NEWS
Follow UsEngland fast bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt has announced her retirement from international cricket. Since making her debut in 2004, Sciver-Brunt has picked up 335 wickets across formats for England that comprises of 170 in ODIs and 114 in T20Is - both a record for her country to go with 51 more scalps in the Test arena.
She last played for her country in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup recently against South Africa at Newlands. She also won three World Cups for England, including a player of the match performance against New Zealand in the semi-final at Lord's in 2009. She also won the Ashes four times.
As a result of her retirement, she will not take part in the upcoming Ashes series, where the series will take place simultaneously with the men's Ashes.
Speaking of her journey, Sciver-Brunt said, "Well here I am, 19 years later, at the end of my international journey. I thought I'd never be able to reach this decision but I have and it's been the hardest one of my life.
"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.
"I have so much to be thankful for, cricket has given me a purpose, a sense of belonging, security, many golden memories and best friends that will last a lifetime. 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.
"It has been a huge honour representing England for so long and I'd like to thank all of the England cricket family past and present for making my time a special one. The supporters - you are awesome, without you we wouldn't be able to do what it is that we love and the atmosphere you guys create is irreplaceable.
"The biggest thanks I have though goes to my family, they are my biggest fans and greatest support without which I wouldn't have made this journey at all."
Clare Connor, Sciver-Brunt's first captain and the current ECB deputy CEO and England Women's Managing Director, said, "Katherine has done so much for the game of cricket and for women's cricket in particular. She has been an unbelievable role-model, giving us everything she has for nearly 20 years.
"When cricketers retire, we rightly celebrate their skill, their runs and wickets, their records and accolades. But what Katherine has given the game of cricket extends far beyond those things. Her most powerful impact has been through her human qualities - through her passion to take our sport forward, her care for her teammates, her desire to always come back better and stronger despite significant injury setbacks.
"Through the time she has spent with fans, signing autographs, having her photograph taken with so many girls and boys who have been inspired by her. Many of those children will have watched Katherine play over the years and will have been inspired to start playing themselves. That's an incredibly powerful legacy of which she should be so proud.
"Katherine began her career in a completely different era from the one we are in now and we owe her a debt of gratitude for the part she has played in progressing our game, raising standards and bringing a new audience to women's cricket.
"She is quite simply a legend of our sport and I'd like to extend my thanks and the thanks of everyone at the ECB and across the game to her. We wish her all the best as she steps away from a remarkable international cricket career."
Sciver-Brunt will however continue to play in The Hundred, where she will turn up for the Trent Rockets.
