Katherine Brunt announces ‘heart-breaking’ decision to retire from Test cricket as the third most prolific England bowler of all-time… and declares intentions of focusing on white-ball format
- England women cricket star Katherine Brunt has retired from Test cricket
- Brunt retires as as the third most prolific England Test bowler of all-time
- She became the first bowler since 1970s to pass 50 wickets for England women
Katherine Brunt yesterday announced her retirement from Test cricket.
Brunt made her international debut in August 2004 and 12 months later, in her third Test, her nine-wicket match haul helped England win an Ashes series for the first time in 42 years.
The 36-year-old steps aside as the third most prolific England Test bowler of all-time, with 51 wickets in her 14 Tests.
Brunt is an accomplished batter having scored over a thousand runs in one-day matches
Brunt, who married England teammate Nat Sciver last month, will continue to play one-day and Twenty20 internationals.
‘Test cricket is my absolute passion and to retire from the format was a heart-breaking choice but it allows me to prioritise white-ball cricket,’ she said.
Brunt was a key part of England’s 50-over World Cups in 2009 and 2017, while she has won the T20 equivalent once.
Katherine Brunt (right) played a key role during England’s Ashes tour of Australia in February
Jonathan Finch, director of England Women’s cricket, said: ‘Katherine can leave the red ball behind knowing she is a true legend in that form of the game and that she has set standards that future generations can only aspire to.’
The 36-year-old became the first bowler since the 1970s to pass 50 wickets for England women in the traditional format and steps aside as the country’s third most prolific.
England take on South Africa in a one-off Test at Taunton from a week tomorrow.
Brunt celebrates the dismissal of Pakistan’s Nahida Khan during the Cricket World Cup