Sciver hits back at ICC chairman
NAT SCIVER has stressed the importance of women’s Test matches as England prepare to take on South Africa in Taunton tomorrow — despite the insistence of ICC chairman Greg Barclay that they are ‘not part of the landscape moving forward’.
His comments have infuriated the women’s cricket community, with England’s captain and coach, Heather Knight and Lisa Keightley among the prominent voices expressing their disappointment.
Now vice-captain Sciver has added her weight before England’s third Test in 12 months, following games against India and Australia — where No 11 Kate Cross played out a maiden to secure a thrilling draw. Asked about Barclay’s comments, Sciver told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It was a bit of a surprise, considering our most recent Test was played the way it was. You’d have thought that would keep the format going.
‘It’s not how we feel. Any chance we get to play a Test, we’ll take it. When we watch men’s Tests, that’s where the biggest memories are.’
Barclay also suggested women’s Test cricket was ‘not evolving at any particular speed’, further fuelling England’s determination to put on a good show over the next four days — the start of a multi-format series that also includes three one-day and three T20 internationals against a South African side they recently beat in the 50-over World Cup semi-final.
Sciver will take the field without her wife, Katherine Brunt, who recently announced her retirement from the Test format.
Brunt, who tied the knot with Sciver last month, has been in Taunton for the build-up to share her experience, but her on-field absence will change the dynamic.
‘It will be weird not having her out there,’ says Sciver. ‘She’ll probably still shout at me, but that’s because she cares deeply. I’ll get the same feedback, and it’ll always be for the right reasons.’
With both Brunt and her former new-ball partner Anya Shrubsole — who retired from international cricket in April — unavailable, Sciver says she will relish the extra responsibility with the ball.
And while women’s cricket has no Test rankings, she wants to use the South Africa series to cement her status as the world’s No 1 all-rounder in the ODI game.
‘The rankings change after every series, so you can’t have a spell where you’re off your game,’ says Sciver. ‘You’re now the chased, rather than the chasing. But I want to stay there.’
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