When Tammy Beaumont recently announced her retirement from international cricket, it marked the end of an era for the English top order. For nearly 17 years, Beaumont was the definition of absolute precision and technical purity. Shifting from her early days as a wicketkeeper-batter to a specialist opening force, she established herself as one of only a handful of cricketers to score international centuries across all three formats. Beaumont didn’t just accumulate runs; she broke long-standing records and anchored some of England’s most historic victories. Stripping away the massive career tally of over 7,000 international runs, her legacy is best told through the games where she completely dictated terms to the opposition.
1. 168* vs. Pakistan (ODI) – Worcester, 2016
Every legendary career has a clear turning point, and for Beaumont, it was the summer of 2016. Having floated around the batting order for a few years, she was handed the opening slot against Pakistan and grabbed it with both hands. Her unbeaten 168 at Worcester was a flawless display of stamina and boundary-striking. It wasn’t just her maiden international century; it was a statement of intent that locked down her position at the top of the order for the next decade. Smashed at a time when England wanted to transition into a more aggressive brand of cricket, this knock secured a dominant series whitewash and showed the world exactly what she was capable of.
2. 148 vs. South Africa (ODI) – Bristol, 2017 World Cup
The 2017 World Cup on home soil cemented Beaumont’s status as a modern great, culminating in her being named Player of the Tournament. While she was remarkably consistent throughout the campaign, her 148 against South Africa in Bristol was the crown jewel. On a batting paradise, Beaumont put on an absolute clinic in opening the batting. Alongside Sarah Taylor, she dismantled the South African bowling attack to stitch together a breathtaking 275-run partnership. Her 148 was a perfect mix of classical drives and brilliant running between the wickets. It set up a massive victory and gave the entire team the front-foot momentum needed to go on and lift the trophy at Lord’s.
3. 116 vs. South Africa (T20I) – Taunton, 2018
A common misconception early in her career was that Beaumont was strictly a longer-format accumulator. She shattered that narrative entirely at Taunton in 2018. In a match where the boundaries felt incredibly small, Beaumont unleashed absolute carnage against South Africa. She brought up her century in a blistering 47 balls—setting the record for the fastest T20I hundred by an Englishwoman at the time. Her final score of 116 came off just 52 deliveries, featuring 18 fours and 4 sixes. It propelled England to a then-world-record T20I total of 250/3, proving that her classical technique could be adapted to cause absolute destruction in the shortest format.
4. 208 vs. Australia (Test) – Trent Bridge, 2023
Test matches for the England women’s team are rare, meaning opportunities to make history in the longest format are few and far between. Facing a relentless Australian side in the 2023 Ashes, Beaumont played an innings for the ages. Batting for well over eight hours, she showed incredible discipline, leaving well outside off-stump and punishing anything loose. She finished with a monumental 208 off 331 balls. In doing so, she became the first Englishwoman to score a Test double-century, shattering a national record that had stood for 88 years. It remains one of the finest exhibitions of batting under intense Ashes pressure the game has ever seen.
5. 107 vs. West Indies (ODI) – 2025
Even in the twilight of her international career, Beaumont’s hunger for big runs never waned. During the 2025 home series against the West Indies, she turned back the clock with a masterful 107 off 104 balls. What made this century stand out was the sheer control she exerted over the game. While modern cricket had shifted toward raw power, Beaumont relied on her signature placement, nimble footwork against the spinners, and an innate ability to pace an innings. It was her 12th and final ODI century, reinforcing her position as England’s leading centurion in the format and proving that class is entirely permanent.
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