England Women all-rounder Nat Sciver has decided to withdraw from England Women鈥檚 Vitality IT20 and Royal London Series against India to focus on her mental health and wellbeing. The 30-year-old left Durham today to return home.
Amy Jones will captain throughout the Vitality IT20 series in Sciver鈥檚 absence, and a replacement player will be named in the squad ahead of the second Vitality IT20 at Derby.
Sciver said: 鈥淚鈥檝e played a lot of cricket over the last nine months and I am very emotionally fatigued. Elite sport demands a lot and for the moment I鈥檓 not able to perform without compromising my own wellbeing, so I need to take some time away from cricket in order to focus on myself. It鈥檚 the right decision for me and it鈥檚 the right decision for the team.鈥�
Director of England Women鈥檚 Cricket Jonathan Finch said: 鈥淲e fully support Nat and her decision to step away from this series. Cricket is important, but it is wholly insignificant in the context of an individual鈥檚 health and happiness.
鈥淭he welfare of our players and staff is always our number one priority and we will support Nat throughout this period.鈥�