Amy Jones Backs Charlie Dean for England Captaincy Amid Sciver-Brunt's Injury
Amy Jones expressed unwavering confidence in Charlie Dean stepping up as captain for England in the upcoming T20 World Cup, should Nat Sciver-Brunt be unable to participate due to injury. Sciver-Brunt, sidelined with a tear in her left calf, missed the recent series against New Zealand and will also miss the three-match series against India starting on Thursday in Chelmsford. With the World Cup opener against Sri Lanka on June 12, time is of the essence for Sciver-Brunt's recovery. Although her contributions with the bat are invaluable, Jones highlighted Dean's impressive leadership during this challenging period, stating: “Charlie has been brilliant in the way she’s stepped up and led the group.” Jones acknowledged the importance of Sciver-Brunt's leadership off the field, noting that Dean has seamlessly taken the reins in her absence. She added: “We’ve got full confidence in Charlie whenever she needs to step up and captain.” The England team recently secured a 2-1 series victory against New Zealand, but they face a tougher challenge against India, who are just behind England in the ICC rankings. In their last encounter on English soil, India triumphed 3-2. Jones remarked on the preparation leading into the tournament: “A hard-fought series with New Zealand then hopefully another good battle with India is excellent preparation.” Additionally, Danni Wyatt-Hodge has rejoined the squad after the birth of her child but will not be available until the second match in Bristol. This opens the door for Alice Capsey to continue her role at the top of the order, potentially increasing competition with Sophia Dunkley.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-05-27