News

Lucy Pearson retires from all cricket

Lucy Pearson, the fast-bowling spearhead of the England women's team, has announced her retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect

20-Apr-2005


Lucy Pearson: bowing out after nine-year career © Getty Images
Lucy Pearson, the fast-bowling spearhead of the England women's team, has announced her retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. Pearson, 33, made her debut against New Zealand in 1996, and signed off by guiding England into the semi-finals of the recent World Cup in South Africa - a match that she was forced to miss with a recurrence of a stress injury in her left ankle.
Pearson, who also teaches English at Solihull School, has been England's leading wicket-taker in recent years. She became only the second woman in over 70 years of Test cricket - and the first for nearly 50 years - to take 11 wickets in a Test against Australia, at The Bankstown Oval in February 2003, with 7 for 51 in the first innings and 11 for 107 in the match.
She was twice named the Vodafone Player of the Year, taking the inaugural award for women in 2000 and again in 2003. It is conceivable that she could make it a third success, after being nominated for this year as well. Her record in the 2005 World Cup, six wickets at an average of 14.8 and an economy rate of 2.61, placed her among the leading performers in the tournament.
Her final international career statistics are impressive. In 12 Test matches, she took 30 wickets at 29.36, and in 62 one-day games she took 68 wickets, at an average of 22.97 and an economy rate of 3.09.
"Lucy has been a vital part of the England squad for the past few years, spearheading the bowling attack," said Richard Bates, the England coach. "As one of the top-ranked bowlers in women's cricket, it goes without saying that she will be sorely missed. She has been a fantastic influence and a great help to our younger bowlers, passing on her vast experience which I'm sure has played a part in our recent series victories over South Africa home and away, and New Zealand at home.
"Lucy has been an influential character in the dressing-room and the girls will be sad to see her go," added Bates, "but I'm sure they will appreciate that the time is right for her. Knowing Lucy, she will be right behind the girls in the summer and lending her support from the sidelines."
Clare Connor, England's captain, added: "Lucy has been an incredible asset to the England team, both on and off the pitch. She is a hugely popular member of the team and she will be missed by us all, both for her record-breaking bowling and her fantastic humour! As a senior player she has been a massive support to me and has helped develop younger bowlers like Jenny Gunn and Isa Guha.
"I will always remember her steaming in against Australia at Sydney in The Ashes in 2003, taking the record and exposing the weaknesses in the Australia batting line-up which no-one had seen for such a long time. She took quick bowling in the women's game to a completely new level. I have no doubt she will be equally successful in her teaching career and we all wish her well and thank her for her massive achievements in the past nine years."