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
Archer back in IPL auction despite being left off the shortlist
Jofra Archer will be in the IPL auction after all, having been left off the shortlist initially.
The fast bowler was an entry on the longlist but did not appear among the names after it had been whittled down to 574 last week.
There had been no word from Archer as to why he had pulled out of the auction and re-entered, although the prospect of playing in the IPL in future could have been key.
According to new rules in the competition, a player will be ineligible to play in the IPL for two years if they do not enter the auction.
Archer has struggled with injury since 2020 and has carefully worked his way back from an elbow problem he suffered last year. Having been part of England's white-ball set-up since May, he has a desire to get back into Test cricket.
The 29-year-old has not played the longest form of the game in nearly four years and, if picked for the IPL, could find it harder to get back into it.
With the early rounds of the County Championship season clashing with the IPL, it could harm Archer's ability to prove his fitness and reduce his chances of playing in a home Test in 2025. Additionally, he could also find it difficult to force his way in for the Ashes in Australia next winter.
Magnificent Bumrah humbles Australia after India batting collapse
India wrestled control back from Australia to leave them 67-7 at the close of play, despite having been bowled out for just 150 earlier on a remarkable first day in Perth.
The tourists chose to bat first, having made six changes from their Test defeat to New Zealand earlier this month, but things did not go well for them as they were reduced to 32-3 and 73-6.
Virat Kohli struggled again and went for just five after being caught by Usman Khawaja. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and number three Devdutt Padikkal were both playing in Australia for the first time and were dismissed for ducks.
Rishabh Pant (37) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) dragged India to a level of respectability before their bowlers tore through the Australian batting lineup.
Jasprit Bumrah (4-17) was India's saviour, producing a spell to leave the hosts 19-3. Nathan McSweeney (10) went on lbw after a review, Khawaja (8) was caught in the slips and Steve Smith was out on his first ball after another lbw.
Both Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh went for a combined total of 17 runs, with Marnus Labuschagne next to go for two off 52 balls. Pat Cummins was the final wicket of the day, meaning Australia finished on 67-7 with Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc at the crease.
Data debrief: Australia and India go wicket crazy
It was undoubtedly a day for the bowlers on the first day in Perth, with 17 wickets being the most to have fallen on the opening day of a Test in Australia since 1952.
While all 10 of Australia's wickets were caught, India managed four dismissals through either bowling their opponent or lbw.
Following his unplayable performance in Perth, Bumrah now has 177 Test wickets for his country and can count himself unlucky not to have had more.
Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock
Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.
The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.
After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.
Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*).
"It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.
"When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"
Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.
"Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."
During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.
Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.
"I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.
"The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.
"It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."
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