Dunkley Recalled to England T20I Squad, Kemp Set to Return as Allrounder

England's T20I squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand has been announced, with Sophia Dunkley making a swift return after being recalled to the ODI squad last week. The 16-strong squad remains largely unchanged from the one that defeated Pakistan 3-0 last month, with Freya Kemp set to feature as an allrounder as she continues her recovery from a back injury.

Dunkley's recall is a testament to her impressive form at regional level, where she is the leading run-scorer in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. She has also performed well in the Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 competition, scoring two half-centuries.

Kemp, who made her international debut in 2022, has been gradually returning to action after suffering a back stress fracture during England's tour of the Caribbean. She has played as a batter only in recent months, but England head coach Jon Lewis hopes to see her bowl during the New Zealand series.

The absence of Mahika Gaur from the squad is due to a side strain. Gaur, who made her ODI debut for England last year, will have finished her A-Levels by the time the T20Is start, but Lewis has indicated that she will be involved in squad activities as she continues her development.

Lewis emphasized the importance of the New Zealand series as preparation for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year. He said, "This five-match series against a strong New Zealand side is really important for us and also vital preparation as we build towards the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh."

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