England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt struck a tone of both realism and belief as she fronted the press ahead of her side’s ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 opener against South Africa in Guwahati.
With the Barsapara Cricket Stadium set to host the clash on October 3, Sciver-Brunt acknowledged the nerves that come with starting a global tournament but was equally confident in her side’s preparation, insisting that England must lean on adaptability and collective resilience to get through what she believes will be one of the most competitive World Cups yet.
This World Cup marks the first global test of the Nat Sciver-Brunt–Charlotte Edwards leadership partnership, forged earlier this year with the task of rejuvenating a side that has struggled to keep pace with its rivals since lifting the trophy at home in 2017. The dual leadership shift, England hopes, represents the start of a new chapter after several uneven campaigns.
Sciver-Brunt admitted that while two straight wins in their warm-up fixtures had lifted morale, she remained firm that results in practice games meant little once the tournament started. “Yes, winning all our warm-up matches is something, but I don’t suppose we could take any of the teams lightly,” she said. “We could take some confidence from those games, but the nerves will be there.”
Pressed on her expectations for the tournament, Sciver-Brunt underlined just how much the women’s game had grown in depth and competitiveness over the last cycle. “The women’s game has reached a point from where a lot of sides are really competitive and could win games,” she reflected. “We have seen in the first two games that the teams that could withstand the pressure the longest will come out on top.”
Her words rang particularly true with heavyweight sides already tested in the early stages, with both Australia and India overcoming batting collapses to start their campaigns with victories. For Sciver-Brunt, this is a clear signal that no side will have an easy ride, reinforcing her insistence on calmness under pressure.
On the cricketing side, England will lean heavily on their spinners in the middle overs, with Sciver-Brunt upbeat about the variety and control at their disposal. “We have a brilliant spin attack,” she said. “We ensure our spinners in the middle are difficult to get away.”
Her own return to bowling fitness adds another vital dimension to the balance of the XI. Having operated solely as a specialist batter during the English summer, Sciver-Brunt confirmed she would take on a bowling role across this campaign, though she tempered expectations. “At the moment it’s probably not the full 10 overs, further down the competition that could be an option, but probably not right now.”
That flexibility also allows England to strengthen their batting depth, something that could prove crucial against South Africa’s fast-scoring openers, with Lauren Bell set to lead England’s effort to contain early momentum.
The team’s buildup has not been without challenges, with the tail end of India’s monsoon season occasionally disrupting training. Sciver-Brunt was pragmatic in acknowledging that weather and conditions will be decisive factors over the course of the month-long event. “The odd training session (being affected) won’t set us off kilter, but we’ll have to keep an eye on the weather in this competition,” she said. “Ultimately, we just have to adapt to what’s out there and the wickets we turn up to at the ground.”
It is the kind of pragmatic, grounded leadership England needs as they begin their campaign in an unforgiving series of fixtures, where every game could carry significant weight.
There were, however, lighter moments as well. Sciver-Brunt joked about an unexpected sense of home during England’s stay in Guwahati. “The girls have found a mall that has an M&S in, so there’s a few home comforts out here,” she said with a smile. That touch of familiarity may prove helpful for a squad adjusting to subcontinental conditions far removed from the pitches of England.
As England prepare to walk out at the Barsapara Stadium, they do so with both pressure and possibility hanging in the balance. The October 3 game is more than just a fixture against a dangerous South Africa; it is the beginning of England’s bid to re-establish themselves as a genuine contender.
For Sciver-Brunt, steering her side into this new era is about composure, adaptability, and belief. The nerves may be there, as she admitted, but so too is the conviction that England are better placed to handle the challenges ahead.
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