![Nat Sciver-Brunt returns home from camp [Source: @englandcricket/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1773914419956_NatSciver-Brunt.jpg?type=hq)
Nat Sciver-Brunt returns home from camp [Source: @englandcricket/x]
England Women’s captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has returned home from South Africa citing personal reasons. Earlier this month, the legendary all-rounder had travelled to the rainbow nation alongside the rest of her national teammates for a preparatory camp held in Pretoria.
The camp was designed by the ECB in a bid to prepare the England Women players for the upcoming 2026 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. In the first intra-squad match of the tour at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, captain Nat Sciver played a decisive innings for Team Brittin XI.
England captain leaves team midway into training camp
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has returned back home owing to a family emergency. The board also confirmed that the legendary all-rounder will not be taking any further part in England’s preparatory tour in South Africa.
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Brunt was originally a part of a 30-member group that toured South Africa to play a series of five intra-squad matches as part of England’s training for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
The 33-year-old was appointed as captain of Team Brittin XI, where she was accompanied by the likes of national teammates Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, Linsey Smith among others.
Nat Sciver-Brunt fired Team Brittin to huge win
Under the leadership of Nat Sciver-Brunt, Team Brittin XI thrashed Team Heyhoe-Flint XI by nine wickets and with eight overs to spare.
As it happened, Brittin restricted Team Heyhoe-Flint to just 109-9 from 20 overs upfront, with only Amy Jones managing to hit the 20-run mark. For Brittin, Issy Wong unfurled the spell of the innings with exceptional figures of 3-18. Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith also chipped in with two wickets each, while Lauren Filer and Freya Kemp picked up a wicket.
In response, Team Brittin XI charged towards an emphatic nine-wicket win in just 12 overs, even after losing opener Sophia Dunkley for just 12 early in the innings. Maia Bouchier compiled 47* runs off 40 balls in the run-chase, while captain Nat Sciver-Brunt hammered down seven cracking boundaries at the SuperSport Park in Centurion to fire a sizzling 24-ball 41*.
Purpose of England’s camp and late re-schedule
The 30-player England Women’s group was originally scheduled to tour Abu Dhabi for a training camp. However, the prevailing USA-Iran war and the resultant Middle East crisis forced the ECB to relocate the camp to South Africa instead.
The camp serves as a crucial selection trial, allowing head coach and former player Charlotte Edwards to evaluate players before England’s hectic summer schedule, which includes a home T20 World Cup.
Apart from hosting the showpiece event, the England Women’s team is also slated to host New Zealand and India cricket teams for a white-ball series. They will also face Team India Women for a historic Test match at Lord’s later this year.
With Nat Sciver-Brunt sitting out, England will have to push ahead with their preparations without their captain as the squad continues its build-up to a demanding and pivotal home summer.
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