Katherine Brunt, a legendary England pacer, has decided to retire from the game's longest format. The 36-year-old seamer will continue to compete in the game's shorter formats.
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Katherine Brunt is England's third-highest wicket-taker in Women's Tests. She has scalped 51 wickets at an average of 21.52 and a strike rate of 51.1 in 14 matches. She's racked up three five-wicket hauls. Brunt last played a Test match against Australia in the Women's Ashes in January of this year.
Brunt, who made her Test debut in 2004, said retiring from the game was a "wise" decision. She says it allowed her to focus on her white-ball career.
"I feel like as an athlete there is never an obvious time to step away from doing the thing that you love. But over the past two years thoughts of retirement have surfaced more and more, so I've decided to make a smart decision rather than an emotional one.
Test cricket is my absolute passion and to retire from this format was truly a heartbreaking choice to make, but it allows me to prioritize white-ball cricket."
Katherine Brunt said in a statement
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From June 27 onwards, England will play South Africa in a Test match, and replacing Brunt's quality in their lineup will undoubtedly be a difficult assignment. Another English veteran, Anya Shrubsole retired from all forms of cricket recently.