Amy Jones has been impressed with how easily England newcomers Mahika Gaur and Lauren Filer have hit the ground running.
On their ODI debuts, Gaur and Filer took three wickets apiece as a youthful England side rebounded from their shock T20 series defeat to Sri Lanka by thrashing the tourists at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.
The pair have been given a chance to shine in the absence of several regulars, with captain Heather Knight and head coach Jon Lewis eager to stress test those further down the pecking order.
“When you are given opportunities like this, it can put a bit of extra pressure on you,” Jones said. “Especially as a young player thinking ‘when other people come back am I still going to have a place?’
“It can be very easy to put a lot of pressure on yourself so it’s been so pleasing how they don’t seem to be feeling the pressure.
“Whether they are or not, they seem like they’re enjoying it and it’s reflected in their performances which is great. With a younger team on the whole, it’s great to give them opportunity.”
Gaur, who made her England debut in the T20 series having switched allegiance from the United Arab Emirates, set the hosts on the path to victory by castling Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu.
The 17-year-old left-armer, standing at 6ft 3in, exploited some early movement to also bowl fellow opener Anushka Sanjeewani before claiming the final wicket as Sri Lanka were all out for 106.
Filer, whose pace unsettled Australia batters in the Ashes Test, ripped through the middle order. Jones took three of her five catches off the 22-year-old quick – a record by an England wicketkeeper in a women’s ODI.
“I thought they were great,” Jones said of the duo. “Until this series, I’ve never faced Mahika or kept to her, it feels like she’s shot up out of nowhere. I’ve been so impressed with her, as has everybody.
“(She offers) something different with being a left-armer and her height. She swings the ball and she’s really consistent for a young player. I’m really excited to see where she can get to in her career.
“With a bowler like Lauren, you’re getting a catch every ball. I’m really enjoying keeping to her and I was impressed with her again. She’s got something that not many people have in the pace that she has.
“She’s definitely an impact player and how Heather used her in the Test match and even in the ODI was exactly how we want to use her – come on for shortish spells and just give it her all for a bit and make something happen.”
England wrapped up a seven-wicket win with 32 overs to spare in the north-east and they can move into an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at Northampton’s Wantage Road on Tuesday.
Jones was pleased with the response after the 2-1 loss in the T20s, where Sri Lanka became the first side other than Australia to administer a bilateral series defeat on England in the format since 2010.
“As a group, we were really disappointed with how the T20s went,” Jones added. “Going into any series, when you go in as favourites especially, you want to get the job done and convincingly.
“To lose those two games was definitely disappointing. But a big (conversation) was around how two bad days doesn’t make you a bad team and knowing how quickly cricket can change.
“The general feeling was just staying positive. There was a big ask for energy. There was a focus from Lewy (Jon Lewis) on making sure in the field we’re fizzing the ball back to me. That really helped us focus.”
Stokes to have scan on hamstring injury before Pakistan tour
Ben Stokes will have a scan on his hamstring injury next week with the England captain in a race to be fit for their first Test in Pakistan.
Stokes sustained the injury at the start of August and was subsequently absent from the series win over Sri Lanka.
The 33-year-old revealed earlier this month he was being cautious with his recovery rather than risking further damage with a premature return.
As well as netting throughout his recovery, Stokes has also featured in this week's Celebrity Pro-Am at the PGA Championship in Wentworth.
Despite the issue, he has been named as captain of England's 17-man squad, which is due to depart on October 1 before beginning the three-match series six days later.
England paceman Wood sidelined until 2025 with elbow injury
England bowler Mark Wood will miss the remainder of 2024 after sustaining an injury to his right elbow.
Wood played a full part in the first Test versus Sri Lanka at Old Trafford last month, despite suffering from stiffness and discomfort while bowling during July's series against West Indies.
Wood managed two wickets in that match as England sealed a five-wicket victory, but he was then replaced by Olly Stone for the second Test at Lord's, which ended in another comprehensive home win.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has now confirmed Wood's injury will rule him out of red-ball tours of Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December.
The ECB said it will closely monitor Wood's rehabilitation ahead of a potential return to action in early 2025, with England embarking on a white-ball tour of India – their first with Brendon McCullum in charge of their limited-over sides – in January.
They then head to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19.
Bairstow and Moeen left out of England's white-ball squad
Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali have both been left out of England's white-ball series squad, with five uncapped players named.
As Jos Buttler looks to the future, Warwickshire batting all-rounders, Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley, have been given their first international call-ups for the three-match T20 series against Australia next month.
Essex batter Jordan Cox, Hampshire seamer John Turner and Leicestershire left-arm bowler Josh Hull, who was named as Mark Wood's replacement in the Test squad to play Sri Lanka, have also been picked.
The latter three will also be involved for the five one-day internationals that follow.
World Cup winners Bairstow and Moeen, who have been regular fixtures in England's white-ball squad for over a decade, could have made their final international appearances after being left out of the squad, with Chris Jordan also being overlooked.
Brydon Carse, however, has been recalled for both squads after serving a betting ban, while Saqib Mahmood returns for the T20 series after recovering from injury. Buttler will also be fit to feature after overcoming a calf injury.
Marcus Trescothick will lead England for the first time against Australia after being named Matthew Mott's interim replacement.
Mott left in July following England's semi-final exit to eventual champions India in the T20 World Cup, having also failed to help England defend their 50-over world title in 2023.
The first match of the T20 series will take place on September 11 at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
England T20 squad to play Australia:
Jos Buttler (captain), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, John Turner.
England ODI squad: Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Reece Topley, John Turner.
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