“I’ve played a lot of cricket in the last nine months and I’m very emotionally drained,” Sciver said. “Elite sport is very demanding and at the moment I cannot perform without compromising my own well-being so I need to take some time away from cricket to focus on myself. It is the right decision for me and it is the right one.” team decision.
England have yet to name their squad for the three-match ODI leg of the tour, which follows the third T20I in Bristol in a week and culminates at Lord’s on September 24.
Jonathan Finch, director of England Women’s Cricket, said: “We fully support Nat and her decision to walk away from this series. Cricket is important, but it is wholly insignificant in the context of a person’s health and happiness.”
“The well-being of our players and staff is always our number one priority and we will support Nat during this period.”
Sciver also stepped down from the Trent Rockets captaincy midway through the Hundred, to “focus on his own game”, according to a Rockets spokesman at the time. Sciver captained the Rockets in four of his previous five starts, missing his first game for personal reasons.
Sciver captained England in Knight’s absence during their disappointing Commonwealth Games campaign in which the host nation lost the bronze medal playoff against New Zealand, with Australia claiming cold and India silver.
T20I series
September 10, 1st T20I, Chester-le-Street
September 13, 2nd T20I, derby
September 15, 3rd T20I, Bristol
ODI series
September 18, 1st ODI, Hove
September 21, 2nd ODI, Canterbury
September 24, 3rd ODI, from the Lord
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