Here’s the full transcript of Nat Sciver-Brunt’s press conference before the England vs South Africa clash
[Reporter:]
I guess we can assume that you’re fit and firing and ready to go for tomorrow?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, been put through my recovery paces and yeah, I suppose worked really hard to get myself to this position and the sports science and medicine team have too. So yeah, really happy to be sat here.
[Reporter:]
Can you just talk us through the recovery a little bit, what it entailed, whether it was touch and go, or it’s all gone smooth? Just talk us through it.
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
Yeah, everything has gone to plan as well as it could do, really. We use various different methods to get the recovery right. It was a lot about inflammation, so yeah, doing the best we can for that and eating the right things, taking the right supplements, etc. Sitting in machines, oxygen tanks. Yeah, I suppose just everything that we could do to get to this point.
[Reporter:]
And if you can say— don’t know if you can— but who goes out? Because someone’s got to make way.
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
I won’t say until tomorrow at the toss. But yeah, obviously our team has been really successful and lots of different people have stood up. So yeah, someone’s going to be really disappointed tomorrow. But yeah, I suppose that just shows what a great position we are in as a side, that yeah, so many different people have put their hands up. But yeah, sadly someone has to miss out.
[Reporter:]
Did you use magnetic resonance therapy as part of your rehab? I’ve been reading—
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
maybe. There was an acronym, and if that fits, then yes.
[Reporter:]
What did it involve?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
Sitting for an hour and not moving with my leg in a horseshoe-shaped thing.
[Reporter:]
Is it quite a big machine?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
No, transportable. Not like an MRI, I’d say.
[Reporter:]
Right. How often would you do that then?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
I did 7-hour sessions.
[Reporter:]
So you’ve clearly done everything you possibly can.
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
Yeah, even things that, have a small chance of working. Yeah, obviously there’s a bit of research out there about MBST. I think that’s right. But yeah, we literally threw everything at it.
[Reporter:]
And how hard have you tested the calf in terms of explosivity and running? We’ve tested it enough to be comfortable, and yeah, I suppose what will happen out on the pitch will happen. And yeah, I’m really happy with where I am at physically.
[Reporter:]
I guess there’s always a risk, isn’t there, with these things? But you feel there’s— when you weigh up the balance, it’s worth taking that risk given where you are in the tournament and everything else?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
Yeah, I mean, myself and the medical team are really happy with where we’re at. Physically, I’m, able to take part in all of the games, so yeah, I suppose from that point of view I’m really happy.
[Reporter:]
And for you and the team, how important that you get past this hurdle? Much has been made about 2017 and not winning a World Tournament since then. This seems like a real— a really big moment for the group.
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
Yeah, it is. I suppose our first goal starting the tournament is to qualify for the semi-finals, and that set us up with a huge match against South Africa, someone who we’ve played in a few semi-finals recently. And yeah, obviously, the end goal is to try and get to the final and to win the whole tournament. But I suppose for now we are focusing on tomorrow and doing everything that we can to prepare ourselves the best way we can for playing against South Africa. This whole World Cup has been a huge opportunity for us and our team and to try and inspire as many people as we can, and I think along the way we’ve done that, and we get another chance to try again tomorrow night here at a ground that has been successful for us in the past and has great energy in the crowd, so we’re looking forward to it.
[Reporter:]
And you’ve lost to South Africa 4 times in world tournaments. Does that leave any mental scars?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
I think the group of players that we have here are quite different to, times before. I suppose there are people that have played in all of those games, but they’re a world-class team and have made it to lots of the finals in previous World Cups. Not quite obviously got over the line, but they’re a team that are extremely competitive. And ones that we’ve had a great battle between in the last few years.
[Reporter:]
And in an ideal world, would you have had more tests or tougher tests leading up to this point in this tournament? Do you feel that you’ve been really pushed so far?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
Yeah, I think in certain times in games we have been really pushed. Yeah, I suppose much has been made of, which teams are in which groups and things like that. But yeah, we’re certainly prepared for the Test against South Africa. And, yeah, we’ve shown some great composure in some key moments in games so far in the tournament. So, yeah, we’re hoping to use that experience.
[Reporter:]
Just in terms of the group stage, you’ve obviously been watching on the games that you weren’t involved in. What, what’s your analysis of kind of both of the positives and any areas that kind of you need to just be a bit more clinical on, and kind of what you’ve made of particularly that game against Ireland when you went off. That was a bit tougher, wasn’t it? But coming through that was, I suppose, a sign that you can get through kind of when it’s got a bit shaky. But so what have you made of the group stage?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
Yeah, I think it’s been really enjoyable watching. We’ve had some brilliant batting partnerships. We obviously had some times where we’ve had some tricky periods and had to rebuild a little bit as a batting group. And yeah, there are times where we would have wanted to be a bit more clinical in the chase. But yeah, I suppose circumstances like me walking off with an injury doesn’t always happen. So yeah, I suppose can take a little bit of time to settle again from that. But yeah, I think as a group we’ve played some brilliant cricket. We’ve shown some great composure in moments like that. And, the first game against Sri Lanka, I suppose, when we’ve had such a build-up of anticipation for before the World Cup started— I mean, that first game feels like about a month ago now. But yeah, I think as a group we’ve learned a lot about the different conditions that we played in. We’ll see how to adapt to what is given to us again tomorrow night, being the third game on that wicket as well. So yeah, I think as a group we’ve sort of covered a lot of the bases that we might be— or situations that we might be thrown in the game tomorrow night. So yeah, I suppose everyone has prepared really well for what would be a massive game.
[Reporter:]
Now, just going back to the Ireland game, was from the point that you went off then to where we are now, was this timeline ever in doubt? I know initially it was a 2-game break, then the New Zealand game came back soon. Were you, when you went off then, were you confident that you’d be back in this tournament?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
I guess walking off not really knowing what has happened. I suppose knowing something has happened, but getting the scan results and everything unfolding. We always had this game in mind. So yeah, obviously like you said, the New Zealand game came a little bit too soon because time is our friend. So yeah, I guess that, yeah, this game was the target, so yeah, I suppose things went to plan.
[Reporter:]
And did Sunday, Australia and India— that was that game quite big for you? I mean, if there’s a world that England would have played the semi-final yesterday, would that have come too soon for you, or would you have been good to go for them?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
Yeah, I mean, obviously the circumstances are that we had the second semi-final in the end. I mean, I was watching through, obviously massive interest in the World Cup, and the cricket as well as what game we were playing. Obviously just so happens that we’re sort of waiting on that result to know when we’re playing. But yeah, I suppose plans would have been a little bit different if it was on Tuesday. But yeah, the goal was to be ready for a semi-final, be it Tuesday or Thursday.
[Reporter:]
And obviously you’d rather not have had the injury at all back in April, but you look back over the last 2 months, actually. You’re a better team for having had to work it out without you, both in that series against India and then these games in the group stage with, I suppose, the world where Charlie wouldn’t have skipped a game for England’s pre-World Cup if that hadn’t happened in the first place.
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
Yeah, I suppose if that was the case, we would have had to manufacture, a game where Charlie might have led, in the warm-up stages, or yeah, something in the other series that we had before the tournament started. Yeah, I suppose it’s funny how it works itself out. Lots of people had a great chance to have experience out in the middle, certainly with the bat. And yeah, I suppose missing out is never nice, but I guess seeing people grow in confidence and getting the chance to show their skills with a little bit more time at the crease has been really special. And yeah, I suppose just the enjoyment that everyone gets out of the game is really nice to watch on the sideline. It’s infectious. So yeah, I’m really excited to be able to join them again.
[Reporter:]
After the sort of rollercoaster of the last couple of years, how does it feel to go into a semi-final as very clear favorites? Is that slightly strange?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
I suppose timing is everything, right? The 50-over World Cup, I just sort of started my journey as captain, and I see a bit of change in leadership and the coach as well. So it sort of feels now that everyone is sort of settled into the way we’re doing things and have really grown in confidence in their abilities. And I think that has been shown out on the pitch with different people, choosing their moment to shine and to show people what they can do. So yeah, I suppose it’s— I mean, it’s a different time to how we felt, in the previous World Cup or, since the, the last 2 years. Yeah, I suppose as a team you go through, different ups and downs as you go through tournaments. But yeah, I suppose the vibes are high.
[Reporter:]
Nat, how has been the experience of playing at home for you and the other girls in the team as well?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
It’s been brilliant. I guess when you’re at home, you get a chance for your family to come and watch you at most of the games and, see those familiar faces out in the crowd, but also experience a crowd that are really behind you and want, the team to do well. So yeah, it’s been great playing at familiar grounds, and yeah, I suppose the experience has been nice. We know where all the good coffee spots are as well in each of the cities. So yeah, I mean, so far we’ve had a great time at this tournament.
[Reporter:]
And was there ever any conversation about letting Charlie stay on as captain just to give you one less thing to worry about?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
No, I guess I’m really comfortable in that leadership role and coming back in. I mean, it hasn’t been too long since I last played, and being around the team the whole time, I suppose, gives me a chance to, think about my captaincy role in different ways. So yeah, I will hopefully slot back in nicely. She said she didn’t want to do it either.
[Reporter:]
Did she mean it?
[Nat Sciver-Brunt:]
Who, Charlie? She said she definitely didn’t want to do any media, more media, so I’m here. Yeah, no, she’s obviously done really well in the role and she is happy to pass it back.
