File photo of England’s Katherine Sciver-Brunt. Sciver-Brunt announced her retirement from international career after a superb 19-year career in which she took more wickets than any other woman for England.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Katherine Sciver-Brunt bid farewell to international cricket on May 5 after a remarkable 19-year career, where she bagged more wickets than any other woman for England.
Sciver-Brunt, who made her international debut in 2004, took 335 wickets in 267 matches for England. She helped England Women win three Ashes series and three World Cup titles, which includes two in ODIs and one in T20s. Her international statistics include the second-highest dismissals in all women’s formats, only behind India’s Jhulan Goswami (355).
The fast bowler quit playing Tests last year and later stepped away from ODIs. Despite contemplating playing during the T20s portion of this summer’s multi-format Ashes series, the 37-year-old decided to retire from England altogether.
“Well here I am, 19 years later, at the end of my international journey,” Sciver-Brunt said. “I never had any dreams or aspirations to do what I’ve done, I only ever wished to make my family proud of me. And what I’ve achieved has gone way beyond that.”
Sciver-Brunt’s last international appearance came in England’s defeat to South Africa in the T20 World Cup semifinal in February. She has already moved away from regional cricket but will play for one more season in The Hundred.
Legacy
Clare Connor, the managing director of England women’s cricket, praised Sciver-Brunt, calling her a “legend of our sport.” “She has been an unbelievable role-model, giving us everything she has for nearly 20 years,” added Connor, herself a former England captain. “She is quite simply a legend of our sport.”
Tributes pour in
Sciver-Brunt herself thanked all the England cricket family past and present for making her time special. She also acknowledged her partner Nat Sciver-Brunt, the England all-rounder, saying, “Of the trophies and titles I could have wished to achieve, I have reached them all, but my greatest achievement is the happiness that I have found in Nat.”
