Major injury concern for England ahead of T20 World Cup
As the hosts prepare for the marquee tournament, an integral member of the squad has been ruled out of the series against New Zealand and India.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is set to miss the upcoming bilateral series against New Zealand and India.
Sciver-Brunt is currently undergoing rehab for a sustained calf tear that she had sustained earlier this month while featuring in England’s domestic ODI tournament.
She had missed out on the ODI series with vice-captain Charlie Dean taking over as captain in her stead.
England will be hoping the mercurial all-rounder makes a timely recovery with the ICC Women's T20 World Cup just around the corner.
England batter Sophia Dunkley is confident that Sciver-Brunt will recover in time to lead the side at the T20 World Cup.
"Nat just needs a little bit of extra time to be in the best place possible to be ready and raring to go for the World Cup and we're absolutely confident that she'll be leading us out for that," Dunkley said.
"To get her in the best space, a bit of time is what's required.
"Nat's our leader and our captain, so she's a big part of our team, but we've got a really experienced T20 team at the moment and lots of different people stepping up in different positions. It's a great opportunity for us to see what it's like to play without her. Hopefully we can get on a roll with that and a few wins leading into the World Cup."
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England Cricket Board also confirmed that Danni Wyatt-Hodge will also miss the T20I series with the birth of her first child imminent.
Maia Bouchier and Charis Pavely have been called up to the T20I squads for the series against the White Ferns as cover.
England Women’s T20I squad v New Zealand: Charlie Dean (c), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Maia Bouchier, Charis Pavely.
England are slotted in Group 2 of the T20 World Cup alongside defending champions New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Ireland and Scotland.
The hosts will kickstart their campaign against Sri Lanka on June 12 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
England's T20 World Cup squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge