Katherine Brunt hints at retirement after the T20 World Cup

England's leading wicket-taker in ODIs, Katherine Brunt, dropped hints regarding her retirement after the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean later this year.



As quoted in an interview in Wisden Cricket Monthly, she said that her biggest and "only goal" is to lift the T20 World Cup this year. She said, "What's left is the T20 World Cup in November. That's the biggest goal, the only goal. That would be a good ending, wouldn't it?"



In her 14-year-long career, she has scalped 136 wickets in 112 ODIs, 61 wickets in 65 T20I matches and 39 wickets in 11 Tests so far. She was a member of the 2005 World Cup, where she took 14 wickets and scored her maiden half-century. She played in 2009, 2013 and 2017 ICC Cricket World Cup as well.



Brunt played an important role in the 2017 World Cup, where England beat India on their home soil. She said, "A year on from winning the World Cup, I’d say I feel content now." Next up in Brunt's schedule, is the T20 World Cup later this year and England's campaign will start on 10th November against Sri Lanka in St Lucia.



In the exclusive interview, Brunt shared her struggle from childhood days, talking about how "introverted and shy" she was and how she was inspired by Darren Gough. She also named all-rounder Natalie Sciver as her "best friend in the whole world".



Brunt expressed, "She went to private school, her parents are very well off, she has all that security, and I’m the complete opposite". "My dad was a miner for 25 years, down the pits, six kids, with a stay-at-home mum. And yet we get on so well. It’s mainly because she’s got a lot of patience with me because I’m a nutter."



She has some plans in her mind once she retires from cricket; so far she's thinking of nurturing talented players or trying to make her career in commentary.



Brunt said: "If I do any coaching after I retire it'll be private, one-to-one. And it would only be someone with the same fire and passion that I had when I was their age. If I can see some of that in them, I'll commit to it wholeheartedly. And I would love that. Other than that, I'd love to try my hand at commentary. I'd love to get my personality across, and be me, be real."