By Aimee Lewis

Brunt took 4-64 when England regained the women's Ashes

One person who will be glad to see the back of 2007, at least in a sporting sense, is England cricketer Katherine Brunt.

She missed the entire summer season with a back injury, and has been ruled out of the forthcoming tour to Australia and New Zealand.

But, as the 22-year-old nears full fitness, she has vowed to reclaim her tag as England's premier seam bowler.

"I have got to get back into the England team - and I have to be better than I was before because the competition is quite tough," she told BBC Sport.

Two years ago the Yorkshirewoman had the cricketing world at her feet.

She had helped England regain the women's Ashes, met the Prime Minister and the Queen and in 2006 was named Player of the Year by the team sponsors.

Much like Andrew Flintoff, however, the injury curse struck shortly after the Ashes success.

She sustained a fractured hand in the winter of 2005, cutting short her involvement in England's troubled tour to the sub-continent, and although she returned to the side in the summer of 2006, she then broke down with back problems.

In February, she was debilitated by sciatica and underwent surgery in July on the day before her birthday.

My main aim is to play at the World Cup in Australia next year and I don't want to ruin my chances of achieving that by coming back too soon Katherine Brunt

"The last two years have been hard," Brunt admitted.

"Missing a year of cricket is harsh and to make matters worse Yorkshire were relegated last season, and watching the team go down and not being able to do anything to help was horrible."

Brunt will feel equally helpless when England try to defend the Ashes in February.

The threat she poses with the ball will undoubtedly be missed, as will the runs she scores lower down the order - Brunt's innings of 52 in Worcester was crucial to England's Ashes success in 2005.

But she is confident her team-mates can get the draw required in the solitary Test down under and keep hold of their crown.

"I have dreamed of playing in Australia and New Zealand but if you are not 110 percent then you can't really risk it," she said.

"I'm going to fly out to Australia and show a bit of support and gain a bit of experience.

"But my main aim is to play at the World Cup in Australia next year and I don't want to ruin my chances of achieving that by coming back too soon."