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England Women’s plans for the ODI series decider against India Women at Riverside Ground on Tuesday, July 22, will go ahead without one of their most promising young all-rounders. Alice Capsey has been released from the national squad ahead of the must-win clash, a move that has raised eyebrows among fans and commentators given the high stakes of the fixture.
Alice Capsey’s release from the ODI squad
The decision to omit Capsey from the all-important match stems from a strategic shift by the England management. Despite her regular position within England’s white-ball setup, Capsey has been largely sidelined during this series, failing to make the playing XI in the first two ODIs against India. Rather than have one of their brightest young talents continue on the sidelines, the team has released her to rejoin Surrey ahead of a key domestic contest in the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup against Hampshire, scheduled for July 24 at Guildford Bason.
The rationale is clear: Capsey, at just 20, warrants consistent match exposure for her ongoing development. With limited playing opportunities in the national setup during this series and the final ODI representing a high-pressure selection environment, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chose to prioritise her match readiness in competitive domestic action. The management’s approach is designed to channel her energy into real game time, rather than have the player spend another fixture on the bench.
England’s decision to release Capsey comes as the team seeks to regain consistency following a patchy run in ODIs, despite their most recent win at Lord’s. The move signals both a commitment to Capsey’s growth as a future mainstay and a pragmatic assessment of the current XI’s needs in a high-pressure situation.
Capsey’s recent form
Capsey has already demonstrated her promise in international cricket, with 26 ODI appearances yielding 343 runs and 12 wickets so far. While her potential is undoubted, recent selection choices have seen more experienced players and those in superior current form get the nod in what has been a closely contested series, now tied 1-1 ahead of the decider.
Meanwhile, Capsey’s presence will strengthen Surrey Women, who are gearing up for a critical domestic fixture.
