Back in the squad and still learning the rhythms of new parenthood, Danni Wyatt-Hodge believes opening partner Sophia Dunkley is only one knock away from feeling on top of the world again. England meet India in Tuesday’s T20 decider at Taunton and, with the World Cup now only a fortnight off, the spotlight on the top order is getting that little bit sharper.
For Dunkley it has been an odd sort of summer: six scores in double-figures, none higher than 31, plenty of crisp hits in between. Even on Saturday in Bristol she managed a straight six off Arundhati Reddy yet left with just 10 from 14 balls. Reliable starts, yes, but England would like at least one headline innings before they fly to Sri Lanka.
“I’ve opened the batting with Sophia Dunkley for a number of years now, and we all know how good Sophia is,” Wyatt-Hodge said on Monday. “Taking the game on from ball one, that’s what she does at her best. It’s not an easy thing to do, especially when the ball’s swinging a lot and moving off the pitch. But Dunks has been so successful at the top, and we’ve put some good partnerships on together, and I’m really looking forward to getting out there with her tomorrow, and then obviously in the World Cup as well.”
The numbers suggest room for improvement. Since early May Dunkley’s strike-rate sits at 117, a touch below her career mark, and her average is in single figures since the New Zealand series. The threat to her place is real too: Alice Capsey filled in while Wyatt-Hodge was away on maternity leave and peeled off an unbeaten 74 from 51 balls at Derby, looking perfectly at home as a pinch-opener.
England’s management insist there is no pecking-order drama, although Nat Sciver-Brunt’s calf is still only “75 per cent” according to the back-room staff. If Sciver-Brunt slots back into the middle, someone will have to make way. Dunkley knows the equation.
“I said to her the other day, her intent has been unbelievable,” Wyatt-Hodge added. “You fail more times than not, opening the batting in T20 cricket, that’s just the nature of the game. But she’s thrown herself out there to be brave from ball one, and that’s a credit to her.”
Wyatt-Hodge even used the F-word – fireworks – although in her calm, matter-of-fact way. “I’m so proud of her, and she looks really good, and I think a big score is just around the corner. Hopefully here at Taunton, it’s normally quite a nice batting track. So, yeah, I’m expecting fireworks from Sophia tomorrow night. That would be great for her.”
There is precedent. Dunkley’s 61 at Edgbaston last summer was scored in under an hour and turned the match; her unbeaten 70 against South Africa at the Commonwealth Games still sits among England’s most watchable power-plays. The coaching staff point to those innings as evidence that no major mechanical tweak is required, more a timely nudge of confidence.
Assistant coach Aaron Kleinschmidt, speaking briefly after nets, put it simply: “Soph can really hurt teams once she gets through the first dozen balls. We’re asking her to trust that process, nothing fancy.”
Wyatt-Hodge appears to be trusting several processes at once. Twelve days ago she and partner Georgie welcomed baby Daisy; now she is juggling bottle feeds with bat-swing drills. “People can tell you things, but until you’re in it, you don’t really get it,” she said. “It’s just incredible. Those first few nights at ho— well, sleep sort of disappears, doesn’t it? But I’ve had amazing support, and being back in the cricket bubble actually helps. You get your routines back.”
The England camp, conscious of the compressed calendar, have rotated workloads all week. Seamers were limited to four-over spells in Monday’s centre wicket practice, and physios kept a close eye on groins and calves. India, meanwhile, arrive in Taunton level at 1-1 and buoyed by Jemimah Rodrigues’ polished 48 the other night. They know a series win on English soil will echo loudly at home.
Wyatt-Hodge shrugged off talk of pressure. “She’s been so successful in this format for England over the last few years, and walking out with her is an amazing feeling. We have a good laugh out there, and hopefully there’s a few more smiles tomorrow.”
Whether Dunkley supplies those smiles is the immediate question. A fast, uncomplicated 60 would calm selection meetings and, more importantly, silence that little inner voice every opener carries around. England do not need miracles yet; they do need momentum, and Taunton offers the chance.
If the fireworks arrive, nobody in the dressing-room will be surprised.
