after the announcement of Katherine Sciver-Brunt retires from international cricketWe take a look at some of his most memorable moments in an England shirt – from a starring role in his first Ashes appearance to two World Cup victories in the space of almost a decade.
England v Australia, 2nd Women’s Test, New Road 2005
Katherine Brunt, as she was then known, made her Test debut at the age of 19 in August 2004 in a rain-affected draw against New Zealand. However, he really announced his arrival the following summer, when at Worcester in August 2005, he claimed career-best match figures of 9 for 111 – and top-scored with a crucial 52 from No. 10 – as that England defeated Australia in the second Test to claim their first Ashes victory in 42 years. The victory came at the full height of Ashes fever, with the men in the process of making the follow-on to Australia at Trent Bridge on their way to a series-sealing victory of their own, and the victorious women duly taking their places in the famous victory parade. took. to Trafalgar Square next month.
England v Australia, T20I only, Taunton 2005
Sciver-Brunt’s combative approach, coupled with a rare twist of pace, made an early impact even in the shortest format. She did not feature in the world’s first T20 international (male or female) – New Zealand’s nine-run victory at Hove in August 2004 came a fortnight before her Test bow. But she was in the right things for the second Women’s T20I next summer. Defending a tough target of 152, she reduced Australia to 6 for 3 in her first two overs with the new ball, only for Karen Rolton – scoring 96 not out from 53 balls – to turn the match around. It headed into an unbroken stand of 147 with Kate Blackwell (43 not out off 38).
England v New Zealand, World T20 Final, Lord’s 2009
That England women, now led by Charlotte Edwards, were on an upward trajectory would be confirmed when they beat New Zealand in a tense final at the North Sydney Oval in March 2009 to win their third World Cup title, and their first after 1993. Sciver-Brunt played a key role throughout the campaign, but her biggest impact of the year would be reserved for the biggest stage the women’s game had yet featured. Only ten years had passed since the first women members were admitted to the MCC, and now England played the World T20 in front of an enthusiastic crowd as part of a double-header with the men’s final (in which Pakistan beat Sri Lanka) Raised the trophy. , Part of Sciver-Brunt’s glory was his player-of-the-match-winning mantra of 4-2-6-3, all served up while sporting an impressive black eye, which added to his dangerous profile. His first wicket was the most important for him. Amy Watkins crushed India with an unbeaten 89 off 58 balls in the semi-finals; Now he has been yorked for 2 by an inswinger. Overall, he only conceded three scoring shots in his entire spell, and New Zealand crumbled under the pressure. Lucy Doolan attempted a scoop and was caught behind, before Rachel Priest crossed a bouncer at the crease to be caught and bowled.
India v England, 2nd ODI, Bengaluru 2010
Success in India is a badge of honor for any self-respecting fast bowler, and in his second appearance in the subcontinent, Sciver-Brunt produced a performance for the ages to end a keenly contested five-match ODI series. She had already played an invaluable role with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 11-ball 21 at number 9 to support Jenny Gunn’s hard-fought 64 and set India a target of 181. But then, reasserting her primary role, she came into the breach with four wickets in her first four overs, as well as a share in the fifth when Thirush Kamini, who had injured himself in the field, was caught with a short ball. was forced to retire hurt after making a duck. Remarkably, India bounced back thanks to an unbeaten 91 from Mithali Raj. But Brunt came back at the death to complete a career-best five-wicket haul and help England to a three-run victory.
England v Australia, World Cup Group Stage, Bristol 2017
By his own high standards, Sciver-Brunt had a quiet tournament in 2017, taking England to his third of three global trophies and his most celebrated – just five wickets at 50.60, all told, with his new ball. No less than fellow Anya Shrubsole claimed. A resounding victory over India in the Lord’s final and yet, when the toughest phase came against Australia – an opponent all sides feared – KSB came to the party in grand fashion. Her first act, as usual, came with the bat, a flamboyant 43-ball 45 not out that revived the score to 174 for 6 to post a competitive target of 260. In the last four overs, Sciver-Brunt struck twice on her return to the attack, trotting Alex Blackwell’s bails before lynchpin Ellyse Perry missed a slower ball over midwicket. Australia being Australia, they refused to give up, but England’s invaluable three-run victory sent them back to the top of the standings, and guarded against an awkward rematch in the semi-finals.
Australia v England, Test only, Canberra 2022
At the age of 36, Sciver-Brunt went into her final Ashes campaign with the same tenacity with which she seized them in the first, and in January 2022 in Canberra, she played in one of the greatest women’s Tests ever made a difference. Her first-innings figures of 5 for 60 kept England in the game, after dropping catches by Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning to declare to post a competitive 337 for 9, but then, Heather Knight’s formidable 168 put the contest on hold. made one. A one-inning shoot-out, with the fiery new ball from Sciver-Brunt blowing the contest wide open and a tense final day. In the end, England’s target of 257 would prove tantalizingly out of reach, as Kate Cross pulled nine wickets down to force a draw and need just 13 runs to win.
