Women's Cricket: Test veteran Brittin to retire (24 Aug 1998)

24 August 1998

Women's Cricket: Test veteran Brittin to retire

By Carol Salmon at Worcester

ENGLAND'S most-capped player, Janette Brittin, has confirmed she will be retiring at the end of the third and final Test against Australia at Worcester.

The 39-year-old opener became the highest run-scorer in Test history earlier this month, breaking the record of 1594 runs set by former England captain Rachel Heyhoe-Flint 19 years ago.

After scores of 146, 59 not out, 167 and 72 in successive innings against Australia in this series, Brittin has now accumulated 1929 runs. Her Test career began in 1979, ironically in the series against the West Indies prior to Heyhoe-Flint's retirement.

The present Test against Australia is Brittin's 27th and she has played 64 one-day internationals.

"The Test record is nice to have but it means more to my family, who have supported me throughout my career," she said.

"I did not even know how close I was until people started clapping when I got to 110 in the first Test at Guildford. I realised then I had made it."

Brittin lives in Surrey and is a sales co-ordinator with British Airways. The highlight of her cricketing career was the World Cup Final win against New Zealand at Lord's in 1993.

"I could have finished then but I still felt I had something to offer," she added.

Play was washed out at Worcester yesterday and with one day remaining, Australia have a lead of 36 with nine wickets in hand.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)