ENG-W vs IRE-W Fantasy Prediction, 1st ODI: England Women vs Ireland Women Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Leicester

England begin this series without most of their first choice side. Regular captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is being rested as part of long term management of a troublesome calf, and she is joined on the sidelines by Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, as head coach Charlotte Edwards opts for a deliberately forward looking squad. Charlie Dean, who has captained England for large stretches of this summer already, takes charge again. Gaby Lewis leads an Ireland side that has had a difficult few months against full member opposition but arrives with two experienced players back from injury. These squad updates will be important when selecting the ENG-W vs IRE-W 1st ODI Fantasy Team, particularly for identifying the best captain, vice-captain and fantasy picks.

ENG-W vs IRE-W Match Details

Match: England Women vs Ireland Women, 1st ODI
Series: Ireland Women tour of England 2026
Date: Tuesday, 1 September 2026
Time: 1:00 PM Local Time (5:30 PM IST)
Venue: Uptonsteel County Ground, Grace Road, Leicester
Competition: ICC Women’s Championship
Live Streaming: Sony LIV
TV Broadcast: Sony Sports Ten Network

Recent Form

England’s summer has been a mixed one. They drew a three match ODI series against New Zealand 1-1, winning a tight opener by two wickets after New Zealand were bowled out for 210, but losing the decider heavily after collapsing to 181 all out. Before that they were beaten comprehensively by South Africa in the T20 World Cup semi final, though they had earlier reached the final of that tournament, and their build up included a win over New Zealand and a defeat to Australia in the 50 over World Cup in India.

Ireland have struggled against stronger opposition recently. They were whitewashed 3-0 by West Indies at home last month, losing all three matches despite competitive totals in the 240 to 270 range. Before that they lost twice to South Africa, including a heavy defeat where South Africa posted 375. It has been a tough run, but Ireland have generally been competitive with the bat even in defeat.

Squad Changes and Selection Story

This is the most significant story heading into the series. Nat Sciver-Brunt will not play any part as England manage a calf issue that has affected her for most of the summer, forcing her out of three T20 World Cup group matches and several Hundred fixtures. Alongside her, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge have also been left out, with Edwards explicitly describing the squad as forward looking and aimed at deepening the playing pool.

Charlie Dean captains for the third time this year in Sciver-Brunt’s absence, having led England through the New Zealand ODI series and parts of the T20 World Cup. Grace Potts and Kira Chathli are uncapped at ODI level, and Charis Pavely, who has two T20I caps, is in line for her ODI debut. Ryana MacDonald-Gay returns to the squad for the first time since recovering from a lower back injury.

For Ireland, Arlene Kelly and Alice Tector both return after injury layoffs, while Aimee Maguire, Sarah Forbes and Ava Canning all miss out through injury. National selector Lauren Rowles said the squad reflects real competition for places built through regular ICC Women’s Championship cricket.

ENG-W vs IRE-W Head to Head Record

England lead the head to head 7-1 over the last meetings. The two sides last played a three match series in Ireland in 2024, which England won 2-1. They chased down 210 in the opener, posted a huge 320/8 in the second match to win by 45 runs, and then lost the third ODI to Ireland on DLS after Ireland restricted them to 153.

That solitary Irish win came via the DLS method rather than a conventional chase, so England’s record in matches settled by the bat and ball remains close to unbeaten in this fixture over the last decade.

ENG-W vs IRE-W Squads

England Women: Charlie Dean captains the side and keeps the vice captaincy role she has held through the white ball setup this year. Maia Bouchier and Sophia Dunkley lead the batting in Sciver-Brunt’s absence, with Alice Capsey, Danielle Gibson, Jodi Grewcock, Freya Kemp and Mady Villiers giving the side considerable allround depth. Kira Chathli keeps wicket in an uncapped ODI debut.

Full squad: Charlie Dean (c), Maia Bouchier, Kira Chathli (wk), Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Sophia Dunkley, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Jodi Grewcock, Freya Kemp, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Charis Pavely, Grace Potts, Mady Villiers, Isabelle Wong.

Ireland Women: Gaby Lewis captains the side, with Orla Prendergast as her regular deputy. Amy Hunter keeps wicket, and Leah Paul and Cara Murray add further batting experience. Arlene Kelly returns as a key seam bowling option after injury, and Kia McCartney retains her place as the squad’s spin option.

Full squad: Gaby Lewis (c), Orla Prendergast, Christina Coulter Reilly, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter (wk), Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Kia McCartney, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell, Alice Tector.

Pitch Report

Grace Road has been an excellent batting venue in the women’s game. Across six tracked matches, the side batting first has won 67 percent of the time, with an average first innings score of 267, a remarkably high figure for a 50 over venue.

The ground has produced serious totals before. England themselves hold the highest score here, 371/7 against South Africa, while the lowest total recorded is 112 by Sri Lanka. The highest successful chase is a more modest 181, suggesting that while big first innings totals are common, chasing big scores down is not.

Pace has dominated overwhelmingly, taking 82 percent of the wickets across the last 10 matches at the venue against just 18 percent for spin, which should suit an England attack built around Lauren Filer and Isabelle Wong.

Weather Report

Tuesday in Leicester looks mostly sunny with a temperature around 14.5°C, high humidity at 87 percent, and around a 25 percent chance of rain. Conditions look cool but largely dry, with a full match expected.

Probable Playing XIs

England Women (Probable): Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, Charlie Dean (c), Alice Capsey, Danielle Gibson, Jodi Grewcock, Freya Kemp, Kira Chathli (wk), Mady Villiers, Lauren Filer, Isabelle Wong.

Ireland Women (Probable): Gaby Lewis (c), Christina Coulter Reilly, Orla Prendergast, Leah Paul, Amy Hunter (wk), Cara Murray, Georgina Dempsey, Alice Tector, Kia McCartney, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little.

These are estimates. Final XIs are confirmed at the toss.

Key Player Battles

Gaby Lewis vs Lauren Filer: Ireland’s captain sets the tone at the top of the order, and Filer’s pace with the new ball on a ground that heavily favours seam bowling is the first serious examination Ireland face.

Orla Prendergast vs Sophia Dunkley: Two allrounders capable of shaping a match with either discipline. Prendergast’s role across bat and ball for Ireland mirrors what England will need from their own middle order options in a rebuilt side.

Alice Capsey vs Arlene Kelly: Capsey has the game to attack early, and Kelly returning from injury will want to make an immediate impact with the ball.

ENG-W vs IRE-W 1st ODI Fantasy Team

Wicketkeeper: Amy Hunter

Batters: Gaby Lewis (VC), Sophia Dunkley, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey

All-rounders: Charlie Dean (C), Orla Prendergast, Danielle Gibson

Bowlers: Lauren Filer, Arlene Kelly, Isabelle Wong

Dean gets the captaincy as England’s captain and an allrounder who bowls her overs and bats in the top order. Lewis is vice captain as Ireland’s captain and most consistent run scorer. The rest balances both top orders with the seam options, given how heavily pace has dominated at this ground.

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Match Prediction

England’s inexperienced XI makes this harder to call than the head to head record suggests. Losing Sciver-Brunt, Ecclestone, Bell, Jones and Wyatt-Hodge in one go is a significant reduction in international experience, even against an Ireland side that has struggled recently.

Ireland have shown they can compete with the bat, posting scores in the 240 to 270 range even in defeats to West Indies and South Africa, and Gaby Lewis leads a settled top order. On a ground that has produced huge first innings totals, a competitive Ireland batting effort is a real possibility.

England should still have enough depth to win at home, and their record in this fixture remains strong. But this looks a more open contest than a straightforward home series against a struggling opponent would normally be.

ENG-W vs IRE-W 1st ODI Fantasy Team FAQs

Q. Who will win the ENG-W vs IRE-W 1st ODI today?
A. England are favoured at home and lead the head to head 7-1, though they field a young and rebuilt squad with Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge all rested.

Q. Why is Nat Sciver-Brunt not playing for England?
A. She is being rested as part of long term management of a calf injury that has affected her for much of the summer. Charlie Dean captains in her place.

Q. What is the ENG-W vs IRE-W Fantasy prediction for the 1st ODI?
A. Charlie Dean and Gaby Lewis are the top captaincy picks. Orla Prendergast and Alice Capsey are strong differential options.

Q. Who captains Ireland Women on this tour?
A. Gaby Lewis, with Orla Prendergast as vice captain. Arlene Kelly and Alice Tector both return to the squad after injury.

Q. What is the pitch report for Grace Road, Leicester?
A. It is a strong batting venue, with the side batting first winning 67 percent of matches and an average first innings score of 267. Pace bowlers have taken 82 percent of the wickets in recent matches.

Q. What is the head to head record between England Women and Ireland Women?
A. England lead 7-1 over the last 10 meetings. Their most recent series in 2024 was won 2-1 by England, with Ireland’s only win coming via the DLS method.

Q. Is there a rain threat for the ENG-W vs IRE-W match?
A. Not much. The forecast shows around a 25 percent chance of rain with mostly sunny, cool conditions, so a full match is expected.