Alice Capsey: England wicketkeeper impresses in first ODI win over Ireland after 'rogue' switch behind the stumps
Watch second ODI between England and Ireland in Derby on Thursday, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 12.30pm (1pm start)
Tuesday 1 September 2026 21:22, UK
A rogue move? One which brought an eye-catching one-handed catch, but is Alice Capsey's move to wicketkeeper harming her chance to be Nat Sciver-Brunt's natural successor?
England's call to have Capsey keep wicket for their one-day international series against Ireland divided opinion, despite her impressing with both bat and gloves in the opening six-wicket win in Leicester on Tuesday.
Capsey claimed a terrific diving catch for the opening breakthrough and conceded only four byes - off a bizarre Issy Wong delivery that deflected off the stumps and to the boundary - before her unbeaten 41 off 40 balls saw England over the line.
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Former England bowler Tash Farrant spoke of the reasoning behind the home side's call to bring Capsey in for regular wicketkeeper Amy Jones.
"It is a rogue move, as she hasn't really done any keeping for about three or four years, but she is a pretty good athlete and has good hands in the field," Farrant told Sky Sports Cricket.
"I have no doubt that, if she was to put her mind to it, she could be a decent wicketkeeper, so England are seeing if this is a viable option.
"Kira Chathli and Ellie Threlkeld are good with the gloves but are they good enough with the bat?"
Former Ireland international Isobel Joyce added: "I'm surprised England are doing it in a one-day international.
"Why not do it in a T20? You get so much of the ball as a keeper in a 50-over game, so it seems crazy to me that you'd do it for the first time in an ODI.
"You've got to repeat your good processes so many times. It's a big uptaking for her."
Capsey impresses on first England outing with gloves
Capsey proved up to the task, however, hardly putting a foot wrong during the hosts' 50 overs in the field as Ireland posted an ODI-best versus England of 281-5.
There was also her impressive, one-handed grab to see the back or Ireland opener Alice Tector in the fifth over of their innings.
"It's a good catch," Sky Sports Cricket's Dominic Cork said. "It's one of those ones where you could perhaps leave it and say to first slip, 'you take it'.
"But Capsey said 'no, I'm going to have that' and took it one-handed. All of the questions about her answered. A nice grab."
He added: "I don't mind it [Capsey as wicketkeeper], just to add a little bit more depth in the batting.
"It's not an easy job though. It will be interesting to see how she gets on.
"When you watch some of the best wicketkeepers around, like Amy Jones, Sarah Taylor, Ben Foakes - even going back to Jack Russell - it's about having quick hands."
Capsey gave further demonstration of those quick hands of hers and lightning reflexes when claiming a neat take later in the innings, stood up to the stumps off Wong.
Sky Sports Cricket's Ravi Bopara said at the time: "That is an excellent take, especially off a bowler like Wong who has been nipping the ball back most of the time.
"This ball stood up and Capsey got her body out of the way so she could get her hands up high enough."
Too great a workload for Sciver-Brunt successor?
But despite Capsey's strong showing with the gloves, there were still some concerns raised, particularly centred around the 22-year-old's increased workload.
"She's going to be feeling it in those legs," Farrant said. "Batting at number four as well, she's really been thrown into it today.
"She hasn't kept for a very long time in a game, let alone a 50-over match. You maybe would have been expecting her to be down at five or six - but she's in the thick of it at four."
Capsey looked fresh enough when cracking four boundaries and a six in her 40-ball 41 that helped fire England to their record ODI chase with 71 balls remaining.
But it's precisely Capsey's batting that Sky Sports Cricket's Charles Dagnall would prefer was her sole focus.
"The decision to pick Capsey as a wicketkeeper is not for me. I don't see it as a long-term option, so I'm wondering why England are doing it," he said.
"She did really well today, took a great catch, and hardly gave away any byes.
"But what is the primary role of Capsey? It is to be one of England's best batters.
"She is one of our brightest batting prospects and only 22. I see her as the long-term replacement for Nat Sciver-Brunt. She is that vital to England."
Watch the second ODI between England and Ireland, from Derby, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix from 12.30pm on Thursday (1pm first ball). Latest Sky Sports deals or stream contract-free with NOW.
England vs Ireland - ODI series results and schedule
All games live on Sky Sports; all times UK and Ireland
- Tuesday September 1: England win first ODI by six wickets
- Thursday September 3: Second ODI (Derby) - 1pm
- Sunday September 6: Third ODI (Worcester) - 10.30am
