Katherine Brunt is set to lead England's attack in the Women's World Cup from tomorrow and hopes to crown a glittering career by winning the final at Lord's in a month's time.
The fast bowler from Dodworth will turn 32 during the tournament and is likely to make her 100th One Day International appearance as she is currently on 94 while England are due to play seven group games before a possible semi-final and final. The former Barnsley CC junior produced a match-winning bowling display at Lord's in 2009 to secure the Twenty20 World Cup, in the same year that England won the 50-over version. But they have had to wait since then for international glory.
Brunt – who is currently seventh in the all-time world-wide list of ODI wicket-takers with 120 – said: "It's brilliant to have a World Cup in England. A lot of people don't get to play in the World Cup in their whole career so to have one in your home country is fantastic."My family don't get the opportunity to see me play around the world but hopefully this time there will be a big crew of Barnsley people at Lord's on June 23. One of my favourite memories is winning the Twenty20 World Cup at Lord's in 2009 and to add to it with another one would be fantastic. I have been really looking forward to this one for a long time."
England begin their campaign against India in Derby tomorrow then take on Pakistan in Leicester on Tuesday before facing Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and West Indies in the group stage which will last until July 15.
Brunt said: "We have made a lot of changes to the team in the last four years. We are a much younger team and it will be really interesting to see if what we have been working on in the last 18 months has put us a step ahead of the rest. The favourites on paper are the Aussies but I think New Zealand have their strongest team since I have been playing. South Africa, India and West Indies are all really strong too so it is scarily even. We thrashed West Indies and India in warm-up games but they had only been in the UK a few days."
Brunt has struggled for the majority of her career with back problems but has enjoyed the most regular play of the last decade in the most recent two years.She currently has a shoulder problem but is expecting to play a full part in the tournament with the ball and the bat after making 53 and 93 not out in her last two innings for the Yorkshire Ladies.
She said: "I am feeling good. I am having a really good season with the bat and my bowling is coming along nicely. I am an all-rounder now. I have a niggly shoulder but, being a fast bowler for 13 years, it was bound to happen. It is the hardest role to play in cricket but you have to accept you will sometimes get injuries and they have just made me stronger and more resilient as a person and an athlete. As long as I can keep getting through the pain, I will keep going. When I feel like I can't keep up with the other players anymore, that will be time to retire."
Brunt has played for the Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash in Australia and Yorkshire Diamonds in the English Super League.She said: "You can make a living out of Twenty20 now and just those two competitions make you as much money as playing for England. But England will always come first for me."
