Sophie Ecclestone ruled out of England’s winter tours with broken hand

She sustained the injury in the warm-up for England’s second ODI against India, although she went on to play a full part in the game, scoring five runs and bowling seven overs for 31 runs. England lost the match by seven wickets to concede the series, falling 2-0 behind with a game to play.

Though only 19 years old, Ecclestone is rated as England’s premier spinner, and with India and Sri Lanka two countries where slow bowlers usually have a big part to play, her loss will be keenly felt. She is England’s top-ranked T20I bowler, sitting at No.3 in the worldwide ICC MRF Tyres Rankings, and has taken 25 and 24 ODI and T20I wickets in 15 and 19 games respectively, with economy rates of 3.61 and 6.64.

Ecclestone’s replacement for both tours will be announced after the third ODI on Thursday, 28 February. Her most likely replacements in the playing XI in the current squad are off-spinner Laura Marsh, who missed the first two ODIs with a side strain, and Sophia Dunkley, who is rated more as a batting all-rounder but is a leg-spinning option.