Women’s World Cup: England’s Katherine Brunt on pain, retirement and Muse

At the start of Brunt’s career it was “inconceivable” to her that a high-profile same-sex couple could be so public about their relationship.

Although, in Brunt’s words, “the difference between then and now is ridiculous”, it still took immeasurable courage to admit to her battle with homophobia. Her honesty has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response.

“I get emotional thinking about it, because it triggers the feelings you kept stuffed down for decades,” she says.

“If I can speak about it – which is still very difficult – and help one person, it makes it all worth it.”

Still, there remains a divide in Brunt’s family.

“Nat doesn’t exist to my mother,” she says.

“She can never have a relationship with my parents. If I have children they will never meet them.

“I’ve always wanted to avoid these things. Why would I want people to look at me funny for holding Nat’s hand?

“I’m really happy now. I feel comfortable, safe and secure. I want everyone to experience that, but no-one should be ignorant to the fact that these things are still very real.”

Although Brunt and Sciver find complete acceptance in the England dressing room, they are aware they are still in a place of work, and any overspill from their personal life can have a negative impact on the rest of the team.

“We keep it completely separate,” says Brunt. “It’s a professional thing to do.

“We can’t risk having a fight or getting on each other’s nerves, because we’re here to win games of cricket for England.”

Struggling for motivation at the beginning of last summer, Brunt took inspiration from a conversation with her brother Daniel, but is happy to admit the end of her career is “not far away”.

“I certainly have a time in mind,” she reveals. “The problem is everyone wants to finish on a high and it doesn’t work like that.

“Claire Taylor announced her retirement very suddenly. She just got up on a chair in the team room. It was a real shock and I felt the emotion of it.

“Ever since she did that, I’ve sort of wanted to do the same thing. I feel like announcing it and having all that fuss beforehand is not me. Maybe I will just ride off into the sunset.”

For when she does finally hang up her boots, Brunt already has her own property development business.

“When it clicked that I was loving doing this as much as playing cricket, that was a big thing for me,” she says.

“I don’t need a lot to be happy.”

Maybe Brunt will also finally get to see Muse and Kings of Leon.