English seamer Katherine Sciver-Brunt, one of the greats of the game, announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket on Friday.
The 37-year-old has appeared in 267 matches for England, taking 335 wickets across all formats. The fast bowler helped England’s women to three Ashes series victories and three World Cup wins, two coming in ODIs and one in T20s.
Only India’s Jhulan Goswami (355) has more dismissals than Sciver-Brunt in all women’s international formats.
This comes on the back of Shabnim Ismail’s retirement this week and Jhulan Goswami’s retirement late last year, meaning three of the top five wicket-takers in women’s ODIs have now bid adieu.
Katherine Sciver Brunt's career
| FORMAT | Mat | Wkts | Best | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 14 | 51 | 6/69 | 21.52 | 2.52 | 51.1 |
| ODI | 141 | 170 | 5/18 | 24.00 | 3.57 | 40.2 |
| T20I | 112 | 114 | 4/15 | 19.19 | 5.57 | 20.6 |
Sciver-Brunt said in a statement to the England and Wales Cricket Board, “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.
She added: “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.”
Sciver-Brunt has won three World Cups in England colours, including the final against India in 2017, and four Ashes series.
“Sciver-Brunt had already announced her retirement from regional cricket, but she will continue to play in The Hundred”, the ECB statement added.
Sciver-Brunt had already stepped away from regional cricket but will play one more season in The Hundred.
Leading wicket-takers in women's ODIs
| Player | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goswami (IND) | 204 | 255 | 6/31 | 22.04 | 3.37 | 39.23 |
| Ismail (SA) | 127 | 191 | 6/10 | 19.95 | 3.70 | 32.30 |
| Fitzpatrick (AUS) | 109 | 180 | 5/14 | 16.79 | 3.01 | 33.42 |
| Mohammed (WI) | 141 | 180 | 7/14 | 20.75 | 3.58 | 34.73 |
| K Sciver-Brunt (ENG) | 141 | 170 | 5/18 | 24.00 | 3.57 | 40.27 |
''It's saved my life''. 💗
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) May 5, 2023
Katherine Sciver-Brunt reflects on an absolutely remarkable international career. #BBCCricket pic.twitter.com/qzHSKFPs0H
🚨KATHERINE SCIVER-BRUNT RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL CRICKET🚨
— Georgie Heath 🎙️ (@GeorgieHeath27) May 5, 2023
Thank you @KBrunt26 for inspiring generations of girls. For teaching us that showing burning passion is okay & for always having fun along the way 🙌
The world legend can be overused but this player is a LEGEND pic.twitter.com/mJv96fsla0
Katherine Sciver-Brunt has announced her retirement from international cricket.
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) May 5, 2023
With 335 wickets for England, no woman has taken more.
She's won two World Cups, a T20 World Cup and three Ashes series.
A true legend. Happy retirement, Katherine! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/7aPupetT9q
Women's international cricket bids goodbye to two of its foremost members of the "angry fast bowler"™️ (strictly on-field) tribe in the same week.
— Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) May 5, 2023
The end of an era of sorts with Shabnim Ismail and Katherine Scriver-Brunt retiring.https://t.co/Oo9cjY6Bfy
An all-time great bowler obviously, but what stood out with Katherine Sciver-Brunt, was how much it clearly meant to her to be out on the field (sometimes too much).
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) May 5, 2023
Her wholehearted approach through her remarkable career made her IMO the most watchable player of her generation. pic.twitter.com/k8w5rxaVJN
Time to bring this epic Katherine Sciver-Brunt moment back on to our timelines. https://t.co/U6mIWyLxnW
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) May 5, 2023
Just In: England fast bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt has announced her retirement from international cricket.
— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) May 5, 2023
3️⃣3️⃣5️⃣ international wickets
2️⃣ ODI World Cups 🏆🏆
1️⃣ T20 World Cup 🏆
3️⃣ Ashes Wins 🥇
Happy retirement legend!#CricketTwitter #KatherineBrunt #WomensCricket… pic.twitter.com/ZqNJMAG4zp
With inputs from AFP
