With Derbyshire’s-own Sarah Glenn expected to play in England’s first match in the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup tomorrow, we dive into the career of our returning international star.
The 23-year-old leg-break bowler from Derbyshire has returned to her home club for the upcoming season after her five-year stint with Worcestershire, where became the number four-ranked T20 bowler in the world.
Glenn proudly says Derbyshire “was all she knew” but admits it took the move to Worcestershire to realise her England ambitions at the time.
“I knew I had to make that move to Worcestershire when I wanted to make that next drive to play for England,” she told BBC Radio Derby earlier this year.
“I wanted to push myself and challenge myself in different leagues and against different players.
“Worcestershire were very supportive, but it’s nice to be back.”
Rise into the England squad
Glenn impressed for the Loughborough Lightning in 2018 ahead of the 2018 Women’s T20 World Cup and took three wickets at an excellent economy of 6.87.
She had a breakthrough year in 2019 with good consistent performances which led to her making her England debut in the very same year. In 2019, she took 11 wickets at an average of 18.72, with an economy of 6.05: the joint-fifth best return for a spin bowler in the competition. Her performances in the KSL led to her international selection in December 2019 where she made her debut against Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur.
Glenn’s T20 performances
Glenn has taken 60 international wickets but it is specifically her T20 performances that have made her an established performer around the world as she has featured in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, Women’s Big Bash and The Hundred. Glenn has taken 48 WT20I wickets at an excellent economy of 6.04 with best figures of 4-23 justifying her fourth position in the WT20I bowler rankings.
In 2020, England played against West Indies in a five-match T20 series in The Incora County Ground, in which she was named player of the series. Glenn took seven wickets in the series, as well as contributing a valuable 26 off 19 balls with the bat in the 2nd T20I, as England won 5-0.
She has been in terrific form with the ball as she has taken four wickets at an exceptional economy rate of 6.41 in the two warm-up matches that England have played in their preparation for the World Cup. She will play a key role if England are to lift silverware in South Africa.
On returning to Derbyshire CCC
“I was always very proud playing for Derbyshire,” Glenn said.
“I grew up playing for Derbyshire from the age of 10 and I always had that passion to push to the next level – they gave us that environment to do that.
Commitments with England, and as a player in demand by teams in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, Charlotte Edwards Cup and The Hundred competition, mean the leg-spinner’s playing time with Derbyshire will be impacted.
She says any time playing for them in the Women’s County T20 competition “will be a bonus”.
“I see all these young girls coming through and I’d love to come in and coach and train with them, have a session and just have a conversation with them to give them that motivation to think if I make it as a young girl from Derby, then so can you,”
“That’s a real message I want to send to the Derbyshire girls.”
Watch Sarah Glenn’s Derbyshire homecoming
England return to The Incora County Ground this September to face Sri Lanka, with homegrown star, Sarah Glenn set to play on home turf after re-joining the Club in 2022.
