By Dominic Farrell
Katherine Brunt is delighted to be back among an England Women squad she has come to view as a family.
Yorkshire pace bowler Brunt underwent major back surgery for the second time in her careerhaving helped England to retain the Ashes Down Under over the winter.
A gruelling period of rehab completed, the 29-year-old returned to the international fold in the first match of the Royal London One-Day Series against India and she has played a part in both NatWest International T20 wins over South Africa this week.
“I feel like this is where I belong,” Brunt told ecb.co.uk. “These girls have become my family over the last 10 years and it just kind of feels wrong when I’m not here.
“I really, really am enjoying being back. I’m not necessarily in the form I want to be in but it’s definitely the environment I want to be in. I’m enjoying every moment that I can.”
Having gone wicketless in the India victory, Brunt’s exuberance was there for all to see when she removed Trisha Chetty caught behind at the Essex County Ground on Monday - although she was a touch sheepish when discussing her animated reaction.
“I was quite surprised with that celebration,” she confessed. “I did wonder what it would feel like once I got my first wicket back and I think I got a bit possessed in those 10 seconds!
“You could see there was a lot of emotion in it. It’s been a long time.”
Sunday’s meeting at Edgbaston to conclude the three-match series against South Africa is effectively a dead rubber but Brunt feels it is important not to have any let-up against a team she recognises as being talented and fast improving.
“It’s all about winning the game,” she said. “It’s all about momentum and things like that. We’re not here to have a practice; we’re here to win and win well.
“We saw glimpses in the World Cup when they did phenomenally well. That’s proven by the contracts they’ve got and how seriously people are taking them out there now.
“They’ve come over here and they’re a good bunch of girls. They’re fit and they’re skilled like any international team is. They’re to be taken seriously and not to be taken lightly.
“They’re here to win and they showed what kind of fight they’ve got in the game at Northampton. I have no doubt they’ll come out with the same attitude on Sunday.”