Hip issue sidelines Heather Knight for England’s Commonwealth Games opener

England captain Heather Knight has been ruled out of her side’s opener at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday evening because of a lingering hip injury.

Knight had an injection in a bid to soothe some irritation in her hip joint and feature at Edgbaston this weekend, having missed the final two Twenty20s of the multi-format series against South Africa.

While Knight is optimistic she will be fit enough to take charge against the Proteas in their second Group B match on Tuesday, Nat Sciver will deputise as England skipper for the Sri Lanka clash.

“I haven’t managed to be fit for (Saturday), it’s taken a little bit longer to settle than I would have liked but the goal now is Tuesday and trying to be ready for that,” Knight told the PA news agency.

“It’s one of those wait and see things, we’re not too sure how it’s going to progress, but I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could play a role that’s going to contribute in the games.

“It’s frustrating but the thing with these injuries is you have to be patient and give them the time to heal properly and not rush back too quickly. They’re in capable hands now and Nat will do a great job.”

England completed a comprehensive 14-2 points win over South Africa earlier this week, with Sciver at the helm for the last couple of T20s and she is relishing leading the side again.

“With captaining, it always takes a game or two to get into it. Hopefully we’ll be able to settle in quite quickly,” Sciver told PA.

“With it being a bit more of a spectacle at the Commonwealth Games, it might take us a little bit longer and there might be a few more nerves but we’re excited to get going again.”

Cricket is back at the Games after 24 years and while a men’s 50-over tournament was held in Kuala