Laura Marsh calls time on cricket career

Kent & England Women off-spinner Laura Marsh has decided to retire from all forms of cricket with immediate effect.

The 32-year-old hangs up her spikes after nine campaigns with The Horses, featuring in five Women’s County Championships and three County T20 title-winning squads.

A 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup winner, the all-rounder made 73 appearances in total for Kent between 2011 and 2019, scoring 1,119 runs at an average of 27.29 and taking 96 wickets at 15.65.

Her top score of 72* for Kent came against Essex in 2013 opening the batting with Charlotte Edwards, carrying her bat through the innings and facing 54 deliveries.

Marsh’s best Kent bowling figures in an innings were 5-15 in 8.5 overs against Nottinghamshire in 2015.

In her time at Kent, Marsh played in 4 Women’s Tests (9 total), 56 ODIs (103 total) and 37 T20Is (67 total) for England Women.

She took 217 wickets for England across her career before retiring from international cricket in 2019, finishing up as the most successful spinner in the history of English women’s cricket – and England’s third-highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket.

Marsh was also awarded Kent Women cap number 44 earlier this Spring for her service to Kent Women.

On her retirement, Marsh tweeted: “I have made the decision to retire from all forms of cricket. With the cancellation of The Hundred competition this year, I feel that it is the right time to hang up the boots.

“I want to say a huge thank you to all the teams and organisations I have represented over the years.

“I owe a huge amount to both Kent & Sussex for the role they played in my development as a player.

“Big thanks also to The Surrey Stars, Sydney Sixers, NSW Breakers and Otago Sparks. Every team I played for developed me as a player and a person and I am fortunate to have made some lifelong friends and memories over the years.

“I am excited for the next chapter and look forward to giving back to the game that has given me so much.”

Kent Women Head Coach, David Hathrill, said: “Laura has been an outstanding player for us for so many years and it’s sad to see her time as a player comes to an end.

“Her talent and experience will be missed within the squad, but we wish her all the best for the future.”

Kent Cricket would like to thank Laura for all of her contributions in a Kent jersey and wish her the very best for the future.