\n<\/p>\n
It would be a huge call for Edwards to drop Knight, who made a record 310th England appearance at Chelmsford, for such an important summer. <\/p>\n
Hartley said her top three would consist of Wyatt-Hodge, Capsey and Sciver-Brunt, keeping Knight in the middle order and with Dunkley missing out. <\/p>\n
However, Dunkley is one of few England batters capable of clearing the ropes, which is an area in which they are lacking. <\/p>\n
Since the last T20 World Cup in 2024, Dunkley has hit 11 sixes and Wyatt-Hodge five. They are the only batters in England’s top seven to have hit more than three sixes in that timeframe.<\/p>\n
Explosive all-rounders Dani Gibson and Freya Kemp were tasked with scoring at more than 10 runs per over by the time they came in, having been in a very similar position during England’s defeat by New Zealand at Canterbury.<\/p>\n
On both occasions, they fell cheaply trying to score quickly from ball one because of the pressure that had built when Knight was batting. <\/p>\n
The argument to stick with Knight is not helped by the fact her attacking shot percentage has dropped to 64% in 2026 compared to 75% between 2023 and 2025.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think Charlotte Edwards will want to drop one of the all-rounders,” Hartley added.<\/p>\n
“She’s a huge all-rounder fan and she wants that left-hander in Kemp as well.”<\/p>\n
Former England Test captain Nasser Hussain backed Knight to deliver because of her wealth of experience, but accepted there needs to be an improvement.<\/p>\n
“I back Heather because she has been a world-class player for a long time,” Hussain said on Sky Sports.<\/p>\n
“Under pressure you need people like Heather Knight, but she will know her last four innings, particularly today, to a get a run-a-ball 20 after three run-a-ball 20s – you are better getting out for a first-ball duck than getting that.<\/p>\n
“She didn’t play T20 internationals for a year. Maybe she is taking time to get going.<\/p>\n
“She is not as mobile. She is not someone like Jemimah Rodrigues who is putting away the bad balls and looks a lot busier, but she has been around long enough to know that is not the innings you need in a 180 run-chase.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n