Anya Shrubsole Retirement: Anya Shrubsole, England’s two-time Women’s World Cup and inaugural T20 World Cup winner, has retired from international cricket.
Anya Shrubsole Announced Retirement
Shrubsole, 30, finishes with 173 international games for England, picking 227 wickets and was also a part of two Ashes-winning and two World Cup-winning campaigns. She will continue to play domestic cricket.
Announcing her decision, Shrubsole said in a statement, “I feel immensely privileged to have been able to represent my country for the past 14 years. 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.”
“I feel immensely privileged to have been able to represent my country for the past 14 years.”
After 173 games and 227 wickets for her country, @anya_shrubsole has announced her retirement from international cricket today.#ThankYouAnya
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) April 14, 2022
Shrubsole also expressed gratitude to her family, for being supportive throughout her long and fruitful career.
“There have been so many people who have supported me along the way and I want to thank them all for everything they have done, but most of all I couldn’t have done it without the unwavering support of my family. They have been with me every step of the way and I simply couldn’t have done it without them.”
ECB Managing Director of Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said: “Anya has been the most tremendous servant to English cricket, and to women’s cricket specifically.
“For 14 years she has given everything for the team so it is fitting that her reasons for retiring are so selfless. In her last game for England – the ICC Women’s World Cup final in Christchurch – Anya was the team’s stand-out performer with the ball, just as she was on that magical day at Lord’s in 2017 when England women lifted the World Cup.
“Her longevity, skill and impact with the new and old ball are testament to her work ethic and commitment over so many years.
“Aside from her genius with the ball, Anya was the perfect teammate – selfless, dedicated, thoughtful and kind. She has already dedicated 14 years to England Women’s cricket and I know that she will continue to have a huge impact on the game post-playing.
“Anya loves the game as much as anyone I’ve ever met and we look forward to retaining her expertise and passion as she embarks on her next chapter.
“We thank her for everything she has done, for every girl she has inspired, and wish her all the best for what comes next.”
Anya Shrubsole Career Overview
The Somerset-born was first picked for England during their limited-overs home series against South Africa back in 2008, when she bagged a match-winning 3/19 on her T20I debut. A year later, she was picked in England’s T20 World Cup squad at home, as England surged to the title.
Till date, she’s the only England bowler to bag 100 wickets in both Women’s ODIs and T20Is. Overall, she has bagged 106 wickets in 86 ODIs, 102 in 79 T20Is and 19 scalps from eight Tests including a career-best, match-winning 7/99 in the 2014 Ashes Test in Perth.
She was the leading wicket-taker during England’s run to the Women’s T20 World Cup 2014 in Bangladesh, with 13 scalps at 7.53, which fetched her the Player of the Tournament award.
Her finest hour in international cricket came during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017 final against India at Lord’s, in which she produced an epic turnaround to help England clinch their fourth World Cup title.
With India well-placed at 3/191 during their run-chase of 229, Shrubsole triggered a dramatic collapse as India lost seven wickets for 28 within a space of six overs. England sneaked a nine-run win, with Shrubsole’s 6/46 going down as record bowling returns in a Women’s World Cup final.
She leads the wicket-taking charts in T20 World Cups, with 41 wickets at 12.48 with an excellent economy of 5.32.
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