Tammy Beaumont: England chose 'more aggressive' Commonwealth options - Heather Knight

Opener Beaumont, 31, has played 99 T20 internationals but was kicked out of the 15-man squad last week.

She then hit a brilliant 119 to lead England to victory over South Africa on Monday, the third one-day international.

"Tammy's ODI form is indisputable," Knight said.

"She's been one of the best players in the world for a long time and she wanted to prove she's got it.

"We just felt we wanted to be more aggressive in the power play in T20 and we feel we've brought in players who can bring that int repided, this aggressiveness to the team."

England have selected a team which includes eight players from under 25, including two uncapped 17-year-olds - versatile Alice Capsey and left-arm seamstress Freya Kemp.

The Commonwealth Games T20 competition will take place in Edgbaston from July 29 to August 7.

"It's a really exciting team - quite a bold team but we crossed that line with the youth," Knight said.

"The mentality they have is exactly what we want to add to our team.

"It's a huge benefit for us as a group to have this competition. It keeps everyone on their toes - that's been really important for Australia."< /p>

Knight said she could not yet reveal who will open in place of Beaumont, who had formed a longtime opening partnership with Danni Wyatt in the T20s.

However, she mentioned Sophia Dunkley, who hit her first ODI ton against South Africa after moving up to number three, as a possible option.

Bryony Smith, who played the last of his three T20 internationals in 2018, opened for England A in a T20 tour game against South Africa earlier this month.

Knight added that the "door is definitely not closed" on the Quarry Beaumont international at T20.

"I have no doubt that Tammy is going away and growing up and im proving and working on her T20 game - she's definitely not out of the picture going forward," she said.

This is the first time women's cricket has been part of the Commonwealth Games, with men previously playing a 50+ competition in 1998.

The same team will face South Africa in three T20s. Victory in the first T20 at C helmsford on Thursday will see England win the multi-format series as well, which they currently lead 8-2.

"The main objective of the South Africa T20 series is to be ready for the Commonwealths opener and lock down that XI," Knight said.

"Commonwealths are a chance for us as sp...