WORLD Cup winner Anya Shrubsole has left Somerset and will play for Berkshire women this season.

The decision sees Shrubsole, who hails from Bath and has played for Somerset’s senior women’s side since the age of 12, link up with England captain Heather Knight.

Somerset women’s captain Sophie Luff said: “She wasn’t around for every game but it was a real bonus when she was.

“The influence she had on younger players was massive.

“She’s a big loss for us but it gives another young player a chance to step up.

“It’s nothing against us as a county, albeit a bit disappointing as if it is the last year of women’s county cricket it would have been nice for her to spend it with us.

“But I don’t hold it against her, I’m great friends with her off the pitch and hopefully I’ll get to play at Western Storm with her again this summer.”

Shrubsole was named one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year in 2018- former Somerset player Jos Buttler was yesterday selected in the 2019 list.

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