England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is racing to recover in time for next month’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup after suffering a calf tear that rules her out of the upcoming T20 series against New Zealand and India.
The 33-year-old sustained the injury on April 29 while representing The Blaze against Warwickshire. Following a scan, England’s medical team has confirmed she requires a longer rehabilitation period, meaning she will miss all six of England’s pre-World Cup T20 fixtures — three against New Zealand and three against India.
England face New Zealand in three T20 internationals in May: Derby on May 20, Canterbury on May 23 and Hove on May 25. They will then play a three-match T20 series against India before beginning their home World Cup campaign.
England start the T20 World Cup at Edgbaston on Friday 12 June against Sri Lanka. Sciver-Brunt’s absence from the warm-up series is a setback for England as they prepare to try to improve on recent tournament form; they last won the competition at home in 2009 and were eliminated at the group stage in the previous edition in the UAE. New Zealand are the reigning champions, having beaten South Africa in the Dubai final two years ago.
The ECB confirmed Sciver-Brunt’s omission from both the Vitality IT20 series versus New Zealand and India as part of its update on the captain’s recovery. In related squad changes, Danni Wyatt-Hodge will miss the New Zealand series as she prepares for the birth of her first child. England have called up Hampshire’s Maia Bouchier and Warwickshire’s Charis Pavely as cover for the T20 matches against New Zealand.
England’s immediate T20 schedule vs New Zealand:
– 1st T20: May 20, Central Co-op County Ground, Derby (6.30pm)
– 2nd T20: May 23, The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury (2.30pm)
– 3rd T20: May 25, The 1st Central County Ground, Hove (2.30pm)
The focus now turns to Sciver-Brunt’s rehabilitation timeline and whether she will be fit to lead England when the World Cup begins in June.