Fielding Woes and Missed Opportunities Leave England Searching for Answers. England Women's cricket team is facing increased scrutiny after a 2-1 ODI series defeat to India, with questions being raised not just from pundits but from within their own ranks, most notably, former fast bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt. Following a 13-run loss in the decider at Durham, Sciver-Brunt, now a broadcaster, publicly challenged the team’s discipline and desire, comments that have sparked considerable debate and drawn a firm response from current players and management.

“It looks lazy and like they don’t care” – Katherine Sciver-Brunt

Katherine, England’s leading ODI wicket-taker and wife of current captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, didn’t hold back during her commentary on BBC Test Match Special. She questioned whether all players were fully committed to the cause, suggesting some performances came across as lacking intent or intensity.

“To me, it looks lazy and like they don’t care,” she said. “It came across to me as bad attitude and no discipline. I don’t think everyone is doing everything they possibly can.” While she acknowledged that this wasn’t the case for every player, the former Pacer’s critique pointed to a wider issue: mental strength and internal fight. She called on the side to be more expressive, courageous, and front-footed in pressure situations.

Nat Sciver-Brunt Responds: “Everyone is committed.”

Speaking after the match, Nat Sciver-Brunt defended her players, stressing that what may seem like apathy from the outside doesn’t reflect what goes on internally. “I know everyone on that pitch is committed to doing the best they can for England,” she said. “I’ve been put in that situation before when I was younger ‘She looks so relaxed. Maybe she doesn’t care, but that’s not what’s happening inside.”

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Nat’s own innings of 98 off 105 deliveries, in a record-chase attempt that fell just short, exemplified the kind of fight and resilience that she believes the team still possesses. The latest defeat adds to a growing concern about England's fielding and on-field composure. Fielding errors were prevalent throughout the multi-format summer, notably during the Ashes and the T20 World Cup last year. Six dropped catches in a recent T20I at The Oval reignited questions around focus and sharpness.

In the final ODI, England's chase of 319 faltered despite a 162-run partnership between Nat and Emma Lamb. Missed lbw reviews and another scrappy fielding display didn’t help their cause. India’s win, built on Harmanpreet Kaur’s hundred and Kranti Goud’s six-wicket haul, sealed the series and raised fresh alarms just 10 weeks out from the ODI World Cup.

Edwards Backs Players as Off-Field Distractions Mount

Head coach Charlotte Edwards came to the team's defence, firmly backing the squad's professionalism and unity. “I couldn’t be happier with where the squad’s at, in terms of their attitude and effort,” she said. “That was something I made clear when I came into this role, and I’ve seen that reflected in how the group operates.” Edwards, who shares a long history with Katherine Sciver-Brunt as former teammates, acknowledged the external criticism but stood by her current players.

The England camp also had to deal with off-field noise involving Sophie Ecclestone and former spinner Alex Hartley. Ecclestone clarified she had opted not to do a Sky Sports interview with Hartley to focus on her warm-up routine months after Hartley said she had been “given the cold shoulder” following critical comments she made about England’s fitness last year.

Managing Director Clare Connor addressed that controversy post-Ashes, stressing the importance of media engagement and professionalism under growing public scrutiny. “As professional women’s cricket has developed, that scrutiny is something that we all have to embrace and accept,” Connor said.

With the 50-over World Cup in India on the horizon, England now have to improve its tactics, but also contend with perceptions about their mental fortitude and togetherness as a team. Questions will continue to surround their on-field intent, leadership approach, and tension between being calm and aggressive. England’s World Cup campaign in India could be critical not only for results but to quiet the distractions that now surround them from their own dressroom and outside.

Harmanpreet Kaur couldn’t have picked a better time to shine. In the final and most important match of the series, the Indian captain played one of her finest knocks a brilliant 102 off just 84 balls to help India post a big total and seal the series against England.

She started slowly but picked up pace beautifully, showing once again why she’s one of the best in the game when it comes to accelerating an innings. Her hundred came off just 82 balls the second fastest by an Indian woman in ODIs.

This innings wasn’t just about helping the team win. It was also full of personal milestones. Harmanpreet became only the third Indian woman to cross 4,000 runs in ODIs, after legends Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana. She also matched Mithali’s tally of seven hundreds in the format  with only Smriti ahead of her with 11.

🚨 HISTORY FOR HARMANPREET 🚨

- Harmanpreet Kaur becomes first Visiting player to score 3 ODI Hundreds in England in Women's Cricket. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/1QO9AJTseF

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) July 22, 2025

More importantly, this was her third century in England the most by any visiting batter in women’s ODIs. Her love for batting in England continues to grow. Her first came in the 2017 World Cup semifinal against Australia the unforgettable 171. The second was a powerful 143* in Canterbury in 2022. And now, this match-winning 102.

India finished with 318/5, with a strong partnership between Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues in the final overs. After both teams had won one match each in the series, this decider was all about who wanted it more. Harmanpreet, the captain, played a fantastic innings in the decider, and the team scored 318 runs, losing 5 wickets.