I’ve lost the fire to regain spot in new-look England side – Beaumont
England batter Tammy Beaumont has announced her retirement from international cricket, to take effect after this week's one-off Test against India at Lord's. The 35-year-old, who debuted 17 years ago and became a World Cup winner and Ashes double-centurion, said she had lost the "fire" to fight her way back into a changing England side after being left out of recent squads by head coach Charlotte Edwards. Her decision marks the close of a significant career and the departure of a long-standing member of England's core group of players.
Beaumont, who will play her 12th Test on Friday, described being overlooked for the one-day international squad against New Zealand as a turning point, noting that her usual stubbornness no longer kicked in and comparing her feelings to men's Test captain Ben Stokes's recent retirement remarks. A key figure since being promoted to open in 2016 — she was player of the tournament in England's 2017 home World Cup win — she has continued to campaign for more women's Test cricket, arguing it should not be offered in a "tokenistic" way. The match against India, England's first women's Test at Lord's, runs from 10-13 July, following a Women's T20 World Cup final at the ground that drew more than 28,000 spectators; Beaumont says she will continue playing domestically.
- Tammy Beaumont to retire from international cricket after Lord's Test.
- She says she has lost the drive to reclaim her place.
- Beaumont, 35, urges more meaningful women's Test cricket.