England looking to avoid the hard yards

England have nothing against Derbyshire’s much-improved County Ground, but they would rather stay in Bristol for their World Cup semifinal next week.

If Heather Knight and her teambeat the West Indies at Nevil Road today and top the group, they will play the fourth-placed side in the first semi-final next Tuesday. Should England finish second or third, they would be involved in the second semi in Derby on Thursday, which would mean a longer buildup but less time for the winners to prepare for the final at Lord’s a week tomorrow.

England head the table on net run-rate, but need to beat the West Indies – who have won their last two matches after four straight defeats – to stay ahead of Australia, who complete their programme against South Africa at Taunton.

“With a long tournament, it’s about being able to back up your performances and keep putting in the hard yards each game,” said the tournament and demonstrated the benefits of the improved fitness regime since former Sussex coach Mark Robinson took charge last year. Robinson said that England’s players “needed to get fitter and toughen up” after they were beaten by Australia in the World T20 semifinals last year and he has taken steps to improve the former with gruelling sessions in the gym.

Robinson has been willing to utilise the expertise of other coaches, including former England Test players Ian Salisbury and James Kirtley and former Lancashire wicketkeeper and academy manager John Stanworth, to improve England in all departments.

“The self-belief Mark has given us is one of the reasons we have been able to play with more freedom and just back ourselves a bit more throughout the order,” Sciver said.