Cricket has been a part of my life since I was a young girl. I grew up playing lots of sport and for a while was splitting my time between football and cricket. Thankfully cricket won out in the end! I started playing club cricket and came through the Staffordshire pathway, making my senior debut as a teenager and learning quickly what it takes to keep improving in a competitive environment.
I made my England debut in 2010 and since then the game has taken me places I never could have imagined. I’ve represented England across all formats in so many matches and been lucky to be part of some incredible tours and big tournament moments. I’ve always loved the challenge of stepping into those high-pressure situations and trying to change the momentum of a game. I’ve now passed 300 international appearances but no matter how many times you do it, pulling on an England shirt still means everything, it’s always an honour and never something I take for granted.
Domestic cricket and franchise cricket have been a huge part of my journey too. Playing in The Hundred has been a real marker of how the women’s game is growing and I’m proud to now be playing for Surrey as we keep building visibility for women’s cricket.
More recently, becoming a mum has brought a whole new perspective and motivation, and another England fan into the fold! With a home Women’s T20 World Cup coming up, it feels like a special moment for the sport and I’m excited to be part of it.
If you’re thinking about getting involved, I’d say don’t wait until you feel “ready”, there’s ways to get involved in whatever way suits you. Try a session, go to a match, help out at your club, do a course because you never know what those small steps could turn into.