Anya Shrubsole, so instrumental in helping England win the 2017 World Cup, announced her international retirement on this day two years ago.
Shrubsole took 227 wickets in 173 matches in all formats in a distinguished 14-year career for England, where she was part of two Ashes-winning sides and hoisted aloft the 50-over World Cup in 2009 and 2017.
Her finest hour undoubtedly came at Lord’s in the 2017 World Cup final against India, which was in the balance before she tipped the scales decisively in England’s favour with stellar figures of six for 46.
As well as collecting player of the match, she finished the tournament as England’s leading wicket-taker with 12 dismissals and earlier hit the winning runs in a tense semi-final against South Africa.
The seam bowler took nine wickets in eight matches in England’s defence of the title in 2022, including another star turn in the final but her three for 46 was in vain as Australia regained the trophy.
“I feel immensely privileged to have been able to represent my country for the past 14 years,” said Shrubsole, the first woman to grace the front cover of the prestigious Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.
“To have been involved in women’s cricket at a time of such growth has been an honour but it has become clear to me that it is moving forward faster than I can keep up with, so it is time for me to step away.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be lucky enough to play for England for so long, I’d have been happy with one game.
“There have been many ups and downs along the way but it was all worth it to be able to lift the ICC Women’s World Cup at Lord’s in 2017.”
Shrubsole retires as England’s leading Twenty20 wicket-taker with 102 dismissals while she is fourth in the country’s all-time list in one-day internationals, having taken 106 scalps at an average of 26.53.
She memorably took a hat-trick at the 2018 T20 World Cup against South Africa before England were again denied by Australia in the final.
After bowing out of England duty, the then 30-year-old continued to play domestically before calling it quits altogether at the end of the 2023 summer.
West Indies Women to tour India for three ODIs and three T20Is in December
The West Indies Women will be in action next month when they tour India from December 15-27.
The series, part of the 2022-2025 Future Tours Programme (FTP), will see the Windies taking on India in three T20Is and three ODIs in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara.
The T20Is are scheduled for December 15, 17 and 19 followed by the ODIs on December 22, 24 and 27.
This will be a valuable experience for the regional side in conditions they should experience at next year’s ODI World Cup in India.
West Indies last played a white-ball series in India eight years ago, winning the T20I series 3-0 before losing the ODIs 0-3.
Volcanoes secure second win of the season with 98-run DLS method victory over CCC
The Windward Islands Volcanoes got their second positive result in this year’s CG United Super50 Cup alive with a 98-run DLS method win over the Combined Campuses and Colleges at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Wednesday.
In a match reduced to 44 overs per side, the Windwards produced an excellent batting effort after being inserted by the CCC.
The 2018 champions produced a score of 307-7 in their 44 overs thanks to half centuries from Alick Athanaze, captain Sunil Ambris and Kavem Hodge.
Athanaze led the way with 77 off 75 balls including 12 fours and a six. Ambris made a 63-ball 70 including eight fours while Hodge made an even 50 off 47 balls including five fours.
West Indies Under-19 captain Stephan Pascal also chipped in with 41 as Amari Goodridge and Romario Greaves each took two wickets.
Set a revised target of 312 off their 44 overs, the CCC could only muster up 213 in 36.3 overs before being bowled out.
Jonathan Drakes led the way with 55 off 68 balls against Shadrack Descarte who bowled with skill on his way to figures of 4-43 from 6.3 overs of medium pace.
Darius Martin and Kenneth Dember provided good support with two wickets, each.
Full Scores:
Windward Islands Volcanoes 307-7 off 44 overs (Alick Athanaze 77, Sunil Ambris 70, Kavem Hodge 50, Stephan Pascal 44, Amari Goodridge 2-43, Romario Greaves 2-68
Combined Campuses and Colleges 213 off 36.3 overs (Jonathan Drakes 55, Johann Jeremiah 29, Shadrack Descarte 4-43, Darius Martin 2-33, Kenneth Dember 2-33.
Maxwell leads Australia to opening T20I victory
Glenn Maxwell's impressive 43 powered Australia to a 29-run victory over Pakistan in their opening T20I, which was heavily affected by rain.
Both teams were able to play seven overs each after a thunderstorm in Brisbane delayed proceedings, but it did not affect Australia's performance as they took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Matt Short (7) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (9) were both taken early, but Maxwell's 43 off 19 balls, which included eight boundaries, turned the tide.
Abbas Afridi (2-9) took him and Tim David (10), but with Marcus Stoinis' 21, the damage was already done as Australia finished 93-4.
Pakistan struggled to gain any momentum, with none of their first six batters hitting double figures and Sahibzada Farhan's eight was the best of that group.
The wickets toppled thanks to Xavier Bartlett (3-13) and Nathan Ellis (3-9), and even though Afridi salvaged some pride with his unbeaten 20 to help them reach 64-9, they fell short of their target.
Data Debrief: Home advantage
Despite the shortened nature of the game, Australia still made their mark in some style. They extended their winning run in Brisbane in the process, with this their fifth T20I victory in a row at The Gabba.
On the other side, Babar Azam will have been hoping for a better performance on what was a landmark day for him - he has now made the outright most appearances for Pakistan in T20Is (124), overtaking Shoaib Malik. He also broke the record for the most catches by a fielder in T20Is for Pakistan (52), going past Fakhar Zaman's 50.
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