Sarah Collyer

A bowler of medium inswingers and a technically sound batsman, Sarah Collyer made her international debut against Australia at Guildford in 1998, aged 17. Having been tipped as a future international since she started playing at the age of eight, she duly rose through the England age ranks and in to the international side. And, as she took 5 for 32 in the World Cup in New Zealand in 2000, a glittering future seemed assured. But in 2002 her England career was thrown into jeopardy as she and Kathryn Leng, who were both Lottery-funded players, were dumped from the side when both took an unauthorised holiday to Tenerife. Their punishment, which was viewed by some as unfair, was to be dropped for the tri-series against India and New Zealand. Yet, while Leng returned for the Test series against India in the same summer, Collyer was omitted. But the selectors soon offered her another chance and that winter she was restored to the Test team to face Australia in a two-match series. But her come back was unconvincing, as she averaged 9 in four innings and took only two wickets. However, her one-day form was better, and in the quadrangular series in New Zealand which followed the Ashes, she contributed some steady scores, including 33 and 39, and took figures of 3 for 9 against India. But in 2003, Collyer suffered yet another set-back as she was forced to undergo surgery for a back problem, and she missed most of the domestic summer. A top international score of 39 belies Collyer's natural class, but her determined character and oodles of self belief will stand her in good stead as she looks to return from injury.
Wisden Cricinfo staff November 2004