England's Batting Dilemma Addressed by 'Kemp-son'
Former England captain Charlotte Edwards has suggested that England might have secured victory in last year's 50-over World Cup had Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson been available. Both players were sidelined due to back injuries at the time. England's campaign ended in the semi-finals, highlighting a recurring issue: a struggle to hit boundaries when the field was spread, a problem that has plagued the team for years.
However, in a recent match against Scotland at Headingley, Kemp and Gibson delivered a compelling performance that validated Edwards' assessment. Their partnership demonstrated why England's coach had confidence in establishing 'Kemp-son' as the team's vital engine room, despite their limited prior international exposure. The duo forged an unbroken 61-run partnership from just 21 balls, proving decisive in England's 38-run victory over Scotland. More importantly, this performance signals a significant shift for England, suggesting they now possess formidable finishers for upcoming, tougher challenges.
A New Dimension to England's Batting
Sophia Dunkley, who scored 57 before Kemp and Gibson's late assault and has previously been tried in a finishing role, now batting in the top three, acknowledges the new dynamic the pair brings. "We've probably lacked a little bit of power at the back end and it's nice to have some real six-hitters coming in and giving us some momentum," she stated.
England's historical difficulty in accelerating their innings was evident in the third Ashes T20 last year, where they managed only three boundaries after the powerplay. Across 17 T20 innings in 2025, England's number six and seven batters (the positions now filled by Kemp and Gibson) maintained a strike-rate of precisely 100, with fewer than 6% of deliveries hit for boundaries. This year, their boundary percentage has surged to nearly 28%, accompanied by a punishing strike-rate of 181.92.
"It's a huge difference from where they were last year," commented England World Cup winner Alex Hartley. "Freya Kemp, when she's healthy, can hit the ball powerfully. It doesn't even look like she's hitting the ball and it goes flying." Former England batter Ebony Rainford-Brent highlighted that the pair are "solving a problem," while ex-seamer Katherine Sciver-Brunt described their recent partnership as one "we've all been dying for - it was one that England needed to happen going into the latter stages."
Return from Injury and Batting Development
Kemp had participated in the challenging Ashes defeat but soon after faced a recurrence of back issues, leading to months of frustration. This period, however, allowed her to focus on her batting, playing a full summer for Hampshire solely as a batter. Gibson, similarly, missed the entire Ashes series due to a back injury. Her inability to bowl provided an opportunity to refine her batting skills over the winter, with a particular emphasis on improving her off-side play. This dedication was evident in the final over against Scotland, where she twice powerfully drove Priyanaz Chatterji through the covers.
"I was very leg-side dominant in the past so trying to get through the off side was a work on and it is going very well," Gibson shared with Sky Sports after the victory.
Complementary Styles and Future Prospects
Much like Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith offer a complementary bowling attack, Kemp and Gibson, both signed for over £100,000 in The Hundred, present a similar dynamic at the crease. Kemp, a slender and rangy left-hander with a flowing bat swing reminiscent of Ben Stokes, hits cleanly straight or, as demonstrated against Scotland, over mid-wicket. Gibson, a right-hander with a more compact frame, possesses power to hit straight but is particularly adept at finding boundaries behind square. This combination makes them a formidable challenge for bowlers.
Dunkley observed, "Kempy's got so much power down the ground and Gibbo can hit square. They're a great combination and to have a partnership like that at the end gives us as a top order a lot of confidence."
The top order features strong batters like Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, and Alice Capsey, with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt also expected to return from a calf injury. Despite the array of talent, Dunkley believes Kemp is the longest hitter among them. "If I have to put money on it, I'd probably go with Kempy," she said. Even Gibson, despite her own impressive hit into the second tier at Headingley, defers to Kemp's power: "I get very scared at the non-striker's end when Freya is batting because she absolutely smashes the ball."
While this powerful partnership arrived too late for a previous World Cup, it appears to be perfectly timed for future tournaments, offering England a significant boost in their quest for cricketing success.
Source: How 'Kemp-son' are solving England's batting problem