England all-rounder Freya Kemp has opened up about her challenging journey through injury setbacks, revealing she never once considered stepping away from the game or focusing solely on her batting. The 21-year-old, who burst onto the international scene at just 17, has faced a grueling battle with back stress fractures that sidelined her bowling for 14 months.
"It has been a long few years, but I am hopefully nearly out of the other side," Kemp told BBC Sport. "It is horrible. It teaches you a lot about yourself and how to overcome hard stuff, and definitely teaches you a lot of resilience."
Despite the physical and mental toll, Kemp's determination never wavered. She suffered two stress fractures before a third "stress reaction" in the same area, leaving her unable to bowl competitively since January 2025. Yet, her unwavering commitment has earned her a place in England's squad for this summer's T20 World Cup, where she is expected to play a full role.
"I just really enjoy having an impact on the game as much as I can," said Kemp. "I love bowling. I don't think I would ever give that up."
The injury layoff, however, has had a silver lining. Kemp believes it has allowed her to develop her batting significantly. She notched her first professional century last year and impressed during a full season with Perth Scorchers as a top-order batter. Her work with England fast-bowling coach Chris Liddle has also helped her develop new bowling skills, though she remains coy about the details.
While Kemp will not bowl in the upcoming 50-over series against New Zealand, she has been bowling in practice since January and even featured in intra-squad matches during England's camp in South Africa. Fans can expect to see her back in action with the ball during the T20 series against the White Ferns and India, leading up to the T20 World Cup starting June 12.
From making her debut as a teenager to overcoming career-threatening injuries, Kemp's journey is a testament to resilience and passion—qualities every athlete and fan can admire.