On Tuesday April 6, former England women’s international batter and wicket keeper Sarah Taylor signed up with Welsh Fire for the inaugural edition of ‘The Hundred’.
She played 226 matches for England, including 10 Tests, 126 One-Day and 90 T20 games, before retiring from international cricket in 2019 after a battle with anxiety. Her last domestic game was the same year, representing Surrey Stars. She is 31-year-old and one of the best wicket keepers of all time. She was part of the England sides that won the Twenty20 and 50-overs World Cups in 2009.
Taylor said, “I genuinely had to blow dust off my cricket bag. I had one [net session] and it went pretty well. I felt absolutely fine. I wasn’t scared of the idea of playing, whereas before I was.”
“I don’t really feel like I’ve got much to lose by playing [in the Hundred], I just get to enjoy myself. I could have the worst tournament in the world but I know that I will probably love every minute because I’ve got my job as a coach at Sussex.”
She added, “A female tournament in this country and we’re all paid, I think it’s massive for the women’s game. We lose a lot of girls playing cricket because they need to go out there and get jobs. [And] it’s like one team and two squads. To have the guys and girls on the same wavelength and helping each other will benefit both.”
“A draw for me was also playing with Meg Lanning, that’s always something that I’ve wanted to do for quite a few years. I’m fed up of fetching her balls. Take into account her leadership skills – which I can’t wait to learn from in terms of my coaching – and the fact she’s phenomenal as a batter, she would be your ideal player in any team.”