Sciver-Brunt gives key fitness update at ICC Women's T20 World Cup launch

Nat Sciver-Brunt has revealed she is set to return from injury and play for England during their ICC Women's T20 World Cup warm-up match against Australia on Monday night, live on Sky Sports.

The England captain made the revelation on Sunday as Waterloo Bridge was transformed into a cricket pitch to celebrate the arrival of the tournament on English soil, with the hosts due to begin their campaign against Sri Lanka on June 12 at Edgbaston, live on Sky Sports.

Sciver-Brunt, who suffered a calf tear while playing for The Blaze in April, was one of 12 captains to attend the launch, with hundreds of fans also gathering to play street cricket in front of some of London's most iconic landmarks, including Big Ben and the London Eye.

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England head coach Charlotte Edwards revealed following her side's 2-1 series victory against India that Sciver-Brunt was ready to play, and on Sunday the England captain spoke of her excitement to get back on the pitch.

"I've been injured, which is very frustrating, but I'm back tomorrow to play against Australia," Sciver-Brunt told former England men's captain and Sky Sports Cricket analyst Nasser Hussain.

"My calf is doing well. I have been through lots of training in the last week, and beyond that. The warm-up game tomorrow will be my first time back, so I'm really excited to get back out on the pitch.

Discussing what role she will play in the team, Sciver-Brunt explained that she would not be deployed as a bowler, and instead will focus on batting.

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"It could change, but for now, getting back as a batter is the most important thing," she said.

"We have some brilliant bowlers who are covering all of the bases. We'll see how that goes, but at the moment I'll be playing just as a batter."

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It's set to be a special tournament, with England hoping to emulate the ODI side who won the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup on home soil in 2017.

"Playing cricket on Waterloo Bridge isn't something you get to do every day. It's a special way to kick off a home tournament that's for sure!" Sciver-Brunt told the ICC.

"The excitement has been building for such a long time now, and the squad is ready. We've put in the hard work, the practice and the performances now over several months, and we just can't wait to get out there in front of the crowds and give it everything we've got."

England high in confidence ahead of World Cup

Under the stewardship of stand-in captain Charlie Dean, England beat defending world champions New Zealand 2-1 before going on to defeat India in their lead-up series.

Sciver-Brunt believes the team have been exposed to a range of pressure situations during both of those series, and says the learnings they have taken from those will stand them in good stead when it comes to facing teams like Australia and South Africa.

"We have had a couple of brilliantly competitive series, which have put us under pressure at times. It has made us use different tools," she said.

"The New Zealand and India series have been great preparation for the tournament, which I think will throw some different things at us. But the team is in a very good place and is showing lots of confidence.

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"We've got lots of people who are really confident in what they're doing, and the skill development over the winter has been really impressive. We've got the tools for it. I think it's just recognising the moment at the time, and we're staying composed in that moment."

England will hope to end a 17-year drought at the T20 World Cup by winning this year's tournament. But amid the pressure of trying to perform in front of the home fans, Sciver-Brunt says the team will stay tight as a unit.

"You get a bit more noise from the crowd being the home side, and experience that energy that the crowd gives you.

"The home fans will be expecting us to do well, but hopefully we can stay in our bubble in the team and focus on everything that we've done so well in the last couple of series we have played and beyond."

Butcher: England have a big selection conundrum

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Former England men's opener Mark Butcher believes England's bowling attack of Lauren Bell, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean picks itself.

The real conundrum for Edwards is her top order, and Butcher believes both Heather Knight and Alice Capsey have done enough to secure spots in the starting XI, with Sophia Dunkley to miss out.

"The fact that Nat Sciver-Brunt is not bowling at the moment is actually not a big deal. England have stuck with Freya Kemp, left-handed all-rounder, and Dani Gibson. They provide power hitting at the bottom, and overs - whether they share the fifth bowler's duty between them. That has looked pretty good to me. Their bowling line-up is one of the strongest in the tournament.

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"They've got three left-arm spinners to choose from. Tilly Courteen-Coleman is probably the one on the outside at the moment. You've got Linsey Smith and Sophie Ecclestone. Lauren Bell will play. She takes wickets for fun, and Charlie Dean is brilliant.

"One thing Nasser didn't mention was that Dean had captained England unbelievably well in Sciver-Brunt's absence, and whether or not there was a thought that perhaps she might just concentrate on the calf and on her batting and allow Dean to continue, because she was that good.

"So the only real question mark for England, and they were all almost answered in that deciding match of that T20 series against India, was the choice between Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey and Heather Knight.

England's T20 World Cup group fixtures

vs Sri Lanka (Friday June 12) - Edgbaston, Birmingham (6.30pm)

vs Ireland (Tuesday June 16) - Utilita Bowl, Southampton (6.30pm)

vs Scotland (Saturday June 20) - Headingley, Leeds (6.30pm)

vs West Indies (Wednesday June 24) - Lord's, London (6.30pm)

vs New Zealand (Saturday June 27) - The Kia Oval, London (6.30pm)

"Those were the three batters who were under the microscope in terms of form and performance. Capsey and Knight put on a brilliant partnership to defeat India in the deciding game.

"It looks as though Dunkley might be the one to miss out when Sciver-Brunt comes back in, and she would probably bat at three.

"So I think that is the only conundrum for Edwards and Sciver-Brunt as England enter the tournament."

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Watch every ball of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup exclusively live on Sky Sports and NOW, from the opening match on June 12 through to the final on July 5. Hosts England kick off the tournament on opening night with a game versus Sri Lanka at Edgbaston (6.30pm start).