Brunt added to women's tour

Katherine Brunt © Getty Images

Yorkshire seamer Katherine Brunt is to join the England women’s squad on their tour of Australia and New Zealand, with a view to playing during the second leg.

The 22-year-old passed a fitness test at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough on January 29 and will fly out to join the squad in Sydney on February 12.

Brunt, who was named player of the series in the 2005 Ashes victory, has not played for England since 2006 after suffering a back injury in the npower Test match against India at Grace Road.

Brunt recovered from that set back and was bowling in the nets ahead of the quadrangular series in Chennai in February and March last year, when she suffered a prolapsed disc that ruled her out of the series.

Following conservative treatment she underwent an intradiscal electrothermal shrinkage procedure in early June last year to rectify the problem.

Brunt has undergone an intensive rehabilitation process since the operation working with specialists form the England and Wales Cricket Board and the England Institute of Sport and has been working with the ECB fast bowling coach, Kevin Shine.

She will continue her rehabilitation in Australia along with the full squad and head coach Mark Dobson is hoping she will be fully fit when the side reach New Zealand.

England women's head coach Mark Dobson is delighted

“It’s good news to hear that Katherine will be joining us,” said Dobson. “She’s a fine bowler and more than capable batter as well as a fierce competitor. She really does add a lot to the squad.

“She has shown her intent to return to the international scene by committing herself to an intensive recovery programme over the last twelve months.

"The chance to play in New Zealand is just reward for her efforts. I would be naïve to think that she can play in every game on that leg of the tour; it’s important that we ease her back in gently, but, that said she is a very determined character who will want to play a full role.”

Brunt added: “I’m ecstatic to be getting back into cricket. Playing international cricket again is what I’ve been dreaming about and working towards since I got injured. All I’ve thought about since the injury is walking back over the ropes and start playing again.

“I obviously want to help England beat New Zealand on their tour over there and it’ll be great to join up with the girls to give them some support in Australia beforehand.

“It’s been a really tough twelve months for me. I’ve had to face up to some serious mistakes with how I’ve bowled and approached my game.

“I’ve faced up to them and amended my game accordingly. I’ve worked really hard to get back and had some great support along the way from the ECB and EIS, which I’m really grateful for.

“Hopefully from now until the World Cup next year I’m going to reach my peak, which I haven’t done yet in my career. There’s a lot more of me to come.”