Cricket star Katherine Brunt admits victory in the women's Ashes which begin this weekend in Australia would make 2017 the best year of her glittering international career – and potentially the last.
The 32-year-old fast bowler from Dodworth was part of the England Women's side that won the World Cup final at Lord's in July and is now expected to open the bowling in the Ashes which start in Brisbane on Sunday. Despite winning both the Twenty20 and 50-over World Cups in 2009, Brunt believes this current year would surpass that if England triumph across the month-long tour of Australia.
"It would be my best year if we could win the Ashes as well as the World Cup," the former Barnsley CC junior told the Chronicle.
"We have become number one in the world as well which is a big thing for us. The standard of cricket has skyrocketed in the last few years which makes it much harder to win anything, so to win the World Cup and the Ashes would be an amazing achievement. If we do that then don't win 'team of the year' at BBC Sports Personality, I will be fuming."
Brunt admits there were times in her career – which has been plagued by injuries especially several prolapsed discs in her back – when she thought she would have retired by now. An operation after her last major back problem has led to a couple of relatively injury-free years but she is still managing the pain and admits victory in the Ashes would tempt her to bow out from full-time England duty on a high.
"It's a tough one and I haven't decided yet. I will see how I feel after the Ashes, but, yes, it would be a good last year. I still love playing and and I am fairly young to retire at 32, but I have my whole life to think about and I don't want to push myself too far and have permanent injuries. I want to have children as well which is another factor.
"When the time is right to retire, I will definitely know. If I have another bad back issue, that will definitely be it. There is the temptation to become a Twenty20 specialist and just play half the year. If I was offered the 80 per cent pay increase that the Aussie girls have just got, then I probably would stay on in all formats."
After the Ashes, Brunt is due to play for Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash League which begins in December – three weeks after England's last game of the tour. She said: "I would love to come home then go back again for the Big Bash but I have medically been advised against it. I am going to be in Australia until February and it will be a third Christmas away from home in a row. Most people would say I am mad for preferring to be in Barnsley than Perth over Christmas, but I definitely would."
Brunt is looking forward to taking on Australia, who she last faced in a crucial World Cup group win earlier this year which saw her make a match-winning contribution with 45 not out off 43 balls then two wickets. She said: "It was arguably our best performance of the World Cup, and probably mine too. They will definitely want revenge against us and there has already been a lot of stuff said about us in the press with some banter flying our way. It is going to be brutal but, if we keep our focus and strategy from the World Cup, and adjust to the pitches, then we should have a decent chance of winning.
"They beat us in the last Ashes on our home turf, which was gutting. It felt like our Ashes and we were devastated to lose it. Five overs of one of the Twenty20s cost us really badly and it still annoys me to be honest.
"I love taking the new ball and leading the attack for my country, which is an honour. I have been working really hard on taking more wickets. The Aussies have a lot of left-handed batters so I have been netting against a lot of left-handers to work on getting some early LBWs and giving the team the best start. I just want to stay in the game throughout, whether that it is batting, fielding or bowling."
Even the Australian weather has turned against the England team this week. Brunt said: "It has been a bit challenging because there had been a six-month drought in Brisbane then all the rain has come in the last week so we have had to train and play indoors a lot. It's not ideal but we did a lot of work before we came out here so it is not too much of a problem."
