Leading the England team into another World Cup is a great honor. World Cups are always special events for players, creating lasting memories. Nothing quite compares to having the best teams in the world compete for the trophy, and it's always an honor to be part of it.
We have a nice blend of experience and youth, with players who have been there before and some participating in their first World Cup, which is really exciting. My message to them is to enjoy every moment and embrace the challenge.
I'm thrilled with the squad we've selected for the tournament in the UAE. We've covered a lot of bases, and over the last year, everyone in the squad has stepped up at some point to deliver brilliant performances that helped the team win games. We aim to create great memories both on and off the pitch, and everyone is excited for the month ahead.
I'm writing this from our training camp in Abu Dhabi before the start of the tournament, which should give us a good foundation. The setup here has allowed us to get used to the heat and conditions we'll face. It's all starting to feel real as we approach our opening match against Bangladesh on October 5.
We've been building towards this World Cup for the last 18 months and have gained a lot of confidence from our recent performances. We want to continue playing the cricket we've been playing and bring our best in the big moments. Everyone in the squad will play a significant role.
There hasn't been much women's cricket in the UAE, so the sample size for Women's T20 matches in the region is small. We know the stadiums have quality facilities. We've been preparing for Bangladesh for a long time, getting players ready for those conditions, but despite the shift to the UAE, I don't think our plans change too much.
We are clear about how we want to play and have prepared as best we can. It's important not to change our approach just because it's a World Cup with added pressure and external expectations. It's about doing our best and approaching it with a one game at a time mentality.
T20 can be the most volatile and unpredictable format, so we need to get our mindset right. We shouldn't change things too much just because it's a World Cup, and we'll see how we go. We know there are top-quality sides that will offer different challenges, and we're looking forward to getting started and making some memories.
