Nat Sciver-Brunt

Natalie Ruth Sciver-Brunt (née Sciver; /ˈsɪvər/ SIV-ər;^[1] born 20 August 1992) is an English cricketer who represents England in all formats.^[2] She was the first cricketer for England to take a hat-trick in a Women's Twenty20 International match.^[3] The "Natmeg" shot is named after Sciver-Brunt,^[4] from when she has hit a cricket ball through her legs during a game.^[5][6]

Nat Sciver-Brunt

Sciver-Brunt batting for Perth Scorchers during WBBL|05.
Personal information
Full name	Natalie Ruth Sciver-Brunt
Born	(1992-08-20) 20 August 1992 (age 32) Tokyo, Japan
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right arm medium
Role	All-rounder
Relations	Julia Longbottom (mother) Katherine Sciver-Brunt (wife)
International information
National side	England (2013–present)
Test debut (cap 153)	10 January 2014 v Australia
Last Test	14 December 2023 v India
ODI debut (cap 122)	1 July 2013 v Pakistan
Last ODI	14 September 2023 v Sri Lanka
ODI shirt no.	39
T20I debut (cap 34)	5 July 2013 v Pakistan
Last T20I	11 July 2024 v New Zealand
T20I shirt no.	39
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2010–present	Surrey
2015/16–2016/17	Melbourne Stars
2016–2019	Surrey Stars
2017/18	Perth Scorchers
2019	Supernovas
2019/20	Perth Scorchers
2020–2022	Northern Diamonds
2020/21	Melbourne Stars
2021–present	Trent Rockets
2023–present	Mumbai Indians
2023–present	The Blaze
2023/24–present	Perth Scorchers
Career statistics
Competition WTest WODI WT20I WLA Matches 10 100 113 173 Runs scored 649 3,402 2,323 6,013 Batting average 43.26 46.60 27.01 45.59 100s/50s 1/4 8/20 0/13 13/33 Top score 169* 148* 82 180* Balls bowled 921 2,847 1,650 5,391 Wickets 11 68 83 129 Bowling average 37.00 31.29 21.69 29.63 5 wickets in innings 0 0 0 1 10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0 Best bowling 3/41 4/59 4/15 5/27 Catches/stumpings 10/– 41/– 57/– 77/–
Source: CricketArchive, 18 December 2023

On 7 March 2021, Sciver-Brunt captained the England team for the first time in international cricket, for the third WT20I match against New Zealand, after Heather Knight was ruled out of the fixture due to an injury.^[7]

On 6 September 2022, Sciver-Brunt was named as England's captain for their home WT20I series against India in the absence of Heather Knight.^[8] Two days later, however, Sciver-Brunt announced that she had decided to withdraw from the series "to focus on her mental health and well being".^[9]

Early life and education

Sciver-Brunt was born in Tokyo, Japan. Her mother, Julia Longbottom, a British diplomat, was based in Japan at the time of Sciver-Brunt's birth,^[10][11] and has been the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Japan since March 2021.^[12] Sciver-Brunt's father, Richard,^[13] is a business executive.^[14]

As a child, Sciver-Brunt also lived in Poland, where she played in women's league football, and the Netherlands, where she played basketball.^[15]

Sciver-Brunt also attended Epsom College, Surrey, England, where, between 2007 and 2011, she played cricket alongside her future England teammate and fellow Test centurion Alice Davidson-Richards.^[16] She then studied sports and exercise science at Loughborough University.^[17]

Career

She began playing cricket as a teenager, and played for Surrey club side Stoke d'Abernon. She also played cricket at school, playing in the Epsom College school 1st XI for two seasons. After a period in Surrey's Academy she played for the Surrey county team and progressed to the England Women's Academy. After some successful games in the academy team, she was selected for the 2013 limited-overs series against Pakistan where she made her debut for the full England side. In a WT20I game against New Zealand, she became the first England cricketer to take an international T20 hat-trick.^[18]

She is the holder of one of the first tranche of 18 ECB central contracts for women players, which were announced in April 2014.^[19]

Sciver-Brunt bowling for England during the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup

In April 2015, she was named as one of the England women's Academy squad tour to Dubai, where England women played their Australian counterparts in two 50-over games and two Twenty20 matches.^[20]

She, along with Heather Knight, set the highest 3rd wicket stand in the history of the Women's Cricket World Cup (213) during the 2017 edition.^[21] In the same World Cup, Sciver-Brunt along with Tammy Beaumont set the highest record partnership for the 4th wicket (170) in Women's World Cup history.^[21] Sciver-Brunt was a member of the winning team at the 2017 World Cup held in England.^[22][23][24] In 2018 she was named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for her part in the World Cup victory the previous summer.^[25]

In October 2018, she was named in England's squad for the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies.^[26][27] Following the conclusion of the tournament, she was named as the standout player in the team by the International Cricket Council (ICC).^[28]

In February 2019, she was awarded a full central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for 2019.^[29][30] In March 2019, during the third Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) match against Sri Lanka, Sciver-Brunt scored her 1,000th run in WT20I cricket.^[31] In June 2019, the ECB named her in England's squad for their opening match against Australia to contest the Women's Ashes.^[32][33] In January 2020, she was named in England's squad for the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Australia.^[34]

On 18 June 2020, Sciver-Brunt was named in a squad of 24 players to begin training ahead of international women's fixtures starting in England following the COVID-19 pandemic.^[35][36] In June 2021, Sciver-Brunt was named in England's Test and WODI squad as the vice-captain for their home series against India.^[37][38] In the second match of the WODI series, she took the wicket of Shikha Pandey and claimed her 50th wicket in WODIs.^[39]

In December 2021, Sciver-Brunt was named in England's squad for their tour to Australia to contest the Women's Ashes.^[40] In February 2022, she was named in England's team for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.^[41] In April 2022, she was bought by the Trent Rockets for the 2022 season of The Hundred.^[42]

In July 2022, she was named as the vice-captain of England's team for the cricket tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.^[43] At the end of the 2022 season, Sciver-Brunt was named the PCA Women's Player of the Year, for her two centuries during the 2022 World Cup, her maiden Test century against South Africa, and her performances during The Hundred.^[44]

She was named in the England squad for the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup^[45] for their multi-format tour to South Africa in November 2024.^[46][47] Against South Africa, on 15 December 2024, Sciver-Brunt scored the fastest century in a women's Test match in terms of balls faced, when she brought up the landmark off her 96th delivery, going on to make 128 before being run out backing up at the non-striker's end.^[48][49][50]

Sciver-Brunt was named in the England squad for the 2025 Women's Ashes series in Australia.^[51][52]

One Day International centuries

Nat Sciver-Brunt's One-Day International centuries[53]
#	Runs	Match	Opponents	Venue	Year
1	137	34	Pakistan	Grace Road, Leicester, England	2017[54]
2	129	38	New Zealand	County Ground, Derby, England	2017[55]
3	100*	66	Pakistan	Kinrara Academy Oval, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	2019[56]
4	109*	81	Australia	Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand	2022[57]
5	148*	89	Australia	Hagley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand	2022[58]
6	111*	96	Australia	Rose Bowl, Southampton, England	2023[59]
7	129	97	Australia	County Ground, Taunton, England	2023[60]
8	120	100	Sri Lanka	Grace Road, Leicester, England	2023
9	124*	106	Pakistan	County Ground, Chelmsford, England	2024

Personal life

In October 2019, Sciver-Brunt announced her engagement to fellow England cricketer Katherine Brunt.^[61] They were scheduled to get married in September 2020, but their wedding was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[62] The pair married in May 2022.^[63] Both changed their last name to Sciver-Brunt when they married, and in January 2023 it was announced that the pair would both use the name in all cricket-related instances.^[64] On 20 September 2024, the couple announced Katherine was pregnant with their first child.^[65][66]

Honours

Team

• Women's Cricket World Cup champion: 2017^[24]
• Women's Premier League champion: 2023

Individual

• 3x Walter Lawrence Women's Award winner: 2014, 2018, 2022^{[67][68][69][70]}
• PCA Women's Player of the Year: 2017, 2022^[44]
• One of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year: 2018^[71]

See also

• List of centuries in women's One Day International cricket

References

1. "How To Pronounce Nat Sciver". YouTube. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
2. "Natalie Sciver. England Cricket. Cricket Players and Officials". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
3. "Hat-trick heroes: First to take a T20I hat-trick from each team". Women's CricZone. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
4. "White Ferns' tormentor Natalie Sciver credited with inventing 'Natmeg' cricket shot". Stuff. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
5. "'Natmeg' in her range, Sciver goes from strength to strength". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
6. "The 'Nat-meg': Natalie Sciver's inventive shot against the yorker". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
7. "'Sign me up for more games' - Natalie Sciver relishes role as stand-in captain". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
8. "Lauren Bell earns maiden England Women IT20 call-up". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
9. "Nat Sciver to miss India series". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
10. "Women's World Cup to be Live Streamed!". Japan Cricket Association. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
11. "Level-headed Sciver benefits from varied early experiences". International Cricket Council. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
12. "Julia Longbottom". GOV.UK. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
13. @JuliaLongbottom (28 December 2020). "This day 30 years ago we came home from #Japan to be married at a wintry #BoltonAbbey in #Yorkshire surrounded by wonderful family and friends" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
14. "Richard Sciver". linkedin.com. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
15. Zeqiri, Daniel (28 June 2017). "'She is our Ben Stokes' – Heather Knight sings the praises of destructive all-rounder Natalie Sciver". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
16. "Ton with schoolmate 'special' - Davidson-Richards". BBC Sport. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
17. "Natalie Sciver: From globetrotting childhood to England all-rounder". BBC. 30 August 2014.
18. "Natalie Sciver takes hat-trick as England women reach T20 final". BBC. 23 October 2013.
19. "England women earn 18 new central contracts". BBC. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
20. "Lauren Winfield: Injured batter misses England Academy tour". BBC. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
21. "Cricket Records. Records. Women's World Cup. Highest partnerships by wicket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
22. Live commentary: Final, ICC Women's World Cup at London, Jul 23, ESPNcricinfo, 23 July 2017.
23. World Cup Final, BBC Sport, 23 July 2017.
24. England v India: Women's World Cup final – live!, The Guardian, 23 July 2017.
25. Wisden names three female World Cup winners in its five cricketers of 2017 The Guardian, 11 April 2018
26. "England name Women's World T20 squad". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
27. "Three uncapped players in England's Women's World T20 squad". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
28. "WT20 report card: England". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
29. "Freya Davies awarded England Women contract ahead of India tour". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
30. "Freya Davies 'thrilled' at new full central England contract". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
31. "England Women break records for 3-0 series sweep". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
32. "Fran Wilson called into England squad for Ashes ODI opener against Australia". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
33. "England announce squad for opening Women's Ashes ODI". Times and Star. 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
34. "England Women announce T20 World Cup squad and summer fixtures". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
35. "England Women confirm back to training plans". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
36. "England Women return to training with September tri-series on the cards". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
37. "Emily Arlott earns call-up to England Women Test squad". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
38. "Emily Arlott earns maiden call-up as England announce squad for India Test". Women's CricZone. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
39. "Sophia Dunkley guides England to five-wicket win after Kate Cross five-for". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
40. "Heather Knight vows to 'fight fire with fire' during Women's Ashes". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
41. "Charlie Dean, Emma Lamb in England's ODI World Cup squad". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
42. "The Hundred 2022: latest squads as Draft picks revealed". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
43. "Alice Capsey named in England's Commonwealth Games squad, Tammy Beaumont omitted". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
44. "England stars named cinch PCA Awards winners". Professional Cricketers' Association. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
45. "England Women squad named for ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
46. "Uncapped Bouchier and Kemp in England Test squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
47. "England drop Alice Capsey for South Africa T20Is, include two uncapped players for Test match". Wisden. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
48. "Bouchier, Sciver-Brunt centuries drive England at Bloemfontein". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
49. "Fastest women's Test centuries, full list: Nat Sciver-Brunt breaks world record on day of batting carnage". Wisden. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
50. "England's Nat Sciver-Brunt smashes fastest hundred in Women's Test history". cricket.com. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
51. "England Women name squads for 2025 Women's Ashes". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
52. "Cross back as England name Women's Ashes squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
53. "All-round records. Women's One-Day Internationals – NR Sciver". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
54. "Full Scorecard of ENG Women vs PAK Women 5th Match 2017 - Score Report". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
55. "Full Scorecard of ENG Women vs NZ Women 24th Match 2017 - Score Report". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
56. "Full Scorecard of ENG Women vs PAK Women 2nd ODI 2019/20 - Score Report". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
57. "Full Scorecard of AUS Women vs ENG Women 3rd Match 2021/22 - Score Report". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
58. "Full Scorecard of AUS Women vs ENG Women Final 2021/22 - Score Report". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
59. "Full Scorecard of ENG Women vs AUS Women 2nd ODI 2023 - Score Report". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
60. "Full Scorecard of ENG Women vs AUS Women 3rd ODI 2023 - Score Report". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
61. "Cricketers Brunt and Sciver announce engagement". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
62. "Natalie Sciver and Katherine Brunt on wedding plans & returning to cricket". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
63. Penbugs (29 May 2022). "Katherine Brunt-Nat Sciver tie the knot". Penbugs. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
64. "England duo Nat and Katherine to use married name Sciver-Brunt on cricket field". Sky Sports. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
65. "Sciver-Brunts announce they are having a baby". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
66. "Nat Sciver-Brunt and Katherine Sciver-Brunt announces pregnancy with first child". Female Cricket. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
67. "Walter Lawrence Trophy 2014: Nat Pips Her 'Skip'". The Walter Lawrence Trophy. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
68. "Walter Lawrence Women's Award 2018: Superbat Nat". The Walter Lawrence Trophy. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
69. "Walter Lawrence Trophy 2022: It's A Nat Trick!". The Walter Lawrence Trophy. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
70. "Hall of Fame: Walter Lawrence Women's Award". The Walter Lawrence Trophy. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
71. "Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year". ESPNcricinfo. 16 May 2005. Retrieved 18 April 2023.

Further reading

• Ballal, Juili (9 April 2022). "From Tokyo to England via Netherlands: Story of Natalie Sciver". Female Cricket. Retrieved 19 April 2023.

External links

Media related to Natalie Sciver at Wikimedia Commons

• Nat Sciver at Team England
• Nat Sciver at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
• Nat Sciver-Brunt at ESPNcricinfo
• Natalie Sciver-Brunt at CricketArchive (subscription required) (archive)
• Natalie Sciver-Brunt on Twitter