England head coach Charlotte Edwards has confirmed that captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is unlikely to bowl this summer.
All-rounder Sciver-Brunt, 32, has been recovering from a long-standing Achilles problem which worsened during England’s thrashing by Australia in the Women’s Ashes at the start of the year.
She subsequently played a starring role in Mumbai Indians’ Women’s Premier League win but had a long period of rehabilitation afterwards, which coincided with her maternity leave.
Sciver-Brunt was appointed England captain last month, shortly after her wife, former England bowler Katherine, gave birth to their son in March.
“I feel these games are really big for us,” Edwards told Sky Sports after England started hers and Sciver-Brunt’s reign with a comprehensive T20 series clean sweep against West Indies.
“We’ve got nine games before the World Cup starts, so a lot of this is about us getting the right balance of team.
“Nat’s not bowling this series and she’s probably not going to bowl most of the summer. We want to make sure she’s fit and firing for the World Cup.
“Her workloads will start in a few weeks. It gives her an opportunity to look at other options, so we know we’ve got that balance if and when Nat comes back.”
England face West Indies in three one-day internationals starting at Derby on Friday, followed by three-match T20 and ODI series against India across June and July.
But Edwards and Sciver-Brunt’s first major assignment comes in the autumn, with India hosting the 50-over World Cup.
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