Katherine Brunt: The Hundred is delivering top-class women's cricket to the north... and it's about time

Trent Rockets allrounder and England international Brunt speaks to The Analyst: Inside Cricket podcast about rarely playing at her home ground, Headingley, and how the new competition will make positive changes to the women's game

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Katherine Brunt has a laundry crisis. She’s been on the road for weeks without any chance to collect clean kit, and now she has only got a day before joining up with Trent Rockets in The Hundred.

"I’ve just done four loads of washing because the laundries on tour are rubbish so you save up all your nice clothes and wash them at home,” she tells The Analyst: Inside Cricket podcast from the garden of the home she shares with her fiancee Nat Sciver.

She has just met some of her teammates for the first time at a Rockets training session and briefing.

“There were four people today who I didn’t have a clue who they were and half the coaching staff as well. It was a very quick introduction. And I’ve played against [New Zealand’s] Rachel Priest for 10 years on the international circuit but I’ve never spoken more than two words to her.

“It was really good to meet her properly and see a different side to her because she’s just as mental as me on the pitch. Off it she’s soft as a brush.”

Brunt is one of many who believes the launch of The Hundred is a pivotal moment for women’s cricket in England. Not only does it reduce the inequality between the men’s and women’s games - with so many doubleheaders played on the best grounds - but it is taking top-class women’s cricket to northern venues which have barely ever seen a women’s international. Including Headingley.

“It infuriates me. I’ve played for Yorkshire for 20 years. I’m so proud it’s the only county I’ve played for but the fact I can walk into Headingley stadium and not have any link to that club or its history is, in my opinion, disgusting," Brunt says.

^{The Hundred begins on Wednesday}

“If you look at the stats of female cricketers and where they come from there’s hardly any from the north. Its because they have nothing locally to aspire to. Because we don’t play any cricket there they can’t beg their parents to take them to a match.

“My parents don’t even come and watch me play. I barely ever play further north than Worcester. That’s as far (south) as they’ll come. It's terrible. I’ve played at Durham once, and at Headingley for England maximum twice in 17 years. I don’t understand it. I want people to be accountable. Do you know I have even played a game for England at my home club, Shaw Lane, in Barnsley?! That’s mental.”

Young female players are going to be on a steep learning curve.

“I think there might be some chaos. There’s a lot of young players and a lot of inexperience so our jobs will be to coach them and calm them through various situations, being on TV, being on proper first class grounds," Brunt says.

“It's overwhelming enough as it is and the pace of this game is going to be crazy. But it’s a brilliant stepping stone for a youngster coming through. They can’t hide. Everything’s on show. Instead of one scout’s opinion of a player after one or two games that player will get plenty of exposure.

“The men have plenty of formats and tournaments to play in but the girls don’t. Its really important to have these kind of tournaments around the world, allowing female players to earn a proper living and grow.

“Women’s earnings are going to grow through this. We are playing matches at the same venues as the men on the same day. So the crowds will watch both.

“We are all under the same banner doing the same amount of training and playing the same amount of games in the same amount of days, so why not? We are on a level playing field. In my opinion the gap should be a hell of a lot smaller. Things need to change quicker and there is no reason why they can’t.”

The Hundred has come at a good time for her.

“I was a bit sceptical at first because the shorter the format the more chaotic it becomes. But now I’m excited.

“It’s great to be refreshed by something a bit new and a bit different especially at my age so body wise it’ll be nice to have something done and dusted inside a couple of hours.”

That is, if they improve significantly on the one practice match which lasted over three.

“My main message to the public is to be patient, because it is new and different so give it a chance.”

And what's more, Brunt, when she steps out for Trent Rockets at Trent Bridge on Saturday, will be playing in brand new kit that she hasn’t had to wash. Yet.

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