Nat Sciver-Brunt has been ruled out of England’s upcoming bilateral series against New Zealand women’s national cricket team and India women’s national cricket team after suffering a calf injury, creating fresh concerns ahead of next month’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The England captain is currently recovering from a calf tear picked up during the domestic Women’s One-Day Cup.
The 33-year-old all-rounder had already missed England’s ODI series against New Zealand earlier this month, and her continued absence now leaves the team without one of its biggest stars heading into a crucial phase of the season. Confirming the update, the England and Wales Cricket Board said, “Our captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt has been ruled out of the India and New Zealand squads as she continues to rehab a sustained calf tear.”
England Women Squad Update 👇
Our captain, Nat-Sciver-Brunt has been ruled of the India and New Zealand squads as she continues to rehab a sustained calf tear 💔
Maia Bouchier and Charis Pavely have been called up to the New Zealand series T20 squads as cover.
Danni… pic.twitter.com/thdi9AliUv
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 19, 2026
Is Nat Sciver-Brunt’s Women’s T20 World Cup Participation in Doubt After Latest Injury Blow?
While Nat Sciver-Brunt has officially been ruled out of England’s bilateral series assignments, attention has now shifted toward the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. With the tournament just around the corner, the latest calf injury setback has naturally raised questions over whether England’s captain will be fully fit in time for the competition.
Sciver-Brunt remains one of the most important players in England’s setup, which is why her absence would be a massive blow if the recovery stretches further. Across her T20I career from 2013 to 2025, the all-rounder has scored 2960 runs in 137 matches at an average of 29.01 while also taking 90 wickets, underlining her value as one of England’s key match-winners in both batting and bowling.
Who Has Been Called Up to England’s Squad After Nat Sciver-Brunt’s Injury?
Danni Wyatt-Hodge will also miss England’s upcoming T20I series against New Zealand women’s national cricket team as she awaits the birth of her first child. With the opening match set to take place in Derby on Wednesday, England have brought in Maia Bouchier and Charis Pavely as cover options. Charlie Dean will continue leading the side in the absence of Nat Sciver-Brunt after captaining the ODI squad earlier this month.
Bouchier has already shown her value to the team during the ODI series against New Zealand. After initially joining the squad as cover for Sciver-Brunt, she impressed with a top score of 59 in England’s win at Durham. She also featured in the rain-affected matches at Northampton and Cardiff before making way for Jodi Grewcock in the final ODI, which New Zealand won via the DLS method to level the series 1-1.
Meanwhile, Pavely arrives in strong form after an excellent run in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, where she has already scored two centuries and three fifties in her first eight matches of the season. England are also continuing to carefully manage Sciver-Brunt’s fitness after a difficult period with injuries, including the Achilles issue that kept her from bowling last summer before her return as an all-rounder at the ODI World Cup.
(With inputs from Reuters)
