Nat Sciver-Brunt confessed to “mixed emotions” as she prepared to guide England in the primary women’s Test at Lord’s, just five days after experiencing World Cup heartbreak at the house of cricket.
The four-day clash marks a milestone occasion for the ladies’s game as England finally get to experience a long-form, red-ball match at the game’s most historic venue.
After 150 men’s Tests dating back to 1884, it is unquestionably long overdue.
However the pride and fulfilment attached to the occasion is tempered by the rawness of Sunday’s T20 World Cup final defeat by the hands of Australia, a result that saw Sciver-Brunt’s side come up just in need of their dream consequence.
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PICTURE: Gareth Fuller/PA
Upset but proud
“It’s an enormous honour and a privilege that we’ll be walking on the market tomorrow. It’s something we, as cricketers, have probably hoped for,” she said.
“I feel it could have happened within the last three or 4 years. I feel we’re pretty deserving of being here and we’ll relish the chance.
“The change of format is great timing. The World Cup and every thing we managed to do still has mixed emotions since the end result isn’t what we wanted but I’m so pleased with what we were capable of do throughout the tournament.
“I’m sure the frustration won’t have left plenty of people about what happened at the ultimate, but we’re looking forward to such a special week at Lord’s doing something we dreamt of as kids growing up.
“It’s an excellent time to be a women’s cricketer.”
PICTURE: Bradley Collyer/PA
Farewell
Sciver-Brunt will play for the ultimate time alongside Tammy Beaumont, who’s bringing her long international profession to a detailed at the tip of the sport.
Beaumont first wore the England shirt in 2009 and will likely be making her 261st appearance across all formats.
“She’s seen women’s cricket through all the changes we’ve had, 17 years playing the sport for England is a big achievement,” said Sciver-Brunt.
“She’s scored loads of runs for our team and we’ve relied on those runs loads of times.
“She is someone who’s got great determination and resolve, (who says) ‘no-one is gonna get me out. That is my day, I’m scoring runs’.
“That attitude will definitely be missed. I hope we will send her off with an excellent week here at Lord’s.”
PICTURE: Mike Egerton/PA
Vice-captain Charlie Dean and all-rounders Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson will sit out the Test as England manage their workloads during a busy summer.
Alice Capsey looks set to make her Test debut after 4 years as a fixture in England’s white-ball set-up, while 18-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman could also earn her first cap.
Lord’s hosts the Test exactly 50 years after staging the primary women’s international, when the MCC barred women from becoming members and denied them access to the Long Room.
England are hoping for a rare win within the fixture, having tasted victory only once within the previous 15 Test matches against India.
There have been 11 draws and three defeats along the best way, with their sole success coming in Jamshedpur in 1995.
READ MORE: Tammy Beaumont to bring down curtain on glittering 17-year England profession after Lord’s Test
