She was a key part of the side that won the World Cup at Lord's, ending the tournament as England's second-highest wicket-taker and claiming two wickets in the final against India
Former England spinner Alex Hartley is set to retire from cricket at the end of the women's Hundred competition.
A World Cup winner in 2017, Hartley represented England 32 times before losing her central contract in 2019.
She had been a key part of the side that won the World Cup at Lord's, ending the tournament as England's second-highest wicket-taker and claiming two wickets in the final against India.
Hartley wasn't sure that she would return to the game after losing her England deal, admitting to The Cricketer at the time that "if somebody offered me a [regional] deal and I had to make a decision right now, I'd say no".
But she was soon back in the fold, captaining Thunder in the regional system's first year, before stepping away from the captaincy ahead of the 2022 season.
She began her Hundred career with Manchester Originals, but has spent the last two seasons with Welsh Fire, for whom she will play the final games of her career.
"I've loved it, I've hated it, but I am really proud of what I have achieved," Hartley told BBC's No Balls podcast, which she has co-hosted to great success with England seamer Kate Cross, while also developing successful broadcasting career with Test Match Special.
"I can't believe it. I feel so good. I've been thinking about it for ages and ages. As if I played cricket for England – that's mad," she added.
Hartley will end her career in the colours of Welsh Fire (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Hartley's final match for Thunder came in a T20 defeat by Western Storm in May, before she announced that she would be taking an indefinite break from the game to prioritise her mental health, only returning in time for The Hundred.
Speaking to the ECB Reporters' Network following Fire's defeat by Northern Superchargers on Tuesday, she added: "I am ready to hang them up. I'm ready to stop. Hopefully finish on a high. I have got a career away from this now and I have got to cut the cord and start working full time. Cricket has been the best time of my life but it has slowly come to an end.
"If we don't lift the trophy at Lord’s I’ll be fuming, but no matter what happens I'm glad I've come back from my mental health break and I'm glad I've enjoyed my cricket again.
"Retiring has been on my mind for a very long time and I sort of wanted to get it out there before the weekend, I know there would be a bit of a fuss today and over the next couple of days, but come the weekend it will have all died down. I've had some amazing messages and I'm just so relieved I’m finally retiring."
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