Katherine Brunt announces retirement from Test cricket

The 36-year old seamer will continue to play in the shorter formats of the game. Brunt is England's third leading wicket-taker in Women's Tests, scalping up 51 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 21.52 and a strike-rate of 51.1. She has three five-wicket hauls to her name. Brunt last played a Test match in the Women's Ashes against Australia at the start of the year in January.

Brunt who made her Test debut in 2004, claimed it was a 'smart' decision to retire from the game, in order to prolong her white-ball career. She said in a statement, "I feel like as an athlete there is never an obvious time to step away from doing the thing that you love.

"But over the past two years thoughts of retirement have surfaced more and more, so I’ve decided to make a smart decision rather than an emotional one. Test cricket is my absolute passion and to retire from this format was truly a heart-breaking choice to make, but it allows me to prioritise white-ball cricket."

Brunt also expressed her confidence in the young crop of pacers coming through in the English setup, adding, "I know that I leave it in a great place, the bowlers coming through are ready and they’re just itching to be let loose! And with the South Africa game around the corner, I’m very much looking forward to watching them from the best seat in the house."

England will next play a Test match against South Africa from 27 June onwards and replacing the quality of Brunt in their lineup will certainly be a massive task.