Katherine Brunt is delighted to be England Women's top wicket-taker in One Day Internationals.
The 33-year-old from Dodworth struck twice in the defeat to New Zealand in the team's final match of the summer to move on to 136 wickets in 112 50-over matches since her debut in 2005. The former Barnsley CC junior is one above her long-time England team-mate Jenny Gunn, who was in the squad for the series but did not play, and Brunt is now sixth in the all-nations list, ten wickets behind third.
The only men to have taken more wickets for England in ODIs are Brunt's childhood hero Darren Gough, who is also from Barnsley, as well James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Andrew Flintoff and Ian Botham. Three-time World Cup winner Brunt said: "It's a big achievement for me and I am really happy.
"I have never been top of the list before, I've always just been behind Jenny. After the match she gave me a bottle of champagne and a little note to say congratulations which was very sweet of her. I don't know how long I will stay at the top of the list but no one can ever take away the fact that I was there."
Brunt has now taken 236 wickets in 188 England games across ODI, Twenty20 and Test Match cricket over 14 years and is three behind Gunn who leads that category.She said: "I can't believe how long I have been playing. It's ridiculous considering how tough it is for fast bowlers and how many injuries I have had. I am quite proud of myself."
New Zealand chased 219 to win by four wickets in Leicester in the final match of the series in which they were beaten 2-1. Brunt – who made five with the bat then took two for 40 off 8.4 overs – believes the series victory has given England a major boost ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies in November.
She said: "We put a few players in for the last game who hadn't been playing for a while and it's those small margins which can swing the game. It's still a really good series win. The Kiwis are one of the best teams in the world so to beat them sends a statement out ahead of the World Cup and it might put them on the back foot psychologically."
Brunt will now focus on playing for Yorkshire Diamonds in the Kia Super League Twenty20 which begins on Sunday. She said: "We have the youngest squad and we will have our backs against the wall but we are a team of battlers and I am sure we will come good. I might not be able to play every game and I will have to think tactically to make sure I am in the best shape going into the World Cup.
"I want to win for Yorkshire, but I don't want to overdo it and get injured. We used to go into international tournaments with no preparation at all but now we have this competition. It's nowhere near the standard of the Big Bash in Australia but it's getting there."
