England's Brunt pinpoints home support as key

• England has won the title on the last two occasions the ICC Women’s World Cup was hosted in the country in 1993 and 1973.
• England last won the tournament in 2009 in Australia, the same year it won the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 on home soil.

There is nothing quite like playing on home soil, in front of thousands of your biggest fans and England will be relishing the chance to use familiar surroundings to their advantage in the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup.

Katherine Brunt is one member of the host’s squad who knows exactly what that feels like, having helped her country to glory at the 2009 ICC Women’s World Twenty20.

In the final, a six-wicket win over New Zealand at Lord’s, Brunt earned player of the match honours after taking an incredible three for six from her four overs.

The right-arm seamer admits the memories of that tournament will always stay with her and is looking forward to some of her younger teammates now having the opportunity to experience a home World Cup.

“The 2009 World Twenty20 was brilliant,” said Brunt. “We were playing alongside the men, which brought in a really good crowd and the grounds were sold out, which was fantastic.

“For the final, I remember my family being up in the grandstand and the fact it was a huge occasion being at Lord’s.

“There were celebrities we met there, like Daniel Radcliffe [the actor who played Harry Potter]! It was funny and a bit of a surreal day.

“That year we happened to perform really well under pressure and we had the best year in the history of women’s cricket I believe, by winning the Twenty20 and World Cup and retaining the Ashes.

“We’d love for that to happen again this time and a home World Cup means our family and friends can come to every game and be a part of something special.

“It will be a lot of our team’s first World Cup, so it will be important for them to have that support and then when the games are sold out, the support of the rest of the fans is fantastic.

“We want to put on a show for those people who appreciate cricket and want to see a good game. We’ve got to make the most of a home World Cup.”

England has an exemplary record when hosting global ICC tournaments, winning the World Cup on home soil in 1973 and 1993, in addition to the 2009 Twenty20.

This time around England will play matches in Derby, Leicester, Taunton and Bristol, with the final being held at Lords on 23 July.

And Brunt sees no reason that the team can’t add another home triumph to its trophy collection.

“It definitely an advantage having home comforts,” added the 31-year-old. “My family have never come abroad to watch me play, bar one time 13 years ago right at the start of my career.

“So whenever I’m in England I really do love it because I get to have their support and see their faces before and after the game, regardless of the result. It’s really special in that regard.

“Everyone knows you can burn out from things, whether it be a normal job or in the sport.

“You always need time away to become refreshed and recover mentally, as much as physically.

“Mark [coach Mark Robinson] has been really good, if you think you’re about to implode, then you get that two or three days away. That means everybody will be physically and mentally and ready to do well in the World Cup.”