England take on Ireland in ODIs, live on Sky Sports, with Alice Capsey keeping wicket and Charlie Dean captaining again
Watch England's three-match women's ODI series live on Sky Sports - first game in Derby on Tuesday (1pm start); uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Kira Chathli and seamer Grace Potts part of 15-player squad; Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone among big names rested
Monday 31 August 2026 13:18, UK
England Women's ODI side will have a different look to it against Ireland, with senior figures rested and new or fringe players handed opportunities.
Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge are absent as they focus on fitness and injury recovery, while spinner Sophie Ecclestone, seamer Lauren Bell and wicketkeeper Amy Jones are missing for the three-game series, live on Sky Sports.
When the squad was announced earlier this month, the England press release stated the breather given to senior players was also aimed at "widening and deepening the talent pool" and so some newbies and returnees now have a chance to impress.
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The series starts in Derby on Tuesday (1pm) before the Midlands roadshow continues in Leicester on Thursday (1pm) and then concludes in Worcester on Sunday (10.30am).
One intriguing element will be seeing how Alice Capsey does as wicketkeeper, with the 22-year-old poised to take the gloves despite the presence of uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Kira Chathli in the 15-player party.
Capsey was the designated back-up wicketkeeper to Jones in England's T20 World Cup squad this summer but now gets a gig as senior glovewoman, one that could potentially turn into a long-term role, particularly with Jones now 33 years of age.
Jones notched twin fifties in England's Test defeat to India at Lord's in July, yet toiled in the T20 World Cup before that, making double figures only once in her last six knocks after starting the competition with a half-century against Sri Lanka.
If Capsey can impress with the gloves - a facet Jones still excels in - and keep scoring runs, too, then Jones' rest could perhaps turn into a more permanent absence.
Should Dean be permanent England captain?
Another look into the future comes as Charlie Dean captains once again, having done that job admirably during Sciver-Brunt's injury issues this summer, steering the side to T20I series wins over New Zealand and India.
The off-spinning all-rounder has impressed Sky Sports pundit Simon Doull with her "cricket nous" and leadership ability - Doull has even suggested Dean should become permanent skipper now so Sciver-Brunt can focus on her batting.
Dean will be without some key weapons against Ireland - Bell and Ecclestone's omissions leave big voids - but there are some exciting players to keep an eye on.
Ecclestone's fellow left-arm spinner, 19-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman, should add to her two ODIs and one T20I so far. She was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the recent Hundred competition, with 13.
Off-spinner Mady Villiers is rewarded for her punchy outing in the Test versus India by earning a white-ball recall - she brings spark with bat, ball and in the field.
Accurate seamer Ryana MacDonald-Gay and spin-bowling all-rounder Charis Pavely also return having played a limited amount of international cricket before, including against Ireland in 2024, while left-handed batter Jodi Grewcock is selected again.
Grewcock made scores of three and 10 against New Zealand in June but is a real talent and, as a southpaw, will offer a point of difference if named in the XI.
Uncapped seamer Grace Potts will also hope to star, off the back of an 11-wicket Hundred for Welsh Fire, 12 strikes in the One Day Cup for Lancashire so far this season and a further 11 in just six games for her county in the Vitality Blast.
This Ireland series may not be the most high-profile end to the summer for England Women. However there are plenty of intriguing storylines at play.
Watch the first ODI between England and Ireland, from Derby, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix from 12.30pm on Tuesday (1pm first ball). Latest Sky Sports deals or stream contract-free.
England vs Ireland - ODI series schedule
All games live on Sky Sports; all times UK and Ireland
- Tuesday September 1: First ODI (Leicester) - 1pm
- Thursday September 3: Second ODI (Derby) - 1pm
- Sunday September 6: Third ODI (Worcester) - 10.30am
