England have announced their squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October, including 11 of the 15 players who reached the semi-finals of last year’s tournament in South Africa.

The 29-year-old spinner Linsey Smith, who was called back into the international team in March after an absence of almost five years and whose last World Cup experience dates back to 2018, crowned her return by winning a place alongside the ten-year-younger all-rounder Freya Kemp.

Head coach Jon Lewis is optimistic about the team’s chances of success, despite being caught off guard by last week’s decision to move the tournament from Bangladesh. “We were really well prepared for Bangladesh. We didn’t see the change of venue coming, so we prepared intensively for the skills required there,” he said.

“But I think we are ready, we are confident and we have a good chance. There is much more to be expected from this team than they have achieved in the seven years since they last won the World Cup.”

Bess Heath was selected as the stand-in wicketkeeper and will also be in the squad for next month’s One-Day International series in Ireland, along with Kemp, who recently returned from a back injury. They are the only players in both selections. “They are two really young players, two really exciting talents,” said Lewis. “Giving them the opportunity to play cricket was the right thing to do.”

“It’s nice to give Bess the opportunity to continue wearing an England shirt so she feels more comfortable doing so. Freya was the most disappointed of all the players in the World Cup squad with her performance in the Hundred. We’ve just given her the opportunity to play some cricket and get back into the rhythm of her bowling.”

Fast bowler Lauren Filer will not be included in the World Cup squad but will attend the tournament’s pre-tournament camp in Abu Dhabi. Lewis has decided that given the conditions they are likely to encounter in the UAE, “the spinners will do most of the work”.

“We have some fantastic young fast bowlers who will be the next evolution of this team,” he said. “When the young fast bowlers that surround our team come through and start winning games on their own, that will be the next evolution.”

“To win tournaments, the most experienced players usually have to do the most work, but our young players are slowly starting to make their mark in international cricket and are playing match-deciding roles.”

England squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup: Heather Knight (Western Storm, Captain), Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers), Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers), Alice Capsey (South East Stars), Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers), Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars), Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder ), Danielle Gibson (Western Storm), Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds), Amy Jones (Central Sparks), Freya Kemp (Southern Vipers), Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze), Linsey Smith (Southern Vipers), Danni Wyatt (Southern Vipers).

England Women’s T20 World Cup Schedule: Oct 5, Bangladesh (Sharjah); Oct 7, South Africa (Sharjah); Oct 13, Scotland (Sharjah); Oct 15, West Indies (Dubai); Oct 17, Semi-Final 1 (Dubai); Oct 18, Semi-Final 2 (Sharjah); Oct 20, Final (Dubai).