Sciver-Brunt stands down as Trent Rockets captain

Nat Sciver-Brunt has opted not to captain Trent Rockets in the Hundred this year to manage her workloads.

ESPNcricinfo understands that Sciver-Brunt has made the decision to play for her Hundred team but will step aside as their skipper to ease the pressure of her responsibilities, having been appointed as the England Women's captain two months ago.

England's T20I series against India, starting at Trent Bridge on Saturday, will be her third in charge after leading the side to twin 3-0 sweeps of the T20I and ODI series against West Indies.

Trent Rockets are yet to appoint a replacement captain, but options could include Australian allrounder Ash Gardner, who led Gujarat Giants at this year's WPL and stood in for one game at WBBL side Sydney Sixers while Ellyse Perry served a suspension for over-rates penalties in 2023.

Grace Scrivens, the former England Under-19 captain who has been mooted as a potential senior captain despite being yet to make her international debut at that level, could take the next step in her leadership development after she led England Women A on the T20 and four-day legs of their recent tour of Australia.

Sciver-Brunt played as a batter only through the West Indies series while continuing her recovery from a long-standing Achilles tendon injury which she hopes will allow her to return to an allrounder role at the 50-over World Cup in India later this year.

She also became a mother in March when wife Katherine gave birth to their son, Theo. It is a role that team-mate Tammy Beaumont told ESPNcricinfo's Powerplay podcast she had taken to with admirable ease.

"Nat is just a complete natural," Beaumont said. "She's always been great with kids and being with her own son is absolutely no different.

"She's almost superhuman at times, just to be able to be a mother and a new England captain and perform at the level that she always has done. I think it's just a testament to her character that she can always take anything and everything in her stride."

Sciver-Brunt scored three fifties during West Indies' tour of England, including the first ODI, which was dominated by a 222-run opening partnership between Beaumont and Amy Jones. She scored an unbeaten 55 in the second T20I at Hove.

India are expected to pose a more difficult opposition for England and new head coach Charlotte Edwards, who replaced Jon Lewis in the aftermath of a dire Ashes campaign, in which Australia won the points series 16-0.

England and India will play five T20Is followed by three ODIs, the latter series starting at Southampton on July 16.