Women's World T20: Katherine Brunt ruled out with a back injury
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Katherine Brunt was forced to leave the field during a warm-up match against India
ICC Women's World Twenty20 |
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Venues: Guyana, St Lucia, Antigua Dates: 9-24 November |
Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary and in-play video highlights on all games on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and via the BBC Sport website & app; live text commentary on all England & Ireland games, plus selected other matches |
England have been dealt a major blow before the Women's World Twenty20 after all-rounder Katherine Brunt was ruled out of the tournament with a back injury.
Brunt, 33, has a recurring back problem which flared up again during a warm-up game against India on Wednesday.
She will be replaced in the England squad by Fran Wilson, a member of the World Cup-winning squad of 2017.
England's first match of the tournament is on Saturday against Sri Lanka.
Wilson is not expected to be available for the opening match.
England lost to India by 11 runs in the warm-up fixture in Guyana, with fast bowler Brunt only able to complete five deliveries because of her back.
Ireland, who begin their campaign against Australia on Sunday, beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in their warm-up match in Antigua.
'I'm really confident that the girls coming in are going to do a good job'
England captain Heather Knight defended the decision to take Brunt to the tournament despite her persistent back problem.
"We knew Katherine at 70% makes us a better team, and we were really hopeful we could get her to that point," Knight said.
"It was a little bit of a risk, but we thought it was a risk worth taking. It didn't quite work out how we wanted it to, but Katherine put herself in the best position to get herself on the park and the medical staff as well. For us now it's about moving on and doing it very quickly."
Asked about the void left by Brunt, who made her international debut in 2004, Knight added: "Of course she's a massive part of this side on and off the pitch. On the pitch, obviously she's a brilliant all-rounder - she bats in our top six and bowls the tough overs in T20, so she's hard to replace.
"You almost feel like you need two players to do that. We're bringing Fran Wilson out as a bit of cover but I'm really confident that the girls coming into the side are going to do a good job."