Record-breaking Tammy Beaumont has spoken about how being dropped from England's T20 squad last year fuelled her desire to carry on playing after she scored a double century in the Women's Test defeat against Australia.

Kent’s Beaumont struck 208 from 331 balls at Trent Bridge. It’s the highest total by an England player in a Women's Test - eclipsing the 189 Betty Snowball had struck against New Zealand in 1935 - and the fifth-best by anyone in the women's game.

But even Beaumont’s heroics weren’t enough in the end for England, who fell 90 runs short of their target.

“When I got dropped from the T20 squad last year, it was a bit of a blow and made me go away and look at whether I even wanted to play anymore, whether it was time, whether I was past it,” revealed Dover-born Beaumont.

“I decided I wasn't! I went away and worked hard, and thought ‘Do you know what? There’s life in the old girl yet’. I’m only 32.

“I worked on a couple of things, changed my mindset about trying to be as positive as possible, take the game to the opposition and get back probably to the Tammy Beaumont of a few years ago.”

Asked about potentially returning to England’s T20 squad, speaking to Sky Sports after day three in Nottingham, she said: “It’s going to take something special to break into that team.

“I absolutely back the girls 100 per cent, I love the T20 cricket they’re playing. I’m desperate to be part of it, yes.

“I’m going to give my all in regional cricket and if I play in leagues around the world and get another go it would be amazing, it would be my 100th cap. That would be fun - not stranded on 99!

“But I have also made peace if I never play another T20 for England, that’s fine.

“As long as I go out my way, I’m more than happy.”

Beaumont now has centuries in all three formats, with her maiden Test ton adding to nine one-day international hundreds and one in T20 internationals. It came after she also scored a double ton in a warm-up game against Australia A.

Among those hundreds was 105 at Kent’s Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, amid England Women’s 2-1 series win over South Africa in June 2018.

The right-handed opening batter resumed on Saturday morning on 100 from 154 balls and proceeded to add another 108 runs to help England to 463 all out, just 10 runs shy of Australia's first-innings 473.

Beaumont said: “I can’t quite believe it, to be honest! I was pretty overwhelmed when I scored a double hundred in the A game last week - and thought there’s no chance I’ll repeat it.

“To get nearly level to the Aussies, that, obviously, was the goal. To contribute in that way was great.”

On her double century celebrations, she added: “I’d been pretty calm for 300-and-however-many balls. But if you’re going to score a double hundred, you might as well really let it rip.

“It was an amazing feeling. To do it with Soph [Sophie Ecclestone] as well, and there was a lot of family in, so it was great.

“They tried to put me off by doing an interview for a different broadcaster at tea when I’m on 195. Like ‘Get. Off. The. Pitch’ but, luckily, I just had a day out.

“I was just in the zone the entire time, I reckon all the girls will tell you that I said absolutely nothing at tea. I was just steely-eyed.”

Beaumont wasn’t able to repeat the feat in the second innings, though.

Set 268 for victory, she was caught for 22 by Beth Mooney off Ash Gardner – who finished with incredible figures of 8-66 from 20 overs – and despite Danni Wyatt’s half-century, the hosts fell short.

The result of the one-off Test means the tourists take a 4-0 points lead in the multi-format series.