We take a look at some of the past and present stars waving the rainbow flag high
BY AIMEE BUTLER, IMAGES VIA INSTAGRAM (@NATSCIVER.BRUNT, @DANNIWYATT28 AND @AMYJONES313)
Queer visibility in women’s sport is strong, with both the English football and rugby national teams using their growing platforms to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and representation within the sporting world.
At the end of September, another women’s international tournament will take to our screens, and numerous players on the England women’s cricket team are continuing to pave the way for the celebration and inclusion of the queer community in sport.
Take a look at the list below of just some of England’s past and present LGBTQIA+ cricket players:
Lynsey Askew
Lynsey Askew is a former English cricketer who has become an LGBTQIA+ role model alongside her wife, Australian cricketer Alex Blackwell, to whom she has been married since 2015.
The couple, now both retired, both represented their countries at the international level, and together they have two children.
Lynsey’s wife, Alex, was one of the first female international cricketers to come out as gay and has been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community and a public speaker on equality and inclusion within sport.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt
Sciver-Brunt is the current England women’s cricket captain. She made a name for herself at the 2017 World Cup when she invented her own iconic shot, later dubbed “the Natmeg”.
She is a cricket all-rounder, having made over 200 international appearances, and this will be her first World Cup as captain.
She married fellow England cricketer Katherine Brunt in 2022, and in 2025, announced the birth of their first child, Theo.
Katherine Brunt
Katherine Sciver-Brunt is a cricket legend, having taken 335 international wickets over the span of her career, which is more than any other woman for England.
Speaking on being both a part of and a role model for the LGBTQIA+ community, Sciver-Brunt has said she grew up believing being gay was “wrong, disgusting and shameful”. She opened up about her battle with homophobia and the lasting divide in her family; however, she emphasised that while her experience is still difficult to discuss, if speaking up can “help one person, it makes it all worth it.”
The couple became the first LGBTQIA+ couple to feature on CBeebies Bedtime Stories, where they read a children’s book about understanding feelings and emotions.
Lauren Winfield-Hill
Lauren Winfield-Hill made her debut for England in 2013 and has made over 100 appearances for England.
In 2020, she married Australian sportswoman Courtney Winfield-Hill and has previously acknowledged the importance of campaigns such as the Rainbow Laces in making space for everyone in cricket. She has noted that England’s environment is still a work in progress.
“Wearing laces is only a little thing – and it might not feel like much – but the fact that sport in England and Wales is so proud to stand alongside the LGBTQ+ community these days is such a huge step in the right direction. Too many kids grow up thinking they can’t really be themselves if they want to succeed in sport, and it leads to people not being honest and not being themselves.”
Danielle Wyatt-Hodge
Danni is a right-handed batter and has made 268 international appearances for England since 2010. She has played the third most T20I matches of any cricketer.
She is married to football agent Georgia Hodge and has spoken publicly about celebrating people of all identities and encouraging people to pursue their dreams.
“I’ve had my own experiences in becoming comfortable with my sexuality, and the more we can talk and, as athletes, use our platforms, the more we can encourage others to find the confidence to do the same.”
She also acknowledged the importance of role models such as herself and Nat Sciver-Brunt as openly queer athletes, providing key visibility and shaping public perception.
Amy Jones
Jones is a right-handed batter and wicketkeeper, making her debut in 2013 and securing over 200 international caps since then.
She has become a mainstay on the national team and has captained England numerous times, such as in the WODI series against India and the 2022 WT20I.
Jones is in a relationship with Australian cricketer Piepa Cleary, to whom she got engaged in 2024.
Maia Bouchier
One of England’s young cricket stars, Maia Bouchier, is determined to try to make things easier for generations to come. She praised cricket for the “incredible difference” it made after she came out, stating that “There was no judgment on where you came from or who you were with”.
Bouchier made her international debut in 2021, going on to represent England in several major tournaments such as the 2022 Commonwealth Games, 2023 Sri Lanka Series, and 2024 New Zealand Series.
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