Anya Shrubsole ready to captain England if Heather Knight is unfit for World Cup
Thursday 25 May 2017 16:48, UK
Anya Shrubsole is ready to lead England if Heather Knight is not fit to play the first game of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.
Knight, recovering from a metatarsal stress fracture on her left foot, is due to lead the squad in a sold-out match against India in Derby on 24 June, if she can prove her fitness.
If that is not the case, current vice-captain, Shrubsole insists she is ready to step in for the skipper for the tournament opener at the County Ground.
Shrubsole told Sky Sports News HQ: "It would be an interesting time to captain the first game for England but [Knight] is coming along really well with her rehab and will hopefully be fit and raring to go for the first game of the World Cup."
The right-arm seamer is one of the more experienced players in the squad having been a part of England's World Cup winning side in 2009.
Five players have been selected who are yet to experience a 50-over World Cup, but the inclusion of older players such as Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor and Jenny Gunn will no doubt help those that are sampling the tournament for the first time
Gunn said: "The first game is a sell-out so even that is a new experience for us going into a World Cup. A home World Cup always adds a bit more pressure, but hopefully, with our experience we can help the youngsters."
Former England opener Claire Taylor believes Mark Robinson has got the balance of the squad right as he prepares to lead the team into a tournament on home soil for the first time as head coach.
She told Tuesday's Sportswomen show on Sky Sports News HQ: "I think he's looking at the number of games he has to play it's a round-robin style competition - and there are potentially nine games in just over a month [if England reach the final].
"There's a lot of cricket there and he needs a good breadth of skills in the squad and a good breadth of batting ability."
