Katherine Sciver-Brunt ends legendary international career

Sciver-Brunt, who made her debut in 2004, a full decade before the implementation of central contracts in the women's game, played 267 times for England and took 335 wickets across formats

Katherine Sciver-Brunt has retired from international cricket, bringing to an end one of the most storied and significant England careers of the modern era.

Sciver-Brunt, who made her debut in 2004, a full decade before the implementation of central contracts in the women's game, played 267 times for England and took 335 wickets across formats.

She won three World Cups, four Ashes series and is England's leading wicket-taker in both white-ball formats. She is the only player in the history of the women's game to take at least 50 wickets in all three international formats.

"I thought I'd never be able to reach this decision but I have and it's been the hardest one of my life," she said, 19 years on from her international debut at Scarborough in a drawn Test against New Zealand.

"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.

^{Sciver-Brunt with her 100th T20I cap (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)}

"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, the ECB's managing director for England Women's cricket, was also Brunt's first international captain and described the fast bowler as "an unbelievable role model".

Brunt had previously announced her retirement from regional cricket and went unselected in the WPL auction but is set to continue playing in The Hundred for Trent Rockets.

Connor added: "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.

^{Sciver-Brunt has called time on a legendary international career (Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)}

"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's final appearance for England came in the T20 World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa.