Nat Sciver-Brunt

A skiddy, accurate medium-pacer, Natalie Sciver became the first player to take a hat-trick in a Women’s T20 international match in her first year with the national side.

Began her cricketing journey as a teenager, she impressed everyone with her match-winning performances in the 2012 and 2013 County Championships. Following a healthy domestic season, she was named in the limited-overs squad against Pakistan. She made her ODI debut against the Women in Green on July 1st, 2013. In her second ODI, she claimed 3 for 28 and took home the Player of the Match award. Subsequently, she made her T20 debut on the same tour against Pakistan and bowled an economic spell in an easy victory.

Sciver's World Cup performances have been equally memorable too both with the bat and the bowl. She played a clinical role in handing England the ICC Women's World Cup 2017 title, with a tally of 369 runs in the tournament. Sciver continued her form into the World T20 the next year, recording an unbeaten 52 against India and bowling figures of 3-4 against South Africa.

Following the conclusion of the 2018 ICC Women’s World Cup, Sciver was named as the standout player in the team by ICC. Her brilliant 3/4 against South Africa set up the victory for England, while in the semi-final, she ensured the Indians didn’t gain momentum, steadying the chase with Jones and scoring a half-century herself.

Sciver solidified her reputation as a power-hitter by becoming the first player to hit a six in the inaugural edition of Women’s Big Bash League. She has been one of the most lethal all-rounders in the WBBL with 1200+ runs and 55 wickets in 64 matches. Following her domination in different domestic leagues and international cricket, she was awarded a full central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2019 and has been a regular for the English side since.

In the recently concluded T20 series against New Zealand, she enjoyed her first taste of international captaincy as she oversaw England’s 3-0 sweep of the T20I against New Zealand. When Heather Knight was ruled out of the final fixture because of a hamstring problem, Sciver had to bring her leadership skills to the fore as England sealed a 32-run victory over New Zealand.

(As of March 2021)