England women’s team all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt revealed the reason behind missing the first T20I against Pakistan, saying she underwent an egg-freezing procedure in hopes of extending the family with wife, Katherine Sciver-Brunt. After she remained unavailable for selection for the Edgbaston game the past weekend for a ‘minor medical procedure’, as described by the team, Nat spoke publically about the process during a conversation on the PCA’s Under The Lid podcast.

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Nat said between the two tours (New Zealand and Pakistan), she and Katherine decided to start a family, for which she underwent this procedure. 

Nat added she also wanted to continue playing cricket and feels lucky that they have more than one option to go about both things, as the couple wish to carry and raise the child.

“In the period between getting back from New Zealand [where England toured in April] and this [series], I thought it was a great time to go through the egg-freezing process, creating embryos and putting them in the freezer for future use,” Nat said.

“Katherine and myself would love to start a family, but I’d also like to continue playing cricket. We are lucky in that there are more options than one. We’re just working out the best way for us to go about it. I’d like to carry a baby when I finish playing cricket, and I think Katherine wants to carry a baby as well,” she said.

Nat added that England’s sports science and medical department was supportive throughout, helping them with the egg-freezing procedure and returning to cricket in a smooth transition.

“England have been really good. The sports science and medical departments are really supportive and have helped me along the way, making sure coming back to cricket has been smooth. After the procedure you’re wiped out for quite a few days,” she added.

On missing the first game, Nat said she was training, so wasn’t ready completely, but she will return to playing XI for the second game on Friday (May 17) in Nottingham. 

“I’d only just started back to exercise, so wasn’t quite ready [to play],” Nat said.

Family planning

Nat’s partner Katherine said had Nat been 24, she would have had a child and come back and play, but at this age, it’s different.

“If Nat was 24 she might want to have a child, then come back and play. At 31, it’s on the verge,” Katherine said. 

“Freezing the eggs now and having healthy eggs to come back to – it’s great to be able to have that choice because it’s not cheap and very invasive.”

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