Tammy Beaumont says fellow World Cup winner Anya Shrubsole will head into retirement having “revolutionised women’s cricket” and inspired young girls to become fast bowlers.
Southern Brave captain Shrubsole, who was instrumental in England becoming world champions in 2017, will end her professional career following this year’s Hundred, which starts next week.
She took 227 wickets in 173 matches in all formats during 14 years playing for her country and was the first woman to grace the front cover of the prestigious Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.
The 31-year-old, who is bowing out at a similar time to former international team-mate and fellow pace bowler Katherine Brunt-Sciver, has expressed a desire to avoid a big send-off.
Yet England opener Beaumont believes that is unlikely to happen.
The Welsh Fire skipper said: “She’s going to hate it but there’s no chance she can retire quietly, is there?
“I mean, it’s the six-year anniversary of her (World Cup) heroics and she’s played in an era of TV, so they’re there forever.
“What her and Katherine Brunt have done over the years has revolutionised women’s cricket and made young girls want to be fast bowlers.
“The way she’s played the game, vice-captain of England, a real leader without shouting about it and she’s someone who desperately would like to go out quietly – but I’m afraid she’s got too good a record for that.
“She’s made a massive impact on the game. Certainly the people that played with her know what she brought to the team and not just the moments of brilliance on the pitch either.”
Bath-born Shrubsole was part of two Ashes-winning sides and hoisted aloft the 50-over World Cup in 2009 and again eight years later before retiring from international duty last year.
Her finest hour undoubtedly came at Lord’s in the 2017 final against India, which was in the balance before she tipped the scales decisively in England’s favour with figures of six for 46.
“It’s funny, when we were young I think we were on completely different pages,” continued Beaumont, speaking at the launch of KP Snacks’ community cricket pitches initiative which will fund 100 new pitches.
“She’s quite an introvert; I was quite loud and bouncing around the changing room, so we actually probably struggled to understand each other for the first few years.
“And then we did some personality testing and inside the booklet you got was (information) about how to talk to your exact opposite.
“We kind of worked on it and afterwards she was one of my best mates in the England team for quite a long time.”
Shrubsole begins the final competition of her distinguished career on Tuesday when Southern Brave, beaten finalists in 2021 and 2022, travel to Trent Rockets in the opening fixture of The Hundred.
“I’m trying desperately to retire quietly but no one really seems to be letting me,” she said.
“I guess there might be a little bit of emotion whenever that last game is and that’s not because it’s the wrong decision. I really am ready to retire.
“It would be lovely to win it having lost in the final a couple of times – I guess that would be the perfect ending.”
:: KP Snacks are funding 100 new community cricket pitches over the next three years. To find out more and search for a pitch visit: everyonein.co.uk/pitchfinder
Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series
Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.
Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.
The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.
However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.
Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.
Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.
However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.
Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century
England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.
Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.
Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.
Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies
Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.
The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.
Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.
However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.
Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.
Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.
Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists
West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.
Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.
However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.
'I was a tired, grumpy old man' - Stokes apologised to England team-mates after Pakistan defeat
Ben Stokes says he apologised to his England team-mates after his frustrations were evident during the second-Test defeat by Pakistan.
The hosts levelled the three-Test series on Thursday after wrapping up a 152-run win in Multan.
However, it could have been a different story but for fielding errors at crucial stages for the visitors, Jamie Smith and Joe Root notably dropping catches to dismiss Salman Agha, whose subsequent knock of 63 helped Pakistan seal victory with a day to spare.
Stokes, who returned to action following a hamstring injury, could not hide his frustration during a difficult day for England, but insisted he would not let his emotions get the better of him again.
"No one means to drop catches, but it just proves how important catches are in these subcontinent conditions, they don't come along that often," he told Sky Sports.
"I actually apologised to the group last night. It's the first time in my captaincy that I've let my emotions and how I was feeling with the way the game was unfolding show in my body language.
"I owned up to that and was very annoyed at myself for letting that out. It's something that I don't want to do or be seen to be doing, so I apologised to the group about that.
"Poor old me, I was a tired, grumpy old man last night! You won't see that happen again."
However, England coach Brendon McCullum defended the actions of his skipper.
"We all know how passionate Ben is, how much it means for him to play for England," he said.
"We've seen that through his bloody-mindedness to get back from injury, which was significant, and to do so in a nine-week timeframe and to have his first TM [Test match] in extreme conditions, 40 degrees, and be able to give what he gave to the side.
"I think, maybe, that's where some of that frustration led to - certainly, it wasn't directed at any of the players. It was more about trying to assess the rhythm of the game, and to impact on it."
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