Charlie Dean has been appointed to lead England's women's team for a three-match one-day international series against Ireland in September 2026, stepping in for regular skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt. Several senior players, including Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, have been left out as they manage fitness and recovery. The series marks the final stretch of England's home summer schedule following a run to the T20 World Cup final.
Two uncapped players feature in the 15-strong squad: seam bowler Grace Potts, 24, and wicketkeeper Kira Chathli, 27. All-rounder Charis Pavely, who has previously appeared in two T20 internationals against Ireland in 2024, is in line for her 50-over debut. Pace bowler Ryana MacDonald-Gay returns having last featured for England during the Ashes series in early 2025, while 18-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, joint-leading wicket-taker in this season's Hundred, has also been selected.
Why is Nat Sciver-Brunt missing the series?
Sciver-Brunt, 33, has been managing a calf injury sustained in April 2026 and has not bowled in international cricket or the Hundred this summer. The problem traces back to England's T20 World Cup campaign, when she retired hurt on 48 runs against Ireland after a calf strain and was subsequently ruled out of England's next two matches in the tournament against Scotland and West Indies. She returned in time to captain England to the T20 World Cup final in July, where they lost to Australia, and later oversaw a heavy defeat to India in a one-off Test at Lord's.
Wyatt-Hodge, 35, appeared in only three Hundred matches this season before a calf injury ended her involvement in the remainder of the tournament.
Who is stepping up to lead the side?
Dean, 25, previously captained England to three series wins this summer, taking charge across 50-over and 20-over fixtures against New Zealand and a T20 series against India while Sciver-Brunt was unavailable. She has also captained London Spirit in the past two seasons of the Hundred, guiding them to a sixth-placed finish in 2026.
Dean returns to lead a squad now also missing former captain Heather Knight and opening batter Tammy Beaumont, both of whom retired from international cricket in July 2026.
Head coach Charlotte Edwards said the series offers a chance to refocus on the 50-over format after a summer dominated by T20 cricket.
"It has been an incredible summer for women's cricket already, and these three ODI matches against Ireland make up an important series for us to complete our summer," said head coach Charlotte Edwards.
"The focus has rightly been on T20 cricket for much of this year, but with a memorable run to the T20 World Cup final now behind us, this is a chance for players to display their 50-over skills and bank some valuable experience for the future."
"We have got plenty of exciting and talented cricketers in our game and this is an opportunity for some of them to push themselves further forward by hopefully contributing to England victories and putting pressure on future selection."
What are the confirmed dates and venues?
According to Cricket Ireland, the series will be played as three Metro Bank ODIs, with the fixtures forming part of Ireland Women's tour of England in 2026. The first match takes place in Leicester on 1 September 2026, the second in Derby on 3 September 2026, and the third in Worcester on 6 September 2026. A national broadcaster's squad report lists the Worcester fixture's start time as 10:30 BST, while Cricket Ireland's own fixture release gives a local start time of 11:00 for the same match. Cricket Ireland had earlier flagged this series as part of a busy year for the women's team when it outlined its 2026 home schedule announcement.
What happens next?
The three-match series opens in Leicester on 1 September 2026, before moving to Derby on 3 September 2026 for the second fixture, according to Cricket Ireland's confirmation of the schedule. The series concludes with the third ODI in Worcester on 6 September 2026, giving England's rotated squad three matches to build 50-over experience before winter assignments.
Key Facts
- Charlie Dean will captain England against Ireland in a three-match ODI series in September 2026.
- Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge are all absent from the squad.
- Uncapped players Grace Potts and Kira Chathli have been named in the 15-player squad.
- The series runs from 1 September (Leicester) to 6 September 2026 (Worcester), with a middle fixture in Derby on 3 September.
- Former captain Heather Knight and opener Tammy Beaumont, who both retired in July 2026, are unavailable.
