England’s build-up to Sunday’s first one-day international against New Zealand has taken another hit, with left-arm quick Mahika Gaur ruled out of the three-match series after breaking a bone in her left foot during a fielding drill earlier this week. All-rounder Alice Capsey, meanwhile, will sit out the opener in Durham as she completes her recovery from illness.
It means vice-captain Charlie Dean will marshal a side missing three first-choice players. Nat Sciver-Brunt had already been forced out by the calf strain she picked up for The Blaze last weekend, and Maia Bouchier has been drafted in as cover for the captain. Warwickshire batter Charis Pavely, fresh from 400 Metro Bank Cup runs at an even 100, joins as short-term batting back-up.
Gaur’s stop-start international journey continues
The 20-year-old Gaur has hardly enjoyed a clear run since making her England debut in 2023. A-levels kept her out of Pakistan’s 2024 visit, a side strain wiped away that summer’s New Zealand T20s and The Hundred, and her last England appearance came against Ireland in September 2024. She travelled to Australia as a development player during last winter’s Ashes and impressed for England A, only to be out of luck once more on full return.
England bowling coach Matt Mason said earlier this year, “She’s a special talent who bowls heavy lengths for a left-armer, and we’re desperate to get a full series into her.” That wait now stretches at least until the summer’s T20 World Cup preparations start in earnest.
Capsey expected back after game one
Capsey remains with the squad and, medical staff say, should be available for matches two and three. The 21-year-old has been managing workload carefully since a busy WPL campaign and is viewed as central to England’s top-order plans on quicker early-season pitches. “Alice just needs a couple more days. We won’t take risks in May for the sake of June,” head coach Jon Lewis noted on Friday.
Opportunity knocks for Pavely
Pavely, 19, has earned rave reviews at county level – two hundreds and two fifties in six knock-out Cup games underline her range. The step up is sizeable, yet Lewis hinted she may debut if conditions and combination allow: “Form counts and Charis is seeing it big. If we need extra batting depth, she’s in the mix.”
Series doubles as World Cup tune-up
England have not played an international since the tour of India last November, so this series functions as both rust-shaker and selection trial ahead of the home T20 showpiece in June. New Zealand arrive close to full strength and eager to avenge last year’s 2-1 home defeat.
Match schedule
1st ODI: Chester-le-Street, Sunday
2nd ODI: Worcester, Wednesday
3rd ODI: Bristol, next Saturday
Dean summed up the mood simply: “We’d love a clean bill of health, but whoever pulls on the shirt knows what’s expected. Injuries open doors; it’s up to us to walk through them.”
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