Workload of "once-in-a-generation bowler" Sophie Ecclestone must be managed, warns Katherine Sciver-Brunt

Ecclestone bowled 46.2 of the 124.2 overs faced by Australia in the first innings of the Women's Ashes Test at Trent Bridge but Sciver-Brunt believes the spinner's long-term health should be England's priority

Katherine Sciver-Brunt has hailed Sophie Ecclestone as a "once-in-a-generation bowler" but believes England have to be careful not to over-burden the 24-year-old.

Ecclestone sparkled during Australia's first innings in the Women's Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, returning figures of 5 for 129 as the tourists were bowled out for 473.

However, it wasn't just her wicket column which was impressive but also the number of overs she sent down, with the spinner bowling 46.2 of the 124.2 overs faced by Australia – that's 37.2 per cent of the innings.

Ecclestone is widely considered the best spinner in women's cricket, so it's understandable that England leaned on their prize bowler.

However, there are still three ODIs and three T20Is still to play in the Women's Ashes, plus the small matter of Australia's second innings, and Sciver-Brunt warned that Ecclestone's health has to be England's priority "not only for the rest of the Ashes, but the rest of her career". This match is, after all, her 131st international outing despite her young age.

^{Sophie Ecclestone sent down 46.2 overs during Australia's first innings [Stu Forster/Getty Images]}

^{Former England international Katherine Sciver-Brunt [Rodger Bosch/Getty Images]}

"Sophie Ecclestone is a once-in-a-generation bowler," said Sciver-Brunt. "I feel extremely confident in saying she will be England's greatest spinner of all time.

"But what comes with being the best also equals being high in demand, and hopefully England won't have to lean on her as much as they have here for the rest of the series.

"They've got to keep her in good health. That is the number one priority, not only for the rest of the Ashes, but the rest of her career – she's still only 24."

Former England spinner, Alex Hartley, concurred: "The amount of overs she's bowled in that first innings shows just how important she is to England. She does it all – she is economical and take wickets. I love watching her bowl.

"But I'm a bit worried we're going to bowl her into the ground during this Test match.

"She's a different bowler to when we bowled her into the ground against India [in 2021]. She is fitter, stronger and has played a lot more cricket. Maybe she is absolutely fine to bowl all these overs – we will find out over the next couple of days."