England batter Paige Scholfield will miss the South Africa tour after injuring her ankle during training on Tuesday. After a further check on Wednesday, she withdrew from the T20I squad and will return to the UK to begin her recovery.
“We’re all gutted for Paige,” said her teammate Danni Wyatt-Hodge. “She’s a close friend, and it was tough to see her hurt. She’s had bad luck with injuries recently, but she’s staying positive and is already focused on getting through rehab and coming back stronger.”
Scholfield was added to the squad to boost England’s middle order, replacing Alice Capsey, who was left out due to poor form, and Dani Gibson, who is recovering from knee surgery. Fast bowler Lauren Filer also joined the team after missing the World Cup. Capsey later rejoined the squad to cover for minor injuries within the team.
Scholfield’s Journey to England Team Cut Short
Born in South Africa, Scholfield recently shared her excitement about being selected to tour her birthplace. She made her England debut at age 28 during the Ireland tour in September, fulfilling a long-held dream.
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“When I got the call, I thought it was my England A coach,” Scholfield said. “It was such a surprise. I still can’t believe it’s real.” She added that her family, proud South Africans, were thrilled about her selection, with her mother even crying out of joy.
Scholfield’s performance this year has been outstanding. She was the fifth-highest run-scorer in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, with 259 runs at an average of 43.16, and had a great Women’s Hundred season, scoring 190 runs at a strike rate of 137.68.
“She deserved to be in the squad,” Wyatt-Hodge said. “She’s been amazing for South East Stars and the Oval Invincibles. It’s a shame she’s injured, but I know she’ll have more chances to shine in the future.”
Scholfield credited the growth of women’s domestic cricket in England for helping her achieve her goals. “At 28, I didn’t think I’d get the chance to represent my country, but the new structure has kept that dream alive. It shows age doesn’t matter—you can still achieve your goals.”
The England-South Africa series kicks off Sunday with the first T20I in East London, followed by three ODIs and a Test match.