Nat Sciver-Brunt juggles captaincy, motherhood and injury ahead of England redemption quest

Nat Sciver-Brunt will play as a batter only at the start of her tenure as England Women's captain

- 

Nat Sciver Brunt hasn't just been juggling life as a new working mum in recent weeks, but also an intensive rehab programme on an Achilles injury that means she will start her tenure as England Women's captain playing as a batter only.

Speaking publicly for the first time since her appointment as Heather Knight's successor a fortnight ago and becoming a mum with wife Katherine in March, allrounder Sciver-Brunt said she had been battling Achilles tendinopathy “on and off for years". But her maternity leave had allowed a clear six-week window to treat the injury - including painful shockwave therapy - which had her on track to bat during her first assignment as captain, when England host West Indies in two white-ball series starting on May 21.

"For now I haven't been bowling," Sciver-Brunt said. "Just from an Achilles perspective to build up my workload through playing, batting is important in terms of the next step up. So certainly for the first part of the summer I'll be playing as a batter.

"My intention is to keep bowling. I mean, bowling 10 overs every 50-over match probably isn't something that is sustainable for me. But I'd like to have a good role with the ball as well.