New Delhi, 09 July (H.S.):
England women's cricket team veteran opener Tammy Beaumont has announced her retirement from international cricket. The 35-year-old will bring the curtain down on her illustrious 17-year international career following the one-off Test against India, which begins at Lord's on Friday. The historic fixture, the first-ever women's Test to be played at the iconic venue, will also serve as Beaumont's farewell international appearance.
Beaumont, who made her international debut for England in 2009, represented her country in 260 international matches across formats. She holds the record for the most One-Day International centuries by an England woman, having scored 12 ODI hundreds during her distinguished career.
She is also one of only two England women cricketers to have registered international centuries in all three formats of the game. In 2023, Beaumont created history by becoming the first England woman to score a double century in Test cricket, producing a magnificent 208 against Australia at Trent Bridge.
Announcing her retirement, Beaumont said in a statement released by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Representing England for nearly 17 years has been the greatest honour of my life. When I first fell in love with cricket as a young girl, I never imagined playing for England was even a possibility. It is incredibly rewarding to see how far the game has come in our country and how many young girls and boys have been inspired by cricket, especially this summer.
She added, We have always wanted to leave the England cap in a better place for the next generation. I believe the time has come for me to hand over that responsibility to the players who will carry it forward.
Speaking about her final international appearance, Beaumont said, Playing at Lord's in what will be the first women's Test at the venue is the perfect way to say goodbye to my international career. I could never have imagined my journey would become so memorable and special.
Beaumont was among the first generation of England women cricketers to receive professional contracts, earning her inaugural central contract in 2015. Two years later, she played a pivotal role in England's triumph at the 2017 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup on home soil. Scoring 410 runs during the tournament, she was named Player of the Tournament for her outstanding performances.
Although she is retiring from international cricket, Beaumont confirmed that she will continue to play domestic cricket. She will remain active for The Blaze and Birmingham Phoenix, including participation in The Hundred and other domestic competitions.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
