Sophie Ecclestone, the celebrated England spinner, has chosen to take a brief break from domestic cricket. This pause aims to allow her time to address a minor quad injury and focus on her mental and physical wellbeing just before India’s tour of England begins later this month.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed Ecclestone’s availability for selection in the upcoming series against India, which includes five T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals (ODIs). However, she has decided to temporarily step back from domestic cricket. England Women’s head coach, Charlotte Edwards, commented: “Sophie has been managing a quad niggle over the past week but more importantly she wants to take a step back from cricket for a short period to look after herself.” Edwards further remarked on the supportive environment, expressing hope that the break would be beneficial for Ecclestone’s overall wellbeing and potential participation against India.
Recently, Ecclestone was not included in England’s squad for the ongoing series with West Indies as she was recuperating from a knee injury. Nevertheless, she played for Lancashire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup on the day the England squads were announced. She has been active in domestic formats, taking 14 wickets across eight matches, and scoring 154 runs, including an impressive half-century.
In her absence from the England team, Linsey Smith has stepped up, making a notable impact by taking a five-wicket haul on her ODI debut against the West Indies. Smith has become the leading wicket-taker of the series with an admirable average and economy rate. Despite not playing in the final ODI, her performance across the T20I series has been commendable.
Ecclestone’s decision comes after a challenging winter for the England team, which included a heavy loss in the Ashes tour to Australia. Off-field controversies entangled the tour, such as Ecclestone’s refusal to speak to the former teammate and current broadcaster Alex Hartley, who had been critical of England players’ fitness after their early T20 World Cup exit.
Clare Connor, managing director of England Women’s cricket, addressed the incident, calling it “an unfortunate incident that won’t happen again.” In the wake of these events, structural changes ensued in the England camp, including a change in coaching and captaincy.
Despite slipping to fourth in the ICC’s T20I bowling rankings, Ecclestone remains the top-ranked bowler in ODI. As India prepares to tour England, her focus on health may well prove key to her renewed form and success on the field.
