England’s leading spinner, Sophie Ecclestone, suffered an untimely setback during their clash against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam, in their final league game before the semi-final against South Africa in Guwahati on October 29.
After New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first, Ecclestone, in an attempt to prevent a boundary on the fourth delivery of the opening over, dived full stretch to her left and landed heavily on her left shoulder.
Earlier, while chasing the ball to the fence to stop another boundary, her foot got stuck awkwardly, and she fell onto her shoulder. The impact left her wincing in pain, and despite trying to continue, she soon appeared in visible discomfort.
The 26-year-old spinner later bowled just four balls in New Zealand’s innings. She was unable to complete her first over, conceding four runs, but still managed to take a wicket. However, the discomfort intensified, forcing her to cut her over short.
The England medical staff assessed her on the field before escorting her off for further treatment. As a precautionary measure, team management confirmed that Ecclestone would not return to the field during England’s bowling innings, prioritizing her recovery over immediate match involvement.
It was an unfortunate blow for both Ecclestone and England, given her consistent influence throughout the tournament so far. She began her World Cup campaign impressively in Guwahati against South Africa Women, claiming 2 for 19 in a tight spell that showcased her trademark control.
In the same venue against Bangladesh, she delivered another match-defining performance with 3 for 24, cementing her status as England’s attack leader. Her best outing came in Colombo, where she dismantled Sri Lanka with figures of 4 for 17, a performance hailed for its clever use of flight and pace variation on a slow surface.
However, in the India and Australia fixtures at Indore, Ecclestone encountered tougher challenges as the pitches offered little grip for spinners. She finished with 1 for 58 against India and 1 for 62 versus Australia, demonstrating resilience even on unhelpful tracks. Despite those expensive spells, her overall impact remained significant, having maintained England’s middle overs pressure and often breaking crucial stands through her experience and guile.
This latest blow puts a question mark over her availability for the upcoming knockout phase. Ecclestone has received applause from her teammates and fans all over the world who recognized her effort to save crucial runs and take wickets throughout the tournament. England’s management later confirmed that immediate scans would determine the extent of the shoulder injury.
From an individual standpoint, Sophie Ecclestone’s World Cup journey so far highlighted by 12 wickets across six matches underlines her role as one of the world’s premier spinners. England’s hopes of a dramatic turnaround after a challenging year hinge on Sophie Ecclestone, whose injury scare in Visakhapatnam has left the team anxious. For their World Cup dream to stay alive, she simply has to be fit.
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