Sciver-Brunt Wants to Bowl Again but Admits Calf Injury Is Slowing Her Return
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt says her calf rehab continues, bowling is on hold and she may miss the Ireland ODIs while playing in The Hundred.
By SportCricket Desk · 30 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Nat Sciver-Brunt is playing for Trent Rockets in this year’s Hundred Women, but she says she is still some way from bowling again and could even miss England’s upcoming ODI series against Ireland as part of her rehabilitation.
A summer disrupted
The all-rounder has been dealing with a calf problem all summer. It kept her out of England’s series against New Zealand and India, and of several games at the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. After a short break following the Lord’s Test against India, she came back in The Hundred with an unbeaten 37 off 23 balls, helping Trent Rockets win by eight wickets. England are managing her workload carefully, so she is unlikely to play every remaining match.
She said the rehab has hardly paused since the World Cup, with small daily exercises to keep up her conditioning and strength. Having not bowled for a long time, she accepts bowling must wait for now.
Not giving up bowling
The England skipper made clear she does not plan to stop bowling. She enjoys contributing in all three departments, and once this tournament ends she expects a substantial rehab block to stop the calf becoming a long-term issue, working closely with the sports science and medical staff. She said she still has the drive and love for the game.
Ireland series and young talent
England face Ireland in three ODIs next month, a series expected to feed into preparations for the 2027 ICC Women’s Champions Trophy. Sciver-Brunt feels it and The Hundred give emerging domestic players a strong chance to impress selectors. She praised the rising standard of the competition, saying that four overseas players per side has made it tougher and given England’s best domestic players a valuable stage.
