Ecclestone backs Dean's return as captain after Sciver-Brunt injury

Sophie Ecclestone expects Charlie Dean to return to the England captaincy "like a duck to water" for their next two matches at the Women's T20 World Cup.

Dean will take the reins in England's matches against Scotland at Headingley on Saturday and West Indies at Lord's on Wednesday after Nat Sciver-Brunt reinjured her left calf in the win over Ireland.

Sciver-Brunt was sidelined for England's bilateral warm-ups against New Zealand and India, with Dean stepping in and presiding over both T20 series victories.

Ecclestone believes her fellow spinner will seamlessly step up again as England bid to make it three triumphs from three games, having seen off Sri Lanka last Friday and Ireland on Tuesday.

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"It's pretty weird not to have Nat at a World Cup game, but Charlie has been amazing," Ecclestone said.

"We've played under her recently this summer and she's been such a great captain, everyone is so calm under Charlie.

"It's quite nice for her not to be blindsided, she's been captain for a few games for England so it will just be like a duck to water for her, I'm guessing.

"We've not even spoken about it recently. It's just the norm that if Nat's not fit then Charlie is captain and that's fine. It's pretty cool to have that in a squad."

Sciver-Brunt's place in England's XI seems likely to go to Sophia Dunkley, who is the spare batter in England's squad, although it is unclear where she will slot into the top order.

Ecclestone is set to be up against a former international team-mate this weekend in fellow slow left-armer Kirstie Gordon, who was part of the England side that finished runners-up at the 2018 tournament.

Born in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Gordon defected to Scotland last December and has taken four wickets in her two World Cup appearances.

Ecclestone believes keeping Gordon, plus the Bryce sisters - captain and star all-rounder Kathryn and wicketkeeper-batter Sarah - quiet, could go a long way to settling the contest in England's favour.

"Scotland are a force to be reckoned with," Ecclestone added. "You've got the likes of Kirstie Gordon, who's now playing for them again.

"It's quite weird for her to be playing for a different team in a World Cup but she's a great bowler so it will be really nice for her to play for Scotland in a World Cup.

"I've played with the Bryce sisters at different teams. They can take games away from opponents, so it will be a good competition. It will be really important to stop them."

Ecclestone tipped the Bryce siblings to be in the mix with England and Scotland players set to be team-mates for Team GB when cricket makes its long-awaited return to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

"I don't really think too far ahead but to play in the Olympics alongside some of the girls, the Bryce sisters will be up there," Ecclestone added.

"We'll have a great team going into that Olympics, it will be pretty cool."

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