After a marvelous 13 year career, the English spinner Laura Marsh retired from international duty on Monday, which included three World Cup wins for England and Wales cricket board. Laura Marsh started her career in 2006 as a medium pace bowler against India, after Nicky Shaw was injured. However, she ended up doing off-break spin bowling which proved beneficial to both England and herself.
The 33-year-old star player took 217 international wickets in 179 games she played for England across all formats. She is also the third leading wicket-taker in one-day international for England in which she was the leading wicket-taker in England’s 2009 ICC Women’s World Cup success with 16 wickets at an incredible economy of just 3.40. Taking a career-best 5-15 against Pakistan, she played a key role in England’s victory. She also featured in the squad which lifted the T20 World cup in 2009, opening the bowling and taking 6 wickets for 68 runs across the tournament. Marsh was also a part of the winning women’s team at the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup held in England where she lifted the second world cup of her career.
Marsh was impressive with both bowl and bat; she has international half-centuries in all three formats. She made a massive impact with the bat in the series against Australia in 2009 where England won the first ODI series after 1976. After such performances she was promoted to open the batting in 2011 against Australia and her 55 runs in Ashes will always be remembered where she helped the team with the bat to regain the Ashes. The shirt number 7 for England played her last series this year against Australia and her last match on 28 July 2019 against Australia which was a T20 match. She completed the milestone of playing 100 ODI matches during the series against West Indies in June 2019, which she never thought she could make, as a shoulder injury requiring two operations saw Marsh out of England set up for 18 months in 2013.
1⃣3⃣ years long England career
2⃣1⃣7⃣ international wickets
3⃣rd leading wicket-taker in ODIs from England
3⃣World Cup wins 🏆🏆🏆Take a bow @lauramarsh7 !
Wishing you a very happy 2nd Innings! pic.twitter.com/PWbThXvHrB
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) December 17, 2019
She is the holder of one of the first tranche of 18 ECB (England Cricket Board) central contracts for women players, which were announced in April 2014.
Not many cricketers in the world have won three World Cups; her records show how important player she was for her team. Her retirement will be a huge loss for the women’s side for England as Laura has always been a very good wicket-taking option said Katherine Brunt, the English bowler.
“She has massive experience, lots of control and is very handy with the bat as well,” Brunt said.
“Laura has been a fantastic servant to English cricket and we’re so grateful for everything she has contributed,” said the England and Wales Cricket Board’s director of women’s cricket Clare Connor. “Her record ranks amongst the very best bowlers in the history of our game but the stats are only part of her impact,” Connor added.
“She’ll be remembered by those who have played with her and worked with her for her kindness, her loyalty and her relentless desire to improve,” added Connor.
“Not many cricketers in the world have won three World Cups, and these are wonderful memories that Laura takes into retirement with her. She’s been the complete team player and a role model for England women’s cricket and she will be missed,” added Connor.
Source: ANI