An athlete wakes up each day in anticipation of inching closer to their fantasy-like dream. A fantasy to which lies a hurdle at each step, making it stupendously taxing to put on the persevering face day after day. But the hunger to win, distances the hindrances in hindsight, enabling our best self to surpass all the prevalent odds. And yet, the stairway to success could turn out to be steeper than expected and tremendously tumultuous.
Today, we’ll be flipping through the players who will be missing in action at the Women’s Ashes that is to begin on the 1st of July.
1. Meg Lanning (Australian)
Magnificent Meg has led the Southern Stars to many invigorating ICC titles. With her wit and batting bonanza, she’s ensured the Island Nation has built the repute of being the best in business. Her nonchalant approach to challenging situations sets her apart from the crowd. So far in the 31-year-old’s illustrious career, the ability to play along the carpet has fetched her runs in excess of 4500 in ODI’s, 3405 runs in T20I’s, and an average of 31.4 in tests.
Australia will miss her experience and leadership skills going into British territory. It will include a huge change in the team dynamics as Lanning has been the mainstay opener for a long time now. She would be hoping that the senior members of the troop step up to the occasion and fill in the void, in her absence due to a medical condition.
2. Katherine Sciver-Brunt (English)
English cricketing sensation Katherine Sciver announced her retirement earlier this year in May 2023. Her all-round ability to play as a double-edged sword was priceless. An all-rounder’s role is considered quite taxing, but from the lens of Katherine, it looked quite effortless. Her ability to bowl in the delicate powerplay phase and the tough make-or-break overs reaped her praises. In addition to this, runs scored by her willow lower down the order would often make the difference between the two teams.
Her prolific career saw runs in excess of 4000 and 2000 in ODI’s and T20I’s respectively. 51 wickets in tests, 170 wickets in ODI’s, and 114 scalps in T20I’s. England would step onto the Ashes battlefield in the absence of Katherine for the first time since 2005. And will look to live up to the standards set by the 37-year-old stalwart.
3. Anya Shrubsole (English)
Another star all-rounder in the ranks, Shrubsole confirmed her retirement after the successful campaign with Vipers in the Charlotte Edwards Cup in June, prior to which she had already called time on the England team stint in 2022 itself. Her exuberant qualities as both batter and bowler, set standards that had to be caught up with. The areas she hit while bowling and the gaps she pierced while batting, rattled the opposition.
With runs in excess of 5000 on the grand international stage, including 106 wickets in ODI’s, 102 wickets in T20I’s, and 19 wickets in tests, she hung her boots to be remembered as one of the prominent players in the mix.
4. Rachael Haynes (Australian)
Elegant Australian batter, Haynes made it look like poetry in motion at the top of the order. Her elegant drives and smart play against the new Kookaburra made her a special warrior with the willow. She called time on her career in 2022. Two of her pivotal innings emerged during the 2018 and 2020 T20 World Cups, epitomizing the versatility that has become the defining characteristic of her gameplay.
Her marvelous career saw 383 runs in tests at a promising average of 34.81, 2585 runs in ODI’s which included two stunning hundreds, and 850 runs in the shortest form of the game.