Injured Sarah Taylor to return home

England have called up 18-year-old batsman Heather Knight for the tour of India as a replacement for wicketkeeper-opener Sarah Taylor who missed the second ODI in Bangalore because of a hip injury. Taylor will return to England to continue rehabilitation.

Knight is an attacking batsman who played for England Women's Academy along with other national squad members Anya Shrubsole, Danielle Hazell and Danielle Wyatt.

Clare Connor, the England board's head of women's cricket, said the injury to Taylor was a blow to England. The team is already missing their leading batsman Claire Taylor and left-arm spinner Holly Colvin to personal commitments.

"She [Taylor] was England's leading run-scorer against Australia last summer and she is a formidable presence behind the stumps. However this gives us an opportunity to test other players: Kent's Tammy Beaumont will take the wicketkeeping gloves and Heather Knight will join the tour party as an extra batsman. Heather is a talented cricketer who scores huge runs at county level and I'm sure she will seize this chance to impress."