Ton-up Nat Sciver-Brunt is back on song, ready to lead England into the T20 World Cup semi-final firestorm against South Africa at The Oval. Just weeks ago, it seemed like curtains for the 33-year-old all-rounder after a calf injury forced her retirement hurt during the Ireland match, and a gruelling recovery programme had her sidelined for the latter stages of the group phase.
But Sciver-Brunt has been put through her paces - literally. Seven hour-long sessions of magnetic resonance therapy have helped speed up her recovery, and she's now itching to get back out on the pitch. The decision to delay her return was a tough one, but with England already booking their semi-final spot, there was no rush to jeopardise her fitness for the big dance.
Wednesday saw Sciver-Brunt take part in net batting sessions, but she was still giving the outdoor fielding a wide berth. However, she's confident that she's good to go - and so is the medical team. "We've tested it [my calf] enough to be comfortable," she said. "Myself and the medical team are really happy with where we're at. Everything has gone to plan as well as it could do."
Of course, Sciver-Brunt's return means one of England's players will be dropped - and Sophia Dunkley looks like the unlucky one. With 57 against Scotland and 49 not out against New Zealand already under her belt, she'll be gutted to miss out. But head coach Charlotte Edwards typically sticks with what she knows, so Dunkley might just have to take a back seat.
Vice-captain Charlie Dean has been doing a cracking job in Sciver-Brunt's absence, but the skipper's return means he'll be reverting back to his usual role. And it seems like Dean was more than happy to relinquish the captaincy duties - "definitely didn't want to do any more media," he quipped.
England head into the semi-final as tournament favourites, with a 100% record to their name. But don't count out South Africa just yet! Despite their tough path to the semis, they've got experience on their side - having beaten England in the 2023 semi-final at Newlands. And captain Laura Wolvaardt is confident her team can do it again: "This is a team that is able to rise to the big occasions," she said.
But Sciver-Brunt isn't getting too caught up in past glories - instead, she's focused on the present. "It feels now that everyone has settled into the way we're doing things and have really grown in confidence in their abilities," she said. "The vibes are high" - and England's looking to keep them that way against a determined South African side.