With the Women’s T20 World Cup looming into view, this three-match series across the green swards of Chelmsford, Bristol and Taunton shapes as ideal preparation for two teams with designs on the trophy.

For England, it is vital that they can hone their plans and approach – in particular, role definition – after the best part of a year without playing the format (before they took on New Zealand in Derby last week, their previous T20I had been against India in July 2025). That planning has been further hampered by the absence of captain Nat Sciver Brunt  through injury, though they overcame that disadvantage to see off New Zealand by a 2-1 scoreline.

High on England’s list of wants will be time in the middle for a new-look opening pair of Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey, as well as further opportunities for Dani Gibson  and Freya Kemp to establish their credentials as all-round options after injury. Three blemish-free performances in the field would also go down nicely.

India, the reigning 50-over world champions, won a historic first T20I series on these shores last summer and – in contrast to England – have been in regular action since, although they followed up victory in Australia at the start of the year with an unexpected 4-1 reversal on their most-recent tour, to South Africa in April.

Injuries to key allrounders have changed the balance of their side slightly, but they remain able to call on a formidable group of players as they seek to follow Australia in holding the women’s ODI and T20I titles at the same time. All but three of the squad have the experience of playing T20Is in England, while the new faces include uncapped seamer Nandani Sharma, who finished as joint-leading wicket-taker at the most-recent WPL.

Sophie Ecclestone ought to be one of England’s trump cards as they target a home World Cup win. Previously the No. 1-ranked bowler in women’s T20Is (she currently sits third), Ecclestone is closing in on becoming only the fourth woman to 150 wickets in the format. But she has made a quiet start to England’s international season, with one wicket in three outings against New Zealand (two T20Is, one ODI), which included getting thumped for 18 in an over by Sophie Devine in Derby. Figures of 1 for 11 from four suffocating overs in Hove on Monday hinted at a return to her best.

Talking of totemic forces, Smriti Mandhana once again shapes as key to India’s challenge. Still only 29, but already the second-highest run-scorer of all time in the format – Mandhana is currently 427 runs behind the soon-to-be-retired Suzies Bates – she will be hoping to replicate last year’s English experience, when she was the leading run-scorer on either side across five T20Is, which included notching a maiden T20I hundred at Trent Bridge. She only made 62 runs in three innings in South Africa, but topped the run charts at the WPL earlier in the year and has lots of good memories of touring in this part of the world.

England will welcome back Dani Wyatt Hodge from parental leave, although she won’t be available for the first T20I; Charis Pavely has been released to play for Warwickshire, but Maia Bouchier will remain with the squad. Lauren Filer will also be allowed to leave for Durham’s Blast game at The Oval on Wednesday, but will rejoin England for the rest of the series. Tilly Corteen-Coleman, the 18-year-old slow left-armer, awaits her debut in this format.

Amanjot Kaur was one of the stars of India’s victory in England last year but misses this tour with a back injury – as does her understudy Kashvee Gautam (knee). The top six is pretty much locked in, although Bharti Fulmali could provide an option if India want to pack the batting. Radha Yadav is also back in contention, having last played a T20I on the England tour, and could add all-round depth.

England (probable): Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Amy Jones (wk), Dani Gibson,  Charlie Dean (capt), Sophie Ecclestone, Issy Wong, Lindsey Smith

India (probable): Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil/Bharti Fulmali, Arundhati Reddy,  Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, N Shree Charani

[Cricinfo]

It has been revealed that fake news created using the name, photographs, and video footage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya along with the unauthorized use of official logos of various media institutions and news websites are being circulated on social media platforms.

Certain groups have published videos edited to appear as though the Prime Minister is expressing particular views, as well as fake social media posts featuring her photographs. Through such misleading content, false information has been circulated regarding various business and employment opportunities, as well as the country’s economy and tax policies.

These false stories have been created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and modern technological tools. As the Prime Minister’s Media Division, we kindly urge the public not to be deceived by such misinformation and to remain vigilant regarding these matters.

Legal action will be taken against all individuals who create and distribute such false news through social media in a manner that harms the Government and the reputation of the Prime Minister.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

The commander of Hamas’s military wing, Mohammed Odeh, has been killed in a strike in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday – days after his predecessor died in a similar attack.

At least three Palestinians were killed and dozens more were injured in the attack, which hit a residential building in one of Gaza City’s busiest market areas, local medics and witnesses said.

Israel’s military and Shin Bet security service and said buildings that served as a hideout for Odeh were targeted after his movements were tracked for several months.

Hamas has yet to issue an official statement, but a local Hamas source and relatives said Odeh and his wife were killed along with their adult son.

Despite the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreed in October, violence in Gaza has continued on a near-daily basis.

Tuesday’s strike hit the upper three floors of the al-Kayali building in the centre of Gaza City, where streets were busy with shoppers ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene of the strikes but struggled to reach the upper floors because of the scale of the damage and congestion in the area.

Witnesses said at least five missiles struck the building almost simultaneously from different directions.

One resident said he heard the sound of a helicopter hovering overhead before the attack.

Footage from the scene showed ambulances and civil defence crews searching through the damaged building as crowds gathered nearby.

A statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet said: “As part of the joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet to eliminate the terrorist Mohammed Odeh, several buildings in the heart of Gaza City that served as a hideout for him were attacked, after months of intelligence surveillance in order to track his movements and the movements of his assistants in the organisation.”

They added that they had also struck “a nearby apartment belonging to a Hamas terrorist who raided on October 7 and was part of Odeh’s circle of assistants”, referring to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.

A local Hamas source later told the BBC on Tuesday that Odeh and his wife had been killed.

Their family said Odeh’s son died of his wounds in hospital on Wednesday morning and a funeral was held after noon prayers at a mosque in Gaza City.