Charlotte Edwards has opened up on the “tough decision” to omit Tammy Beaumont from England’s upcoming Women's T20 World Cup squad but revealed she could still be selected for the Test match against India at Lord’s in July.
The England head coach unveiled her 15-player World Cup squad on Tuesday, with uncapped 18-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman the headline inclusion.
Beaumont, 35, made her T20I and ODI debuts for England in November 2009 and has since risen to become England Women's second-highest all-time runs-scorer in ODI cricket.
Her brilliance with the bat helped propel England to victory at the 2017 Cricket World Cup, with Beaumont being crowned the player of the tournament and the top scorer.
"It was a really tough decision and a really close one," Edwards told Your Site, speaking on Beaumont's exclusion.
"Unfortunately, Tammy did miss out. It's never easy phoning someone and giving them that news. I'm really happy with the squad we've gone with, and it was incredibly difficult to select.
"It was a difficult phone call - as they always are - and as they are with many of the players because it's a home World Cup and it's a really special event.
"I'll have a follow-up conversation with Tammy over the next few days and talk to her about it, I'm sure."
Beaumont enjoyed an excellent Women's Big Bash League campaign with Adelaide Strikers over the winter, amassing 234 runs for the season, putting her 12th on the WBBL's top run-scorers tally.
"There's still life left in Tammy Beaumont," Edwards added. "She's obviously missed out on a T20 World Cup, but we've got a Test match at the end of the summer. We'll be picking the best team possible for that."
Davina Perrin was another player to miss out on selection from England's World Cup squad, but Edwards explained the 19-year-old top-order batter would have a future with England.
"Davina is a really wonderful young talent. She performed really well last year in The Hundred," Edwards said.
"She narrowly missed out for this competition but I think her time will come in the future."
Edwards also hailed Corteen-Coleman for her meteoric ascendancy and inclusion in the England squad.
The 18-year-old left-arm spinner enjoyed an outstanding second year in The Hundred in 2025 after being drafted to the Southern Brave in 2024, taking 11 wickets to put herself inside the top-10 bowlers for the season.
"What a rise into professional cricket she has had," Edwards said. "A 16-year-old playing in The Hundred and then two years later being selected for England.
"She's just had an incredible two years. She's performed. And that's ultimately what we've asked the players to do. Her age has not really been taken into account. She's conducted herself brilliantly over the last six months with the squad. Spent lots of time with us, and we're really confident she can deliver on the big stage.
She will be the third left-arm spinner included in Edwards' squad, alongside Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith. They will be accompanied by off-spinner Charlie Dean.
"Statistically, left-arm spinners have been really successful in women's T20 cricket," Edwards said, when asked about the squad's options. "We want options in our squad but also, ultimately, spinners to be effective. I know it's three left-armers, but if they're your three best spinners, then we're going to go with that."
Edwards added that her side was ready to bounce back from their disappointing 2024 WT20I World Cup group-stage exit.
"I think we're a very different team. We're coming here to win it. We know it's going to be really hard. There's some wonderful teams out there. But to be able to think that we can play in a World Cup final at Lord's is motivating us every day.
"They're just always special events. But to be part of a home World Cup with a final at Lord's, I don't think it gets much better. This team are really excited about that prospect and are looking forward to doing something really special."
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