Mend it like Beckham! How England captain Heather Knight recovered in time for the Women’s World Cup

Heather Knight followed in the footsteps of David Beckham and Wayne Rooney to ensure she was ready for the most important month in the history of England women’s cricket.

Like Beckham and Rooney, the England captain suffered a metatarsal injury in the build-up to a major tournament. Like the two England footballers, she has recovered in time to play in the World Cup. And like Beckham and Rooney, Knight used an Exogen machine - an ultrasound device that sends a pulse to the bone and accelerates the healing process - as part of her rehabilitation.

Yet, whereas Beckham’s and Rooney’s recoveries were ultimately futile - England were knocked out of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups at the quarter-final stage - Knight hopes her story will be different.

Although Australia are favourites to retain the title, home advantage should make Knight’s team tough opponents. It is significant, too, that they have Sarah Taylor back in the squad. The wicketkeeper had nearly a year-long break from the game due to anxiety but has been deemed healthy enough to play.

Knight succeeded Charlotte Edwards as captain after the team’s poor performance in last year’s World Twenty20 and has led the team to series wins in West Indies and Sri Lanka. She knows, though, that she might have been watching the World Cup from the sidelines.

“It felt a bit niggly when we were training in the United Arab Emirates in April,” Knight recalled. “The doctor, Thamindu Wedatilake, does some work in football with Southampton and advised me to get a scan. He’d had a few incidents when players had felt pain but carried on playing, then cracked the bone and taken a long time to heal.

“The scan showed I had a stress fracture, which I was totally unaware of. It wasn’t particularly painful. I certainly had no idea I’d been playing with a broken foot; I had been walking around fine, unaware. It was lucky that they saw it really early.

“I was told the machine was similar to the one Beckham and Rooney had used to get ready for the World Cup, so I’m in good company. I had to use it for 20 minutes every day. Luckily, it was just a small setback and I’m looking forward to the tournament.”

The failure at the World T20 persuaded coach Mark Robinson to remove Edwards and demand a more rigorous approach to fitness from his players. We will see soon enough whether it has paid off. England start their campaign against India at Derby tomorrow, with the final at Lord’s on July 23.

Taylor’s return is important but plenty is expected of others, too. Opener Tammy Beaumont has caught the eye during Knight’s reign and also spent time with Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s Big Bash. Katherine Brunt has been playing international cricket for 13 years but remains a potent, reliable bowler. All-rounder Nat Sciver is a powerful ball-striker and useful medium-pacer.

Knight said: “I have got to know the players better, especially the bowlers, to learn how they function under pressure. For example, the opening bowlers, Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole, are yin and yang. Katherine is very fiery and wears her heart on her sleeve, whereas Anya is very logical and likes to have a clear plan about her role.

“We won’t go into the tournament as favourites: Australia have that title,” acknowledged Knight. “But we have done a lot of work on mentality, coping under pressure, and that will stand us in good stead.”