England sweat on Brunt fitness

England are hopeful that pace star Katherine Brunt will be fit for the Women's World T20, after she was forced out of their current tour of South Africa through injury.

Brunt has been included in England's 15-player squad for the tournament in India, where the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars will be vying for an unprecedented fourth-straight title.

Brunt, who played for the Perth Scorchers in the Rebel Women's Big Bash League this summer, flew home from South Africa after suffering a back spasm during the second one-day international in Centurion last week.

England loom as one of the Southern Stars' biggest rivals for the title, having played off against Australia in the finals of the last two tournaments in 2012 and 2014. 

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While Australia have included 17-year-old left-arm quick Lauren Cheatle in their squad, England have called on a talented teenager of their own, with Tash Farren – also a left-arm seamer – making the line-up after being called into England's ODI squad to cover to the injured Brunt.

Farren will join a pace line-up featuring Brunt and Anya Shrubsole, who was named player of the 2014 World T20 tournament. 

Brisbane Heat seamer Lauren Winfield was omitted from the squad, which includes six players who took part in WBBL|01 - Charlotte Edwards, Brunt (both Scorchers), Heather Knight (Hurricanes), Natalie Sciver (Stars), Sarah Taylor (Strikers) and Danielle Wyatt (Renegades). 

"We are all looking forward to testing ourselves against the very best cricketers from across the world and playing the ICC Women's World Twenty20 in a cricket-mad country," England coach Mark Robinson said.

"It will be a great experience for all of the players selected - both those who have had this opportunity before, and for the likes of Tash Farrant, selected for an ICC global event for the first time.

"Tash really impressed during England women's training camp to Sri Lanka before Christmas last year, and adds a different dimension to the bowling attack as a left-arm seamer."

The Women's World T20 kicks off on March 15.

England women's squad: Charlotte Edwards (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Georgia Elwiss, Natasha Farrant, Lydia Greenway, Rebecca Grundy, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Danielle Wyatt