Sciver-Brunt making the most of her purple patch

Nat Sciver-Brunt, a cricket star with numerous firsts, including making 400 runs in a WPL season and winning the title.

Nat Sciver-Brunt has some significant firsts to her name, the latest being the first to make 400 runs in a WPL season. That was just six weeks after she became the first batter to make 50-plus scores in six successive women’s Tests.

Back in 2016, she hit the WBBL’s first ever six. In the inaugural edition of the WPL in 2023, she was the Player-of-the-Match in the Eliminator and the final, helping Mumbai Indians win the trophy.

She had been bought for ₹3.2 crore in the league’s first auction. “That was pretty mad actually; we were playing a World Cup match whilst the auction was happening,” Sciver-Brunt told The Hindu. “So in our team, some people found out before the game, some people found out after the game. So that whole day was a bit surreal really. I started playing cricket when we weren’t paid and I played in the first WBBL, all the money from which I spent quickly.”

Winning the WPL title was really special, said the England all-rounder. “Everyone had a really good year. So if one person wasn’t able to perform on that day, the next person would. Personally I peaked at the right time for that tournament, which was really special.”

This season has also been special for her, having rattled up scores like 80 not out, 57, 42, 75 not out, 37, 38, 69 and 77. And she has also picked up nine wickets.

Sciver-Brunt says Alyssa Healy is the toughest batter she has bowled to. She also has high regard for Harmanpreet Kaur, her captain at Mumbai Indians.

“Harman is always open to that communication with us all, and wants to learn from those experiences that are on the bench,” she said. “She has got a switch that she can flick at any time, really. She can just accelerate things with the bat like I haven’t really seen anyone else do.”