Nat Sciver-Brunt is on course to be available for England’s home World Cup, and she has made clear that she does not feel obliged to bowl straight away. The 33-year-old is regarded as one of the hosts’ most influential players, but a calf problem has interrupted her build-up.
She suffered the injury while playing for The Blaze in the One Day Cup, and it kept her out of England’s recent white-ball series against New Zealand and India.
A careful return
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Sciver-Brunt said there was no sense of pressure on her to act as an all-rounder at this stage, because England already have a well-rounded bowling attack. In her words, nobody is expecting her to bowl during the tournament, although she hopes to contribute with the ball in the later stages depending on her fitness and what each match demands.
She added that the team management is being cautious, particularly given the number of fixtures packed into the warm-up period and the opening group games. All of her recovery sessions so far, she confirmed, have gone smoothly and without pain.
England’s form and fixtures
England have not struggled in her absence. Under Charlie Dean’s leadership they won T20I series against both New Zealand and India, and they enter the tournament in confident mood.
They have been drawn in a competitive group with Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. England open their campaign against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday, June 12.
