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Nat Sciver has withdrawn from England's upcoming T20I and ODI series at home against India to focus on her mental health and wellbeing. The ECB announced late on Thursday that allrounder Sciver, who was standing in as captain for Heather Knight, who had a hip surgery and was recovering, had left the team's camp in Durham to return home. Amy Jones was appointed captain for the three-match T20I series, starting in Durham on Saturday, with a replacement to be called up ahead of the second match in Derby on Tuesday. "I've played a lot of cricket over the last nine months and I am very emotionally fatigued," Sciver said. "Elite sport demands a lot and for the moment I'm not able to perform without compromising my own wellbeing, so I need to take some time away from cricket in order to focus on myself. It's the right decision for me and it's the right decision for the team." Sciver's absence came after her wife, Katherine Brunt, was left out of the squad for the T20I leg of India's tour, with Lisa Keightley saying Brunt would "rest across both the T20 and ODI series... with a view to maximising her mental and physical recovery off the back of what has been an intense year so far". England are yet to name their squad for the three-match ODI leg of the tour, which follows the third T20I in Bristol in a week's time and culminates at Lord's on September 24. Jonathan Finch, director of England women's cricket, said: "We fully support Nat and her decision to step away from this series. Cricket is important, but it is wholly insignificant in the context of an individual's health and happiness. "The welfare of our players and staff is always our number one priority and we will support Nat throughout this period." Sciver also stood down from the captaincy of Trent Rockets midway through the Hundred, to "focus on her own game", according to a Rockets spokesperson at the time. Sciver captained the Rockets in four of their five outings up to that point, missing their opening match for personal reasons. She captained England in Knight's absence throughout their disappointing Commonwealth Games campaign in which they lost the bronze-medal playoff against New Zealand, with Australia claiming gold and India silver. T20I Series
Sept 10, 1st T20I, Chester-le-Street
Sept 13, 2nd T20I, Derby
Sept 15, 3rd T20I, Bristol ODI series
Sept 18, 1st ODI, Hove
Sept 21, 2nd ODI, Canterbury
Sept 24, 3rd ODI, Lord's
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