Sciver-Brunt Returns for England

England will be able to call upon captain Nat Sciver-Brunt for their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final clash with South Africa at the Oval after she was passed fit.

The all-rounder missed England’s last three group matches in the competition after retiring during a run-chase against Ireland in Southampton with a calf injury.

But she is back and raring to go against the Proteas, having undergone innovative rehab treatment.

Sciver-Brunt used MBST (Molecular Biophysical Stimulation) to help in her recovery, and after seven hour-long sessions, is ready to play a full part in the semi-final.

She said: “I’ve been put through my recovery paces and worked really hard to get myself to this position, and the sports science and medicine team have too.

“It involved sitting for an hour and not moving with my leg in a horseshoe-shaped thing.

“We literally threw everything at it.

“We used various different methods to get the recovery right. It was a lot about inflammation, doing the best we can for that and eating the right things, taking the right supplements, etc. Sitting in machines, oxygen tanks, just everything that we could do to get to this point.”

In her absence, Charlie Dean has captained world number two-ranked England to three more wins, most recently against semi-finalists West Indies and defending champions New Zealand.

Sophia Dunkley has seized her opportunity in place of Sciver-Brunt, scoring 120 runs in three innings, and the captain is hoping that this injury can end up being a blessing in disguise.

She added: “It’s funny how it works itself out. Lots of people had a great chance to have experience out in the middle, certainly with the bat. Missing out is never nice, but seeing people grow in confidence and getting the chance to show their skills with a little bit more time at the crease has been really special. I’m really excited to be able to join them again.”

South Africa, ranked fifth in the world, come into the game off the back of a nervy win over Bangladesh at Lord’s, and are now dreaming of a return to the Home of Cricket on Sunday.

They have a good recent history against England, who they knocked out of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, as well as the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, both at the semi-final stage.

Laura Wolvaardt was the star of the more recent victory, scoring 169 in a thumping win in Guwahati.

And while her form at this World Cup has not been quite where she would have liked, she is hopeful that recent knockout history will help the Proteas.

She said: “I think we’ve been able to beat England twice in knockout phases in World Cups, so it’s not like it’s super foreign territory for us.

“I think we can sort of beat anyone on the day when we play some very good cricket. So just trying to think back to those tournaments, what we did well in those semi-finals, what sort of mindset we were in.

“But I think this is a team that really is able to rise to the big occasions. So hopefully everyone’s at their best.”

Wolvaardt scored 44 in her opening appearance in the tournament against Australia and 45 against the Netherlands, but is still searching for her first half-century.

And while the pressure of a semi-final is only set to increase, she is hopeful that Thursday will be the day it comes good.

She added: “I’m probably a bit annoyed with my tournament because I felt like I was in pretty good form coming into the competition and then had a couple of frustrating knocks, maybe just trying to hit it a bit too hard, but I guess that’s just the pressure of a World Cup.

“It’s hard to stay super calm and chilled, but hopefully I’m able to do it tomorrow. I think it’s not like I’ve forgotten how to bat.

“I think it’s just maybe one or two things haven’t gone my way, and then I got a bit frustrated in the middle. So I think just need to stay nice and calm and maybe one or two nice shots and then I’m back.”