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Kira Chathli to captain England A against India A: Squads & Fixtures

Aditya Rao · 11/06/2026 · 4 min read

Introduction

The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced that Surrey’s talented wicketkeeper-batter, Kira Chathli, will captain the England A squad for the upcoming bilateral series against India A. This highly anticipated series, which includes both T20 and 50-over matches, represents a crucial development platform for the next generation of England’s women cricketers. Scheduled to begin later this month, the matches will serve as a testing ground for players looking to transition into the senior England women’s team.

Chathli’s Ascent to Leadership

Kira Chathli’s appointment as captain marks a significant milestone in her career. Having successfully taken over as Surrey’s 50-over captain earlier this season, Chathli demonstrated her leadership capabilities by guiding her county team to five victories out of eight group stage matches during the first portion of the domestic competition. Her tactical acumen and solid performances behind the stumps have clearly impressed the national selectors. By securing the captaincy, Chathli has seemingly moved ahead of Essex’s versatile all-rounder Grace Scrivens, who previously led the England A team during their campaigns last year.

Strategic Mix of Youth and Experience

The squads selected for the T20 and 50-over legs of the series feature an exciting blend of established domestic performers and players with senior international experience. Three players in the squads have already earned senior caps for England: Jodi Grewcock, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, and Charis Pavely. Their presence in the dressing room will provide invaluable support to Chathli as she navigates her leadership responsibilities against a formidable India A side.

In addition to the capped trio, the squads boast several high-profile prospects who are actively pushing for senior international selection. Among them are Davina Perrin, Grace Scrivens, and Sophia Smale. These players have consistently caught the eye in domestic cricket and will view this series as the perfect stage to showcase their readiness for the highest level of the game.

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Coaching Insights from Jon Lewis

England Women’s lead batting coach, Jon Lewis, will oversee the England A group during this series. Highlighting the importance of the fixtures, Lewis emphasized that competing against an international opponent is an invaluable learning experience. He expressed his excitement for the upcoming matches and the development opportunities they present for the squad.

“The India series will be another test of where this very talented group of players is at,” Lewis commented. He added that earning selection for the A team is a clear validation of a player’s development path, but noted that the next step involves finding consistency. “The next challenge is scoring runs or taking wickets consistently in domestic cricket and pushing for senior selection. A series against another nation is always a positive thing and I’m sure we’ll learn a lot from it. I’m delighted for Kira, I’m sure she’ll look forward to leading the group and I know she’ll take a lot from it.”

Detailed Squad Breakdown

The selectors have named two strong squads tailored for the specific demands of the T20 and 50-over formats. While there is a core group of players featured in both squads, key tactical adjustments have been made to optimize the team’s balance across the two formats.

England Women A T20 Squad

The T20 squad is built for dynamic, high-impact cricket, featuring explosive batting options and versatile bowling units:

Kira Chathli (Captain)
Grace Ballinger
Jodi Grewcock
Emma Jones
Ryana MacDonald-Gay
Ella McCaughan
Kalea Moore
Charis Pavely
Davina Perrin
Grace Potts
Grace Scrivens
Sophia Smale
Alexa Stonehouse

England Women A 50-Over Squad

The 50-over squad shifts the focus toward building longer innings and maintaining sustained bowling pressure, introducing specialists suited for the longer format:

Kira Chathli (Captain)
Grace Ballinger
Jodi Grewcock
Ella McCaughan
Flo Miller
Charis Pavely
Davina Perrin
Charley Phillips
Grace Potts
Grace Scrivens
Chloe Skelton
Sophia Smale
Alexa Stonehouse

READ: Ambidextrous spinner Shashini Gimhani in Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup squad - Shashini Gimhani Headlines Sri Lanka Women's T20 World Cup Squad

Complete Fixture Schedule

The bilateral series will be hosted across three historic English venues: Northampton, Chelmsford, and Taunton. The schedule begins with the shorter format before moving into the three-match 50-over series:

June 20: 1st T20 – Northampton
June 23: 2nd T20 – Northampton
June 25: 3rd T20 – Chelmsford
June 28: 1st 50-over – Taunton
July 1: 2nd 50-over – Taunton
July 4: 3rd 50-over – Taunton

This series promises to provide a thrilling contest as these young players look to make a lasting impression on the coaching staff and secure their pathways to senior international honors.

Aditya Rao

Aditya Rao is a senior cricket correspondent for Hindustan Times, known for his unflinching deep dives into the corridors of Indian cricket governance and the forgotten tiers of the domestic game. A graduate of Jamia Millia Islamia and a trained investigative journalist, Aditya brings a policy-level rigour rarely seen on the sports pages. His expertise lies in bridging the gap between the Test match purist and the systemic realities of the modern game—covering everything from Ranji Trophy structural reforms to the economics of player development in India’s hinterlands. He has broken several major stories on administrative overhauls and has profiled dozens of unsung players from India’s age‑group pathways. A recipient of the Ramnath Goenka Award and a trusted voice for accountability in sport, Aditya continues to write with a belief that a robust cricketing culture depends as much on sound governance as it does on a solid cover drive.