players and measure their progress and that also means we can rest and rotate.
"It's hugely exciting to have three new faces in the group – and to welcome back a few others - obviously that means a few have missed out but they can use the time to their advantage and come back more strongly."
Robinson said Taylor, who returned to professional cricket early last year after almost 12 months out of the game while she battled mental health issues, was being rested with a view to ensuring she was ready for a busy home summer – which will see England host New Zealand and South Africa – and the World T20 in the Caribbean in November.
"In Sarah's case, she's been doing really well and we always targeted this period as one where she can focus on her wellbeing in preparation for what will be a busy summer leading into the ICC World T20."
India are anxiously awaiting an injury update of their own ahead of the T20I tri-series, with star pace bowler Jhulan Goswami in doubt having already been ruled out of the ODIs against Australia.
The Southern Stars named a near-full strength 14-player squad for the T20I series – with captain Meg Lanning returning from shoulder surgery to lead the team on their subcontinent tour while fast bowler Lauren Cheatle remains sidelined by stress fractures – but also made changes from their Ashes 20-over side, with potential debutants Sophie Molineux and Nicola Carey coming in for the retired Alex Blackwell and off-spinner Molly Strano.
A run down from @amandajadew and @Nicole_Bolton12 on all things training, ted ball and coffee in India! pic.twitter.com/2rs3M6t0vj
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@SouthernStars) March 8, 2018
England T20I squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Katie George, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Bryony Smith, Fran Wilson, Danni Wyatt
Australia tour of India
Australia ODI squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington
Australia T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Naomi Stalenberg, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington
India ODI squad: Mithali Raj (Captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Smriti Mandhana, Punam Raut, Jemimah Rodrigues, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mona Meshram, Sushma Verma, Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shikha Pandey, Sukanya Parida, Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma
England T20I squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Katie George, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Anya Shrubsole, Bryony Smith, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Danni Wyatt
Warm-up match Australia beat India A by 321 runs. Report
Warm-up match v India A, BKC Ground, Mumbai, March 6
ODI series
First ODI Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, March 12
Second ODI Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, March 15
Third ODI Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, March 18
T20I tri-series
First T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 22
Second T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 23
Third T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 25
Fourth T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, March 26
Fifth T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 28
Sixth T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 29
Final Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 31