England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt undergoes egg-freezing procedure to extend family with wife Katherine

Englandwomen’steam 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 thePCA'sUnder The Lid podcast.

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, butI'dalso like to continue playing cricket. We are lucky in that there are more options than one.We'rejust working out the best wayfor usto go about it.I'dliketo carry a baby when I finish playing cricket, and I think Katherine wants to carry a baby as well,”she said.

ALSO READ:IPL 2024: ‘I am not a result–oriented captain’ – Pandya reflects on debut stint as MI skipper

Nat added thatEngland'ssports science and medical department was supportive throughout, helping them with the egg-freezing procedure and returning to cricket in a smooth transition.

"England have beenreally good.The sports science and medical departments arereallysupportive and have helped me along the way,making surecoming back to cricket has been smooth.After theprocedureyou'rewiped out for quite a few days,”she added.

On missing the first game, Nat said she was training, so wasn’treadycompletely, but she will return to playing XI for the second game on Friday (May 17) in Nottingham.

“I'donly just started back to exercise, sowasn'tquite ready [to play],”Nat said.

Family planning

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

"If Nat was24she might want to have a child, then come back and play. At 31,it'son the verge,"Katherine said.

"Freezing the eggs now and having healthy eggs to come back to -it'sgreatto be ableto have that choice becauseit'snot cheap and very invasive."

(With inputs from agencies)