KATHERINE Brunt has become England’s highest ever Twenty20 wicket-taker this week and now will play in the format at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
England were playing in a warm-up series against South Africa this week, ahead of the first ever women’s cricket event at the Commonwealth Games – which will be based at Edgbaston Stadium.
Brunt took four for 15 in the first game, her best ever figures in the format, which moved her onto 102 T20 wickets and level with record-holder Anya Shrubsole.
She struck again in the second game to take the record and add it to her record in the 50-over One Day International format.
On the Commonwealths, Brunt said: “We have all grown up watching the Olympics and had heroes in different sports. It seemed like a whole different world to what we were doing.
“So to have the chance to be part of an England team at the Commonwealth Games is so exciting.
“Just talking about medals is pretty cool.
“It will be good to get in amongst the other athletes, meet and talk to them.
“The fans really get behind the home athletes and the whole country seems to have a bit of a lift when there is a big event like this. We play our best cricket when we have a big crowd behind us.
“All of the games are sell-outs. Even our families have struggled to get tickets.
“Anyone could win the tournament, it’s really open.”
England face Sri Lanka on Saturday – in what could be Brunt’s 100th Twenty20 International – South Africa on Tuesday and New Zealand on Thursday, as they try to qualify from their group for the semi-finals.
