Charlotte Edwards says she is close to settling on her starting XI for this summer's Women's T20 World Cup after England claimed a six-wicket victory against India on Tuesday, but it still feels like she has some thinking to do.
The England coach has been presented with a tricky dilemma of who to pick at the top of her batting order, with a logjam of five players, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, and Heather Knight, all competing for one of three spots.
Edwards also revealed that captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, , could also be drafted back into England's top order for their first game against Sri Lanka on June 12, live on Your Site.
So who will make the final XI?
On Tuesday, Capsey and Knight both thrust themselves into contention as they guided the hosts to a six-wicket victory against India, making a partnership of 137 from 76 deliveries.
Capsey produced a Player of the Match performance, scoring 82 runs off 43 deliveries.
"Just when you feel like she [Capsey] is out of the side, she'll do something like that," former England bowler Tash Farrant told Your Site after Tuesday's match.
"She's performed under the pressure of a big chase, which England have struggled with over the past few years."
The 21-year-old's performance came after Capsey struck an unbeaten 74 in England's opening match against New Zealand in Derby.
"Capsey has also put her name back in the hat because before this game, I think the two front-runners were Sophia Dunkley and Heather Knight," Farrant added.
"So fair play to her, that's another spanner in the works, and I think Charlotte Edwards has some thinking to do."
Knight, meanwhile, had found herself under some pressure following a period of indifferent form, but on Tuesday, she may have put doubts over her place in the side to rest, as she struck an unbeaten 70.
Prior to Tuesday, the experienced England batter had made 19, 25, 18, 21, and 18 in her last five T20I matches.
Reflecting on Knight's performance on Tuesday, former England and Lancashire bowler Kate Cross told Your Site: "Heather Knight has got that in her locker and she's just not shown it.
"But potentially two players [Knight and Capsey] who are really under pressure for a spot in a World Cup starting XI have now just asked a lot of questions of their coach."
With Sciver-Brunt set to return, Cross said: "Knight could drop down the order if England need fireworks."
While Edwards admitted she "didn't know her best XI" after their series win over New Zealand in May, Farrant believes the head coach is holding out on finalising a team until after England's World Cup warm-up matches against Australia on June 8 and India on June 10.
"For me, it is between Heather Knight, Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey," Farrant said prior to Tuesday's match.
She later added: "I believe Charlotte Edwards knew the bulk of her batting order, but maybe she didn't know which one out of the three to go for.
"Maybe she knew Heather Knight was always going to be a shoo-in."
Prior to Tuesday's match, there was some debate amongst Your Site' cricket experts over whether Dunkley should open for England.
Dunkley has also struggled to find a big score during the T20 series against New Zealand and India, with her best knock, 26, coming in England's second match against the White Ferns in Canterbury.
But Farrant believes England could utilise Dunkley's ability to score quick runs.
"I don't think we've seen the best of Sophia Dunkley because I feel like she's slightly looking over her shoulder. She's not sure she's going to be in the best XI," Farrant said.
"I feel like you need someone at the top of the order to go hell for leather. I feel Danni Wyatt-Hodge can just build into her innings and go through the innings.
"For me, you back Dunkley, and you say: 'I need you to get us off to a fast start'. I worry that Capsey and Danni Wyatt-Hodge wouldn't, potentially, do that.
Farrant added: "The way that Sophia Dunkley is playing at the moment, she does look tentative. When she feels comfortable, that's when she goes from ball one. That's what she has been for England, she's been that slight pinch-hitter."
"Look, she hasn't gone on. From the last game, Dunkley stayed at the top with Wyatt-Hodge. Capsey was moved slightly lower down the order. That, for me, is the biggest indicator Charlotte Edwards is going to go for those two at the top of the order."
Former Warwickshire and Leicestershire player Charles Dagnall disagreed, believing Capsey is the better opener because of her ability to maximise returns during the power play.
"Sophia Dunkley is a little bit one-dimensional; she hits really well over the top, and she'll get you a couple of boundaries here and there. But that is intermittent with a lot of dot balls; she finds the field quite a lot.
"Capsey can manipulate the field a little bit better. If the surfaces that they play on, which we're led to believe they want to be fast and grassy, going through and a quick outfield, I just think that Capsey is a better option both against pace and spin in the power play, which is what they are going to face."
Despite being dismissed for two runs on Tuesday, Jones enjoyed an excellent innings during England's first T20 match against India, making 67 runs off 48 deliveries.
"It feels like they like her at three," Cross said. "I think she's taken on that role really well.
"Of everyone in this team, she's moved up and down throughout her career. It's not like we've quite found somewhere for Amy, but when Nat Sciver-Brunt comes back into the team, that batting line-up looks different."
But Dagnall added: "Not for me. Nat bats three, and she has to bat there. She's devastating there.
"You look at her WBBL form against devastating attacks, and all of her runs have come from there. She has to bat at three."
Former England captain and Your Site cricket expert Nasser Hussain believes England's bowling line-up "picks itself".
Linsey Smith and Lauren Bell have excelled with the new ball, while Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone have both impressed in recent weeks.
"They've got four quality bowlers in there," Hussain said. "Then, because of Nat Sciver-Brunt's injury situation, I would pick the two all-rounders [Freya Kemp and Danni Gibson], simply also because one thing England have been lacking, [in the absence of] Sciver-Brunt, is a bit of firepower."
However, Hussain was impressed by England's strength in depth, adding that 18-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman was ready for the big stage.
"That's where the strength in depth is; the cricketers you pick have to be ready," Hussain said.
"Tilly Corteen-Coleman, to me, looks like someone who is ready. So, say one of their spinners is injured, or whatever, or has a niggle or wakes up unwell, Corteen-Coleman can easily step in.
"So, there is strength in depth, but you know, strength in depth is not what wins you tournaments. Big players stand up, and you stand up in pressure situations."
Dagnall also believes Issy Wong could force her way into Edwards' side, explaining he feels the fast bowler has the ability to offer England something a little different on the big stage.
Wong was dropped for England's last two matches against India, but assessing England's bowling options, Dagnall said: "I've got 16 overs in the bag, [I have] Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell [in the team].
"I've also got Freya Kemp and Alice Capsey if I need them. What I don't have is a difference maker. Issy Wong is a big-game player.
"We've seen her rise to the occasion on more than one occasion when called upon. I think she's better at the death. She's a brilliant fielder, and she can find a boundary.
"So I want an X-factor player, and I have lots of cover. Yes, she went for 27 in one over in one of the games, but look at the way she came back. It's a toss-up between her and Gibson, but I'll nudge Wong there."
All times UK and Ireland; all live on Your Site
, from the opening match on June 12 through to the final on July 5. Hosts England kick off the tournament on opening night with a game versus Sri Lanka at Edgbaston (6.30pm start).
