Wyatt-Hodge, with all her experience and early season form for Surrey before the international summer began, is likely to slot straight back in at the top of the order but there are question marks over who should join her.
Alice Capsey was promoted to open in Wyatt-Hodge’s absence against New Zealand and the 21-year-old immediately made her mark with an unbeaten 74 in the series opener at Derby before scores of 18 and three in the subsequent two.
Wyatt-Hodge’s regular partner, Sophia Dunkley, made scores of eight, 26 and 22 as a frustrating trend of making good starts but failing to kick on has continued.
Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight have been mainstays for England’s middle order for years and it feels very unlikely that will be tinkered with before such an important tournament on home soil, even if Knight’s strike-rate of 100 has at times allowed pressure to build in this series.
Still, the balance of the side largely depends on Sciver-Brunt’s ability to bowl with the management of her injury.
All-rounders Dani Gibson and Freya Kemp are valuable assets for Edwards. Both are power-hitters who can bowl in all phases, they are electric in the field and Kemp provides a precious left-hand option with bat and ball – but with the two stalwarts returning, it feels like one of those two or Capsey is most vulnerable.
But Edwards insisted that she is not concerned about Sciver-Brunt – who has only played two games of competitive cricket since February – and praised England’s depth for giving her a selection dilemma.
“If there’s any person in world cricket you don’t mind having the lack of cricket she’s had, it’s Nat,” Edwards said.
“We played without two of them and Lauren Bell, who was rested [for the third game in Hove]. That’s been the most pleasing thing – we’ve got this depth in our squad now and we’ve just beaten the world champions, so we are really, really chuffed.”
