Charlotte Edwards has spoken candidly about the "hard decision" to leave Tammy Beaumont out of England's squad for the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup, while also hinting that the seasoned batter could still feature in the Test match against India at Lord's in July. The England head coach announced her 15-player World Cup roster on Tuesday, with the standout inclusion being uncapped 18-year-old left‑arm spinner Tilly Corteen‑Coleman, who quickly became the headline name. Beaumont, now 35, debuted for England in both T20 Internationals and One‑Day Internationals back in November 2009. Over the years she has climbed the ranks to become the second‑highest run‑scorer in England Women's ODI history.
Her prolific batting was instrumental in England's triumph at the 2017 Cricket World Cup, where she earned both the Player of the Tournament award and the top‑scorer accolade. The full squad list reads: Nat Sciver‑Brunt (captain), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen‑Coleman, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danni Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, and Danni Wyatt‑Hodge. "It was a really tough decision and a really close one," Edwards told Sky Sports when asked about Beaumont's omission. "Unfortunately, Tammy did miss out.
It's never easy phoning someone and giving them that news. I'm really happy with the squad we've gone with, and it was incredibly difficult to select." She added that delivering such news is always challenging, especially when the tournament is being hosted at home and carries extra emotional weight.
"I'll have a follow‑up conversation with Tammy over the next few days and talk to her about it, I'm sure," Edwards said. Beaumont had enjoyed a strong winter campaign in the Women's Big Bash League with the Adelaide Strikers, scoring 234 runs and finishing 12th on the league's run‑scoring list.
"There's still life left in Tammy Beaumont," Edwards emphasized. "She's obviously missed out on a T20 World Cup, but we've got a Test match at the end of the summer. We'll be picking the best team possible for that." Another name left out was 19‑year‑old Davina Perrin.
Edwards praised the young top‑order batter, noting her impressive performances in The Hundred last season. "Davina is a really wonderful young talent. She performed really well last year in The Hundred. She narrowly missed out for this competition but I think her time will come in the future," Edwards explained.
Edwards also highlighted the meteoric rise of Corteen‑Coleman. The 18‑year‑old left‑arm spinner had a breakout second year in The Hundred in 2025 after being drafted by Southern Brave in 2024, claiming 11 wickets and ranking among the top ten bowlers for the season.
"What a rise into professional cricket she has had," Edwards said. "A 16‑year‑old playing in The Hundred and then two years later being selected for England. She's just had an incredible two years. She's performed, and that's ultimately what we've asked the players to do.
Her age has not really been taken into account. She's conducted herself brilliantly over the last six months with the squad, spent lots of time with us, and we're really confident she can deliver on the big stage." Corteen‑Coleman will join fellow left‑arm spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith in the squad, with off‑spinner Charlie Dean providing additional variety. When asked about the heavy left‑arm representation, Edwards noted, "Statistically, left‑arm spinners have been really successful in women's T20 cricket. We want options in our squad but also, ultimately, spinners to be effective.
I know it's three left‑armers, but if they're your three best spinners, then we're going with that." Looking ahead, Edwards expressed optimism about the team's ability to rebound from a disappointing group‑stage exit in the 2024 WT20I World Cup. "I think we're a very different team.
We're coming here to win it. We know it's going to be really hard. There's some wonderful teams out there. But to be able to think that we can play in a World Cup final at Lord's is motivating us every day." She added that the prospect of a home World Cup, culminating in a final at the historic Lord's ground, adds an extra layer of excitement.
"They're just always special events. But to be part of a home World Cup with a final at Lord's, I don't think it gets much better. This team are really excited about that prospect and are looking forward to doing something really special." Fans can watch the Women's T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports, with selected matches available for free streaming via the Sky Sports app.
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