Overview

• England face South Africa in Guwahati on Friday, with first ball at 10.30am local time as their World Cup campaign begins.
• Heather Knight has returned from a hamstring injury and is set to bat at No. 3, adding experience to the top order.
• Nat Sciver‑Brunt is expected to play a full role with the ball, with Edwards hoping to get up to 10 overs from her.
• Edwards says warm‑up victories over Australia and India show England are on the right track, citing improved fielding and role clarity.
• Sky Sports’ Charles Dagnall predicts anything short of a semi‑final would be an “absolute shocker,” while praising Lauren Bell as one of the world’s leading seamers and cautioning about batting against spin and recent fielding standards.