Nat Sciver-Brunt opens up on club versus country commitments

In the ever-evolving world of women's cricket, Nat Sciver-Brunt found herself at a crossroads, torn between the allure of a staggering £320,000 at the Women's Premier League (WPL) and her commitment to the English national team.

As the 2024 cricket calendar unfolded, the star all-rounder faced the dilemma of choosing between donning the Mumbai Indians jersey at the WPL or representing England in a crucial white-ball series in New Zealand.

"Yeah, I mean, I would be lying if I said no," Sciver-Brunt told ESPNcricinfo's Powerplay podcast. "Having obviously gone for that much in the first year, yeah, it certainly came into consideration.

"Hopefully this weigh-up of club versus country doesn't happen again. I know we've see it happen with the men's side of things and continue to happen for quite a while, and still will. Hopefully these clashes don't happen in the future, which I guess will keep the importance of international cricket and keep that focus for everyone."

The clash of schedules meant she had to decide whether to prioritize financial gains or national duty, a dilemma that has plagued men's cricket for years.

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As the fixtures for 2024 were unveiled, England's head coach, Jon Lewis, confronted a similar challenge. The lack of a dedicated window for the WPL forced players and coaching staff to make tough decisions. Lewis expressed hope that future tournaments would have a designated slot to avoid such conflicts. However, the immediate concern was how to navigate the existing clash.

Jonathan Finch, director of England Women's Cricket, facilitated open discussions, allowing players to decide their path. England's captain, Heather Knight, and fast bowler Lauren Bell opted out of their franchise deals, while Sciver-Brunt, along with other teammates, made the choice to join the national squad for the upcoming series.

"It is such a hard one, because it's almost like it's a bit of an anomaly, like it'll - well hopefully - will not happen again," Sciver-Brunt said. "With the World Cup coming up, T20 is obviously important as well to our side, but hopefully with the decision that I've made, that will give a chance to some players to have a bit of confidence in themselves in the first three games and be able to show Lewy and Heather what they've got.

"I think it will only be better for our team, whether people have decided to go to New Zealand and not go to the WPL in the end, or hopefully people who have done well in India and got to some pressure matches, which will also help their game. So yeah, it was a tricky decision and I guess individuals have made their own their own choices and hopefully we won't be faced with that again," she added.

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The wording of being sold at auction is still a bit baffling: Sciver-Brunt

The growing pains of the women's franchise scene include not just scheduling conflicts but also the unique experience of being auctioned. Sciver-Brunt reflected on the oddity of being "sold at auction," a stark departure from the traditional cricketing journey. She noted that this year, having watched the auction unfold, she felt more settled and ready for the competition.

"The wording of being sold at auction is still a bit baffling," Sciver-Brunt said. "Definitely a new experience that we'd seen before with many editions of the men's IPL. But to be part of it was pretty crazy, intense at times, and also just a weird day with it being during the World Cup.

"This year, I actually watched part of the auction, so sort of got an idea about how it would've gone last year. I'm feeling a lot more settled and a bit more sure about what's going to happen, and excited to get back over to India, and start the competition."

For Sciver-Brunt, this marks her third visit to India in the past 12 months, providing valuable experience in sub-continental conditions. With her decade-long career and 223 internationals, she embraces leadership as the national vice-captain, intending to support England and Mumbai teammates on and off the field.

As the WPL unfolds, Sciver-Brunt's decision reflects the ongoing challenges in balancing individual aspirations with national duties. The hope remains that such clashes will be addressed in the future, preserving the significance of international cricket while allowing players to thrive in the evolving landscape of women's cricket.

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