Warwickshire seamer Alexa Stonehouse has been added to England Women’s squad for the remaining two ODIs against New Zealand. The 21-year-old receives her first senior international call-up after a string of consistent performances in domestic cricket, stepping in as an injury disrupts England’s bowling resources.
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the news ahead of the second ODI, scheduled for May 13 at Wantage Road, Northampton. Stonehouse joined the squad for training on Tuesday and is in contention to make her international debut in either of the final two matches of the series.
Strong Domestic Form Earns Stonehouse Her Chance
Stonehouse’s call-up comes on the back of an encouraging run in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup for Warwickshire. She has claimed eight wickets in five appearances at an average of 25.12, with three-wicket hauls in back-to-back games against Durham and Somerset — form that was difficult for selectors to overlook.
The right-arm seamer has been building steadily in domestic cricket and this call-up represents a significant step forward in her early career. Should she feature in either of the remaining matches, she will become one of the younger players to make their England Women’s ODI debut in recent years.
Arlott and Wong Injuries Open the Door
Stonehouse’s inclusion is directly tied to injury concerns affecting two of England’s frontline fast bowlers. Em Arlott has been withdrawn from the squad after being struck on the head during a nets session at Chester-le-Street on Saturday, placing her under concussion protocols. Her availability for the remainder of the series remains uncertain.
Issy Wong, meanwhile, had already been a doubt heading into the first ODI after reporting hamstring stiffness during pre-match warm-ups at Durham. Lauren Filer replaced her for that opening game, which England won by one wicket. Wong has since been sent for a scan to assess the extent of the injury, raising questions about her availability for the T20 World Cup, which begins on June 12.
Wong was confirmed in England’s 15-player T20 World Cup squad just days before the injury concern emerged, making the scan results particularly significant for head coach planning.
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England Eye Series Win Amid Injury Disruption
Despite the mounting injury list, England have taken an early lead in the three-match series. Charlie Dean, standing in as captain for Nat Sciver-Brunt, who is herself recovering from a left calf tear, guided the side to a tense one-wicket win in the series opener and was named player of the match for her unbeaten 31.
Sciver-Brunt’s absence adds further context to the squad’s current challenges, with key personnel missing across both the batting and bowling departments.
New Zealand are in England for three ODIs followed by three T20 Internationals, with the series serving as preparation for both sides ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in England and Wales. England have been placed in Group 2 alongside hosts, Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.
The second ODI takes place on May 13 in Northampton, and the series concludes on May 16 in Cardiff.
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