Alex Hartley, the left-arm spinner who won the ODI World Cup with England in 2017, has announced she will be retiring from professional cricket at the end of the current edition of the Hundred.

2017 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup winner Alex Hartley will retire from professional cricket. The 29-year-old spinner made 32 appearances for England in the two white ball formats and made her debut for her country in 2016.

Earlier in the year, Alex Hartley took a break from cricket and only competed in regional cricket for the Thunder. A few days ago she said she was struggling with her mental health and had lost confidence in her bowling attack.

However, on his return from the break, Alex Hartley took part in three games for the Welsh Fire in the Hundred, choosing three wickets.

Meanwhile, Welsh Fire confirmed their place in the knockout stages of the tournament, meaning the 29-year-old will have her last cricket match in Saturday's (26 August) Eliminator match at The Oval or Sunday's final will be contested (27 August) at Lord's, only if Hatley's side manage to advance and secure a place in the final of the tournament.

She returned to the Hundred and made three appearances for Welsh Fire, taking two wickets. Fire's revival this year means they're already guaranteed a place in the knockout stages. If selected, Hartley's final game will be in either Saturday's Eliminator at The Oval or Sunday's finals at Lord's.

"I'm really, really excited. i will really miss it I'll be really sad - but it's right, isn't it? I've been thinking about this for ages.”

Hartley announced her decision to leave professional sport on 'No Balls', the BBC podcast she co-hosts with Kate Cross, and has already embarked on a successful career as a pundit and broadcaster. She originally planned to play a farewell game for Thunder, but decided the timing was right.

"I'm hanging up my boots - I'm officially retiring from cricket," Hartley said. “I absolutely loved Welsh Fire, every second of it. The staff have really supported us, they've been great over the last month. And I don't want to play cricket over 50!"

"I'm really, really excited. i will really miss it I'll be really sad - but it's right, isn't it? I've been thinking about this for ages.”