Uncapped spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman says she has been on “cloud nine” since being drafted into England’s 15-strong squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup this summer on home soil.
The 18-year-old slow left-armer has starred in The Hundred and was last month retained by Southern Brave on a six-figure deal, while she impressed on England’s recent intra-squad trip to South Africa.
She was informed she had made the cut by England head coach Charlotte Edwards, who handed Corteen-Coleman her Kent cricket cap when she was 11 and gave her debut in The Hundred two years ago, aged 16.
“I got the good news which I was absolutely buzzing with,” said Corteen-Coleman, who was an England reserve for last year’s 50-over World Cup. “I’ve been on cloud nine ever since.”
Corteen-Coleman is one of four frontline slow bowlers for England, alongside fellow left-armers Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith and off-spinner Charlie Dean, who will be Nat Sciver-Brunt’s vice-captain.
“Being a fresh face, people haven’t had that exposure against me which does make a big difference,” Corteen-Coleman added.
“I love performing under pressure. I’ve had that exposure in front of crowds for domestic and county cricket but also in The Hundred.
“You won’t know until you’re there but I feel like I’ve got a great support network around me and I’m as ready as I can be.”
All-rounder Dani Gibson, the most expensive English player in The Hundred, is included after an injury-hit 2025, while fast bowlers Issy Wong and Lauren Filer have been given the nod ahead of Em Arlott.
There is no room for 109-cap Tammy Beaumont while highly-rated 19-year-old opener Davina Perrin, who came to prominence last year with a 42-ball century in The Hundred, was also left out.
“There is no doubt that it has been incredibly tough to get to these 15 names,” said head coach Edwards. “This is the hardest set of selection meetings I have been a part of.”
Sciver-Brunt will be attempting to follow in the footsteps of Edwards, who captained England to T20 World Cup glory in the inaugural edition in 2009.
That was the only time they have won the trophy, having been runners-up to Australia on three occasions since.
However, they endured a disappointing group-stage exit under Knight last time out in 2024 in the United Arab Emirates, where there were accusations of several players being unfit.
There are a dozen survivors from that group in the squad announced on Tuesday, with Sarah Glenn, Maia Bouchier and Bess Heath missing out.
England play three T20s against both New Zealand and India from next month, with the same squad as for the World Cup.
Their summer starts with three ODIs against New Zealand next month and wicketkeeper Kira Chathli and all-rounder Jodi Grewcock have received their maiden call-ups.
Dean, Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt-Hodge will miss the ODI series to manage their workloads, with Wyatt-Hodge also preparing for the imminent arrival of her first baby.
England T20 World Cup squad: N Sciver-Brunt (captain), L Bell, A Capsey, T Corteen-Coleman, C Dean, S Dunkley, S Ecclestone, L Filer, D Gibson, A Jones, F Kemp, H Knight, L Smith, I Wong, D Wyatt-Hodge.
