Nat Sciver-Brunt hopes this summer’s T20 World Cup can help catapult women’s cricket into the national consciousness like never before as England try to build on the legacy of 2017.
Sciver-Brunt was instrumental in England’s triumphant 50-over World Cup campaign on home soil nine years ago, when she unveiled the ‘Natmeg’ shot that captured the imagination of cricket fans globally.
Women’s cricket has been revolutionised since then with an overhaul of the professional domestic set-up, while The Hundred has been hailed for bringing new eyeballs and fresh perceptions to the sport.
And Sciver-Brunt believes a deep run for England at the T20 World Cup, which starts on June 12 with the final taking place at Lord’s on July 5, could take women’s cricket to unprecedented heights in the UK.
“Some of the girls who watched 2017 from the crowd are now in the team, which is pretty special,” the England captain told the Press Association.
“Hopefully we can recreate that. In my wildest dreams I wouldn’t be able to imagine the feeling of lifting that trophy above my head at Lord’s, but I’ll (try to) dream about it and imagine it.
“Cricket is in a place where it can just explode in England and hopefully the T20 World Cup can do that for us.
“Drumming up that support from the general public is so important and we’re really trying to carry everyone along on our journey. I’m excited to see what happens.”
England are expected to announce their World Cup squad – as well as the groups to take on New Zealand and India in white-ball series before the global event – at some point this week.
Many of their core players have had a reduced workload, taking part in intra-squad training camps, with Sciver-Brunt only making her first appearance of the county season for the Blaze at Essex on Saturday.
She was dismissed for a golden duck in her first outing since being at the Women’s Premier League in January, where she became the first person to record a century in the tournament’s history.
“I’ve had a bit of a disjointed build-up into the summer so I wasn’t quite ready for that first 50-over game in terms of my body being ready,” she said. “But I feel good, feel fresh and raring to go.
“I didn’t have the best one the other day in Chelmsford but it’s the start of the season and I’m confident I can turn it around.”
Sciver-Brunt celebrates her first year as England captain on Wednesday, having taken on the reins from Heather Knight, who has settled back into the rank and file after a nine-year spell in charge.
The 33-year-old was speaking in Manchester at a Chance to Shine event, working alongside RBC Wealth Management to deliver a leadership and cricket skills session for secondary school-aged girls.
“I’m a leader myself and I’m trying to help the girls be a little bit more comfortable in what they’re doing and think about things in different ways,” Sciver-Brunt added.
“Leadership for me is a bit of a learning curve anyway and I don’t want to stop learning about how to get the best out of people and myself for everybody else.”
:: Chance to Shine and RBC Wealth Management, through their Community Leadership partnership, uses cricket to empower young people in the UK with the confidence and life skills they need to thrive.
