Nat Sciver-Brunt’s calf muscle is threatening to become 2026’s version of David Beckham’s metatarsal.
England’s captain and best player is in a race to be fit for next week’s T20 World Cup semi-finals, after retiring out during their second match of the tournament.
The latest on the situation is that the 33-year-old is continuing with her rehabilitation and England are hopeful she will be available again in the tournament.
Sciver-Brunt has been using many well-known techniques to aid her recovery – ice, compression, physio treatment and oxygen therapy – but also one never used before by the England women’s cricket team.
She has been undergoing Magnetic Resonance Therapy, an uncommon treatment which uses electromagnetic energy to encourage cell healing.
Sometimes referred to as MBST and more regularly used to treat arthritis, magnetic resonance therapy requires the patient to place the injured muscle into a machine similar to a small MRI scanner.
How does Magnetic Resonance Therapy work?
While the treatment is uncommon, legendary former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal has spoken about using similar treatments.
Sciver-Brunt has been using the machine twice a day at home and at the team hotel.
“I’ve not seen much of her to be honest because she’s been off doing everything possible,” her wife and former England team-mate, Katherine, told BBC Test Match Special.
Nick Worth, a sports and performance physiotherapist who has worked with elite athletes for 30 years, said while evidence is limited there have been examples of positive results.
“The electromagnetic field goes around the injured area and they have treatment for about an hour seven or eight times,” Worth told BBC Sport.
“The electromagnetic energy has an impact on the cells that promotes healing in the cells naturally, rather than it needing any medication or drugs.
“The main thing is it is a safe option. It isn’t going to do any harm.
“It is not the kind of treatment that is commonly used but in elite sport you are trying to push the boundaries to find something that would give a small amount of benefit.
“It is one of those things that seems to have some benefit but it is difficult being able to definitely confirm it is.”
The ‘tight’ recovery times facing Sciver-Brunt
Sciver-Brunt first injured her calf on 29 April, suffering what was then described by England as a “minor” tear when playing in domestic cricket.
She subsequently sat out series against New Zealand and India at the start of the international summer before returning for England’s World Cup warm-up matches.
The England captain came through warm-ups against Australia and India and the first match of the World Cup against Sri Lanka but reported ‘tightness’ in a win over Ireland 10 days ago.
She has not played since and England will either play their semi-final on Tuesday or Thursday next week, depending on other results.
“The one thing you need is time,” Worth said.
“You need time to allow the muscle to repair and then strengthen in the right way. Those timelines are tight, particularly given a history of previous injuries in the same area, but not impossible.”
Calf injuries are a regular issue for cricketers. England’s leading wicket-taker James Anderson had calf problems in the latter part of his career.
Worth said this is because of issues specific to cricket, like batters having to sprint from a standing start or bowlers slamming their front foot into the crease in their delivery stride, and the make-up of the muscle.
“You have two different types of tissue that come together,” he said. “You have your calf which is the upper bit and then the Achilles tendon.
“Wherever there are two types of tissue in terms of composition, that is often where there is a weak point.
“Things like taking a run, going from 0 to 100mph, are really difficult to replicate in rehabilitation.
“You have the immediate calming down on inflammation but tendons like load and need to strengthen.
“It is very difficult to get the balance between working the muscle enough and not pushing it too far.
“Quite often calf injuries are tricky because you feel like you have done the work and you put them back onto the field in a match situation and something goes again.”
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