Shropshire Star

Cricket heroine Anya Shrubsole bowled over with MBE success

Her six-wicket bowling performance helped England’s Women team clinch the World Cup last year.

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Anya Shrubsole with her MBE

Women’s Cricket World Cup heroine Anya Shrubsole has celebrated another success as she collected an MBE.

The 26-year-old Somerset bowler had a fantastic year in 2017. Her six-wicket, devastating bowling spell delivered final glory for England against India.

Miss Shrubsole is made an MBE by the Prince of Wales
Miss Shrubsole is made an MBE by the Prince of Wales (Jonathan Brady/PA)

“You obviously move on but then you have a day where you might come here and it brings back memories of that victory. It is something you will never forget but it is nice to come here and receive such an amazing honour.”

She took five wickets in 19 balls as she claimed 6-46, the best bowling figures in a World Cup final.

Anya Shrubsole celebrates a wicket
Shrubsole bowling figures in the final were 6-46, including five wickets from 19 balls (Mike Egerton/PA)

The touching moment when she consoled South Africa’s distraught losing captain Dane van Niekerk at the Women’s World Cup semi-final before celebrating with her teammates was rewarded as she became the first female cricketer to receive the Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket award.

She also became the first woman to appear on the front cover of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack to commemorate England’s World Cup win on home soil last year.

A photo of her holding the World Cup trophy graced the famous yellow jacket of the 155th edition of the Almanack, which has been published every year since 1864.

She was also nominated for BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, in which she finished ninth in the voting.

Ms Shrubsole was happy that her parents got to share her big day at the palace.

Anya Shrubsole
Miss Shrubsole celebrated with her family at Buckingham Palace

She said “I was more nervous about falling. I am not the best at walking in heels. I am more comfortable out on a cricket pitch and not necessarily in these surroundings. You do get nervous but it is mostly excitement and being able to share the day with my parents.”

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