Legendary England pacer Katherine Brunt on Saturday announced her retirement from Test cricket. She will continue to play ODI and T20 internationals.
The 36-year-old seamer stepped away from the game as England women’s third-leading Test wicket-taker with 51 wickets.
Brunt made her Test debut in 2004, and was part of a momentous moment for English cricket in just her third Test match – taking nine wickets across the match and scoring 52 to help Clare Connor’s team retain the Women’s Ashes after 42 years.
Brunt retired having enjoyed the tenth-longest Test career in the history of the women’s game. She last played a Test match in the Women’s Ashes against Australia at the start of the year in January.
“I feel like as an athlete there is never an obvious time to step away from doing the thing that you love. But over the past two years thoughts of retirement have surfaced more and more, so I’ve decided to make a smart decision rather than an emotional one,” Brunt said.
“Test cricket is my absolute passion and to retire from this format was truly a heart-breaking choice to make, but it allows me to prioritise white-ball cricket.”
“I know that I leave it in a great place, the bowlers coming through are ready and they’re just itching to be let loose! And with the South Africa game around the corner, I’m very much looking forward to watching them from the best seat in the house.”
UNI
