The England women’s team has received a big fitness boost as fast bowler Issy Wong is fit and ready to return. There are just over two weeks left for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. The team is also hopeful that captain Nat Sciver-Brunt will return soon for the home tournament, which begins on June 12.
Wong was expected to play in the first ODI against New Zealand but pulled out just before the match after feeling tightness in her hamstring. She then missed the entire ODI series after scans. But the injury turned out to be minor, and she is now fit and available for the T20I series starting in Derby on May 20.
Wong said, “Two scans sounds a lot worse than it was but there was nothing on the second one, so I’m good to go. I felt something in the top of my hamstring, and I was quite keen to play on but the physios decided to take it easy.”
England chose to be careful because the T20 World Cup is coming soon. Wong said she also did not want to take a risk after working hard to get into the World Cup squad.
“I feel like I’ve worked really hard and I was buzzing to get the call for this World Cup, so it was in the back of my mind: don’t risk it.”
She also said she was not sure at first whether to tell the team about the injury.
“I wasn’t that worried, I was 50:50 about whether I’d even talk to them or whether I should just keep my head down and not mention it,” she said. “But I thought, I’ve done the hard work and got myself picked for a World Cup- I should probably tell them.”
Wong has not played for England since July last year. Her return is a big boost for the team. She adds pace to the attack and has taken 13 wickets in 17 WT20Is, with best figures of 2/10. In total, she has 20 wickets for England across formats.
Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is also recovering from a calf injury she got against New Zealand, which ruled her out of the ODI series. She is working with the team on her return plan.
“It has been frustrating to be left on the sidelines but hopefully soon I can get back out there,” Sciver-Brunt said. “I am having another meeting with the team to finalise (the timeline of return). Hopefully soon.”
Sciver-Brunt also praised stand-in captain Charlie Dean for her leadership during the ODI series.
“We have got a great leadership group that are in constant communication on and off the pitch. I have left it in good hands, and I wanted Charlie (Dean) to do things in her own way. She didn’t have to be anyone else, just be herself.”
Sciver-Brunt is one of England’s key players. In WT20Is, she has scored 2960 runs and taken 90 wickets in 137 matches. In WODIs, she has 4354 runs at an average of 46.31 and 88 wickets. In WT20Is, she also has 18 half-centuries and the highest score of 82, underlining her consistency as a top-order all-rounder.
The only other concern for England is Sophie Ecclestone, who has a minor quad strain. She is being checked, but there are no serious worries about her fitness.
England shared the ODI series with New Zealand. England won the first ODI in Durham by one wicket. The second ODI in Northampton was washed out due to rain. New Zealand won the final ODI in Cardiff by 17 runs (DLS method).
England will now play a three-match T20I series against New Zealand. The first match is on May 20 in Derby, followed by games on May 23 in Canterbury and May 25 in Hove. They will also play three T20Is against India before the World Cup.
England will begin their home T20 World Cup campaign on June 12 at Edgbaston against Sri Lanka. New Zealand are the defending champions. England will be looking to win their first Women’s T20 World Cup title since 2009.
(Quotes sourced from Sky Sports)
Loves all things female cricket