Nat Sciver-Brunt ruled out of T20 series with calf injury

Nat Sciver-Brunt is a huge fitness concern for England before the home T20 World Cup after the captain was ruled out of the series against New Zealand and India with a calf injury.

The influential all-rounder initially missed the three one-day internationals against New Zealand with what England described as a "minor tear" in her left calf.

A further scan on Monday revealed the 33-year-old requires a "longer period of rehabilitation", with the World Cup less than a month away.

Sciver-Brunt will miss the three T20s against world champions New Zealand, starting in Derby on Wednesday, and the three T20s against India that follow.

Off-spinner Charlie Dean will once again lead England in Sciver-Brunt's absence.

England are not thought to be concerned about Sciver-Brunt's availability for the World Cup, rather that the skipper simply needs more time to recover from the injury she sustained playing for the Blaze against Warwickshire at the end of April.

Sciver-Brunt has been with the squad during the one-day series against New Zealand, which was drawn 1-1.

"Nat just needs a little bit more time to be in the best place she can be for the World Cup," said batter Sophia Dunkley, speaking to BBC Sport.

"We're really confident she'll be leading us out there and the flip side is it's a great opportunity for some of the girls to step up and get some game time. Everybody has to be ready to play if needed, anything can happen in a World Cup.

"We look forward to having Nat back with us when she's ready which looks to be really soon."