Top five spells of Anya Shrubsole
England team pacer Anya Shrubsole has announced her retirement after a 14-year career in international cricket.
Making her debut in 2008 and playing over 150 matches for her country, Shrubsole is also the fourth-highest wicket-taker for England in the ODI format, and played a crucial role in their ICC Women's Cricket World Cup triumph in 2017.
We take a look at some of the best spells from her career.
6 for 46 against India - 2017 ICC Women's World Cup Final
Shrubsole's part in England's 2017 World Cup final victory against India will forever be remembered.
It was not going to be easy for England to defend a 229-run target in the final against India, who had qualified after defeating a formidable Australian side in the semi-finals. However, Shrubsole cast her magic with the ball and recorded a haul of 6 for 46 to help England defend the total and win their fourth World Cup trophy.
Shrubsole with the new ball sent opener Smriti Mandhana back to pavilion early, straight away putting India under the pump. Later she dismissed set batter Punam Raut on 86 and ran through India’s middle order to break India’s hopes of first World Cup victory. Her spell of 6/46 is her best in ODIs and is also the best-ever by a player in a Women's World Cup final.
5 for 17 against South Africa - 2013 ICC Women's World Cup
One of Anya Shrubsole’s best bowling performances came against South Africa in a Super Six match of ICC Women’s World Cup 2013.
England desperately needed a win to keep their chances alive in the tournament, and Shrubsole delivered a performance that completely decimated the Proteas.
Shrubsole demolished South Africa's batting line-up with the new ball as she first sent back the two openers early. She then dismissed skipper Mignon du Preez for duck and completed her five-for with the wickets of Cri-Zelda Brits and Marizanne Kapp.
Her exploits helped England restrict South Africa to 77, which they later chased down to secure a much-needed win.
5 for 11 against New Zealand - T20I, England's tour of New Zealand 2012
In her T20I career of 79 matches, Anya Shrubsole took 102 wickets and her best T20I bowling performance came against New Zealand in 2012, when she claimed her first and only T20I five-for.
England’s tour of New Zealand started in Wellington with the first T20I of five, and England were up and running with a win. Anya Shrubsole was instrumental in England's victory in the first T20I, as she demolished the hosts’ batting line-up, including the big wicket of skipper Suzie Bates.
She finished her quota of four overs by only conceding 11 runs and scalped five wickets to restrict New Zealand to 80 for 9 in 20 overs. England later chased the score with ease and took a 1-0 lead in the series.
3 for 11 against South Africa - 2018 ICC Women's T20 World Cup
Anya Shrubsole has always been a performer for the big stage. She played a massive role with the ball for England in the World Cups and her hattrick against South Africa in ICC Women’s World Cup 2018 is a testament to that.
South Africa were struggling at 85 for 7 after opting to bat first when Shrubsole bagged a hattrick in the final over. Shrubsole dismissed Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klaas and Moseline Daniels in the first three balls of the final over and ended with a bowling figure of 3 for 11.
England chased down the modest target of 86 in the 15th over and sealed their berth for the semi-final.
4 for 51 against Australia - Only Test in England's tour of Australia 2014
In her Test career of 8 matches, Anya Shrubsole produced some brilliant performances but her 4 for 51 against Australia in the only Test of the 2014 Ashes series stands out as one of the most memorable.
Shrubsole claimed seven wickets across the match, including her best Test bowling figures of 4 for 51 in the first innings. She was effective with the new ball, dismissing Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani early.
In the second innings, she took three important wickets, including one of set batter Ellyse Perry to help England win the Test match by 61 runs.