Author: Raf Nicholson

Pape and Franklin Snatch Victory for Kent

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A late-order seventh wicket partnership between Charlotte Pape (59*) and Phoebe Franklin (26*) saw Kent snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in a low-scoring thriller against Surrey on Sunday.

Kent had been 49-6 and still 92 runs short of their target when Pape and Franklin came together, but the pair weathered the storm, initially with singles as they kept the run rate ticking over, then – after the 50 partnership was reached – utilising some more expansive strokes. The highlight was a glorious six from Pape as she pulled Cecily Scutt to the square leg boundary.

Pape reached her half-century in the 41st over with a boundary through midwicket, and hit the winning run to third man the following over.

Earlier, Kent had done well to bowl Surrey out for 140 on what looked to be a decent batting wicket. Surrey’s innings was anchored by opener Kirstie White (51), who reached her 50 in 77 balls and played some lovely shots around the wicket. But the introduction of Megan Belt to the attack brought an end to her innings as she was caught at mid-on by Molly Davis.

Two excellent run-outs by Alice Davidson-Richards followed, leaving Surrey 7 down in the space of 36 overs. Belt then helped finish off the tail as, in the same over, both Scutt and Sarah Clarke holed out to Davis at mid-on. Surrey were eventually all out in the 46th over, and Belt finished with figures of 4-24.

Kent’s reply began badly, as some tight bowling from Rachel Candy and Katherine Robson saw them score just 14 runs off the first 8 overs.

15-year-old Hannah Jones (2-34) then removed both openers, having both Davidson-Richards (7) and Lottie Bryan (9) caught by Robson at mid-off.

The wickets continued to tumble with 3 Kent players (Lynsey Askew, Kara Sutherland and Lauren Griffiths) falling for ducks – both Sutherland and Griffiths being trapped lbw by Scutt (2-34). At 49-6, it was left to Pape and Franklin to attempt to stick around.

Surrey had several chances to break the partnership – including a dropped catch at deep backward point when Franklin was on 17 – but failed to do so, and consequently had to watch the match gradually slip away.

After play, Kent captain Lauren Griffiths said it had been a “fantastic win” and praised the performances of her young team:

“We were missing 5 England players and a few others were injured as well, so we had quite a few U15 and U17s playing, and they did amazingly. It just shows that without those England girls the younger girls can step up.

“At 60-6 we were in a little bit of a mess, but we bat all the way down to number 11, and Phoebe and Charlotte looked really confident at the end.”

It was a match thoroughly enjoyed by a rather raucous crowd, at least 4 of whom were watching their first ever game of women’s cricket. A note to the Oval officials, though: is it really necessary to force spectators to move seats halfway through an innings, for so-called “security reasons” (the second set of seats were approximately 5 metres away from the first set)? Not only did it disrupt enjoyment of the game, it created a rather unwelcoming atmosphere – as did the total lack of food/drink facilities available on site. Sort it out please!

ANALYSIS: England Women Domestic Form Guide

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The women’s Ashes starts in just a few days time – but how have the England squad been shaping up this season for their counties? Here at CRICKETher we’ve created a handy Form Guide, based on performances in the county championship this season, to tell you everything you need to know.

Charlotte Edwards (Kent): Runs: 220; Average: 55.00; Wickets: 1 at 50.00

Has been (unsurprisingly) prolific with the bat, and with a highest score of 88* against Yorkshire is currently the leading run-scorer in division 1 of the championship. Her running between the wickets has also looked particularly solid, which is a positive for England as it suggests that her knees will hold up well during the forthcoming series.

Heather Knight (Berkshire): Runs: 311; Average: 44.43; Wickets: 3 at 57.00

Has played county cricket more recently than any other England player due to Berkshire’s rearranged fixture against Middlesex last weekend, in which she made 28. Hasn’t performed spectacularly with the bat, aside from one score of 65 against Surrey back in May, but has opened the bowling several times and still seems to have the ability to beguile county players with her new-found talent for spin – suggesting we might well see Edwards utilising her against the Aussies.

Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire): Wickets: 6 at 9.83; BBI: 3-23

The amount that Brunt is allowed to bowl is still being carefully controlled – she hasn’t got through her full allocation of 10 overs in any game yet this season – which suggests that England might not want to risk her in the Test. However, her economy rate (2.64) has been exceptionally good, and her 3-23 in Yorkshire’s recent win against Middlesex (who had previously been unbeaten this season and were looking like challengers for the title) showed she is getting back to her best.

Kate Cross (Lancashire): Wickets: 3 at 30.00; BBI: 2-15

Having been promoted at the end of last season, Lancashire have struggled hugely to compete in division 1 – they haven’t won a single game this season – and Cross’s poor showing reflects that. She’s had to bear the brunt of the batting for her side, and has often had very low totals to bowl at to boot. Whether this will affect her England chances remains to be seen.

Georgia Elwiss (Sussex): Runs: 57; Average: 19.00; Wickets: 3 at 26.33; BBI: 2-43

Were the England selectors basing their choices on county performances alone – something which we at CRICKETher find rather doubtful! – it’s unlikely that Elwiss would have made it into the squad. Opening the batting for Sussex this season, her highest score has been 27, and even that looked scratchy. Her bowling has also been expensive and yielded little in the way of wickets. However, her recent showings for the Academy might still save her when it comes to selection for the ODIs.

Lydia Greenway (Kent): Runs: 106; Average: 35.33

With scores of 13*, 8, 23*, 57 and 5, it’s been a mixed season for Greenway. Nonetheless, her 57 against Nottinghamshire – made when her team most needed it, coming in at 3 after both Edwards and Tammy Beaumont had been dismissed cheaply – showed her quality. Her fielding is also still far and away the best in the championship.

Becky Grundy (Warwickshire): Wickets: 6 at 21.33; BBI: 2-24

2-24 against Surrey is Grundy’s best performance to date, which helped take her team to victory. However, she’ll be disappointed both with her lack of wickets and the fact that her bowling (usually so tight) has been relatively expensive.

Jenny Gunn (Nottinghamshire): Runs: 125; Average: 31.25; Wickets: 8 at 15.12; BBI: 2-18

Has bowled a lot of overs for Notts and done so in her usual economical fashion (her economy rate to date is 2.95). Has also looked every inch the all-rounder, top-scoring for Notts twice in 5 matches, including 52* against Berkshire as the rest of her team collapsed around her.

Amy Jones (Warwickshire): Runs: 35; Average: 11.66

As the stats suggest, it’s been a bit of a poor season for Jones, whose highest score is only 19. It makes her chances of playing in the ODIs look remote, barring an injury to Sarah Taylor.

Laura Marsh (Kent): Runs: 63; Average: 31.50; Wickets: 9 at 8.22; BBI: 5-15

Marsh’s 58 and 5-15 against Notts at Canterbury back in May well illustrate the reasons for her inclusion in the England squad: a bowler who can also be trusted with the bat. 5-15 also happens to be the second-best bowling performance in the top division of the championship this season (the best, though, was the non-selected Dani Hazell’s 6-28 against Berkshire…ahem).

Natalie Sciver (Surrey): Runs: 111; Average: 22.20; Wickets: 17 at 19.28; BBI: 5-27

Has had a mixed season with the bat – with two golden ducks (against Warwickshire and Berkshire), but a top score of 67 against Sussex back at the start of May. Her bowling has been better – though it’s questionable whether her performance with the ball actually matters to the selectors, given that England seem to now see her as a batsman who bowls, rather than a true all-rounder.

Anya Shrubsole (Somerset): Wickets: 9 at 6.33; BBI: 4-18

As the only player in the squad currently playing in division 2, we perhaps need to look upon Shrubsole’s bowling figures with caution. Nonetheless, you can only bowl at the batsmen in front of you, and you can’t ask for much more than figures of 2-9, 3-30 and 4-18, at an economy rate of 2.28.

Sarah Taylor (Sussex): Runs: 216; Average: 54.00

With 216 runs at a strike rate of 99.53, this season has gone exactly as we would have expected for the supremely talented Sarah Taylor. Watching her bat at Billingshurst against Notts (she made 39, and Sussex won by 5 wickets) was an absolute delight.

Lauren Winfield (Yorkshire): Runs: 205; Average: 205.00

Yorkshire’s brilliant (and somewhat unexpected) recent performances in division 1 of the county championship – with mammoth victories against Middlesex (by 9 wickets), Berkshire (also by 9 wickets) and Warwickshire (by 86 runs) – have been largely a result of their explosive captain. Her average is simply ridiculous, particularly for an opening batsman. She may be disappointed to have finished on 99* against Middlesex in her most recent championship innings – but she’s unlikely to be so when the team sheet is announced for the first ODI next week.

OPINION: Was 6 points for the Ashes Test “unfair”?

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It seems that the war of words in the Ashes has begun this week. A piece on cricket.com.au has new Southern Stars’ coach, Matthew Mott, speaking out against the points system which took England to victory in 2014 – whereby the single Test match was worth 6 points, compared with 2 points for each ODI and T20.

This series, the Test has been downgraded to 4 points, and Mott is reported as saying: “I think it’s a fairer system looking at it, the weighting of it is just about right. Whether you win or lose that Test match, it doesn’t really disadvantage or advantage you in the whole scheme of things.”

It’s a view that seems to be held by many people – in particular since England retained the Ashes in 2014 despite losing both the ODI and the T20 components of the series 2-1 to Australia. Presumably this is the main reason for the downgrading of the Test match this time around.

But was 6 points for the one Test really “unfair”, as Mott believes? When the multi-format points Ashes was first announced back in 2013, the Test was awarded 6 points in order to place it on an equal footing with the other two formats, which were (and still are) both worth 6 points each in total (2 points per game).

It’s worth remembering that the Ashes had previously always been contested only across the Test format, just as they are in the men’s game. It therefore made sense to consider the Test equally valuable to the ODIs and T20s.

Why the change? The main argument in favour of making the Test worth 4 points, as compared to 6, seems to be that it means that neither side can gain a huge advantage if they win the Test. It’s perceived that winning one game shouldn’t put you further ahead on points than winning two ODIs/T20s does.

Of course, you have to wonder if Cricket Australia (for I strongly suspect it was CA who pushed for the downgrading of the Test to 4 points), not to mention Mott himself, would still think that 6 points for a victory in the Test was “unfair” if Australia had won at Perth (which they could so easily have done), and taken a 6-0 lead in the series last time around.

Leaving that aside…while I can see that downgrading the Test does have the potential to keep the series alive longer, especially now that it’s being played between the ODIs and T20s, I’m still not sure I agree that the Test should only be worth 4 points.

Test cricket was so-called for a reason – because it was felt to be the ultimate test of cricketing superiority, and for good reason. It’s much harder to sustain cricketing excellence across 4 (or 5 in TOG*) days than it is across 40 or even 100 overs. Anything can happen in a T20. That’s not the case in a Test.

And despite the fact that the commercial focus in women’s cricket from the ICC and the boards now seems to be on the T20 and ODI formats, Test cricket is still considered the pinnacle by pretty much every female cricketer in the world. It’s surely a problem if winning in the pinnacle format, as Mott himself says, “doesn’t really disadvantage or advantage you in the whole scheme of things”.

It seems to me that the real solution is to play two Tests, worth 3 points each. That way, the Test format would still have equal weighting across the series as a whole, but we could avoid the accusation that, by gaining 6 points from just one game, a team didn’t really deserve to win the Ashes.

Whether the boards – in particular CA, who have resisted a two-Test Ashes series for almost a decade now – are amenable to considering this next time around is, of course, another story.

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*TOG – The Other Game (aka men’s cricket)

MATCH REPORT: MacLeod Stars in Berkshire Victory

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An excellent all-round performance from Berkshire’s Lissy MacLeod, who top-scored with 61 and took 4-26, saw her team to a 37-run victory in their rearranged match against Middlesex on Saturday.

Chasing 202, Middlesex suffered from early set-backs as Berkshire achieved two run-outs – the first a brilliant direct hit from Sherissa Gumbs at mid-on to dismiss Sophia Dunkley – leaving them 42-2 after 11 overs.

The introduction of Linsey Smith (3-24) to the attack in the 9th over saw Middlesex further pegged back as they struggled to achieve the required rate of just above 4 an over, in the face of Smith’s tight and accurate left-arm spin, including 3 maidens. Fran Wilson, looking dangerous with 16 off 12 balls, was Smith’s first victim, hitting it straight back into the bowler’s hands. She then had Anna Nicholls caught by Corinne Hall at silly mid-off in her very next over.

MacLeod, introduced to the attack in the 16th over, took a wicket with her first ball of the day, having Cath Dalton – back into the side after a month-long absence from injury – caught by Georgina Dean at point.

At 51-5, it was always going to be difficult for Middlesex. A 41-run partnership between Izzy Westbury (16) and Beth Morgan (56) was a valiant but fruitless attempt to get near a total that looked increasingly out of reach.

Westbury was out lbw in the 28th over attempting to sweep MacLeod; MacLeod then helped finish off the Middlesex lower-order, bowling Naomi Dattani for 1 and trapping India Whitty lbw for 0 with a good yorker.

Morgan was the last wicket to fall, run out in the 46th over, as Middlesex were bowled out for 165 – 38 runs short of their target.

Earlier, Berkshire had won the toss and elected to bat in sunny conditions on a good pitch. Alex Rogers was dismissed early, bowled by Dattani for a duck. But MacLeod then shared two 50-partnerships with Heather Knight (28) and Hall (35) to set the scene for a solid Berkshire total.

Macleod again

MacLeod was finally dismissed in the 29th over by Danni Warren (2-33), caught by Wilson at mid-on. But hard-hitting cameos from Emily Gerke (26) and Smith (23) allowed Berkshire to set a total in excess of 200.

Berkshire’s victory came in spite of the absence of both their opening bowlers, Daisy Gardner and Imogen Brown, and speaking to CRICKETher after the game MacLeod said that her team took heart from their team effort.

“It was a good performance. We didn’t lose wickets in clusters and we built partnerships when we were batting, which we were really happy with. Everyone pulled through.”

Speaking about her season-best 61, she added: “I was a bit scratchy at the start but it was good! I’m loving batting at the moment.”

Photographs copyright Ruth Conch and Sam Gibbs

MATCH REPORT: Kent Storm Ahead in T20 Triple-Header

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Two consecutive victories for Kent in Sunday’s round of Twenty20s at Arundel saw them emerge as front-runners in this year’s competition, as the only division 1 team so far unbeaten.

Speaking to CRICKETher after the two wins, Kent opener Tammy Beaumont said that Kent had particularly relished their victory against Sussex, which came in the two sides’ first encounter after the controversial tie at Beckenham earlier this season.

“We’ve put what happened last time behind us, and it was played in a very good spirit, but it’s always nice to come out on top against Sussex.”

“It feels really good.”

Kent’s triumph over Sussex came by just 4 runs as Sussex failed to chase down their target of 114 despite Sarah Taylor’s 48*.

The match had begun in overcast, damp conditions after a half-hour rain delay, and Sussex duly put Kent in to bat after winning the toss. Izi Noakes struck immediately, removing both Tammy Beaumont and Lydia Greenway for 1 run apiece – Beaumont lbw and Greenway bowled.

But a 66-run partnership between Charlotte Edwards and Laura Marsh, aided by some sloppy fielding from Sussex, saw Kent recover to 73-2 after 13 overs.

A spell from Erin Osborne (who finished with 3-14) eventually helped to stem the flow of runs, as Kent ended on 113-7.

It looked an eminently chaseable total, but an excellent opening spell from Tash Farrant (2-13) put Sussex on the back foot, with both Georgia Adams (bowled for 3) and Georgia Elwiss (caught behind for 16) dismissed early.

Sussex struggled throughout the innings to keep up with the rate, hitting no boundaries at all between the 12th and 20th overs, as Kent’s excellent fielding ensured that they were consigned to running singles.

Sarah Taylor was left needing to hit a maximum off the final ball of the match, but managed just one run. Kent were notably careful to avoid premature celebration as Edwards – who had once again elected to bowl the final over – removed the bails at the non-strikers end!

Kent followed this up with a 21-run win over Middlesex, setting an impressive total of 135 thanks to a 62-run partnership from Edwards and Greenway, which Middlesex’s batsmen failed to chase down.

After Tammy Beaumont was stumped off the bowling of Danni Warren in the 3rd over, both Edwards (43) and Greenway (35) looked in good touch. When Edwards was caught by Millie Pope at cover in the 14th over, Greenway and Marsh (30) continued to attack the Middlesex bowlers.

Middlesex were fresh from chasing down 136 against Nottinghamshire in the last round of T20s, and when Farrant’s first over went for 10 (including 7 wides) it looked like they might be able to repeat the feat. But it was not to be. After Sophia Dunkley played onto her own stumps in Kara Sutherland’s opening over, a 3-over spell from Marsh, in which she conceded just 14 runs but removed both Fran Wilson and Anna Nicholls, put a huge dent in Middlesex’s ability to make the total. Despite a fighting 35-run partnership between Beth Morgan (15) and captain Izzy Westbury (30), they eventually fell a long way short of the runs required.

A disappointing day for Middlesex concluded with a second loss to Sussex, in a tight game which eventually saw Holly Colvin (27*) hit the winning runs with 2 overs to spare.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Middlesex were left 17-3 as ferocious opening spells from Noakes (2-21) and Freya Davies (1-20) ripped through their top order. Wickets continued to fall, but a fluent innings from Wilson (64*) – the highest individual score of the day – saw Middlesex post a competitive total of 118-8.

Once again Sussex suffered from an early set-back in their run-chase, this time thanks to a triple wicket-maiden from Warren, who dismissed Adams (caught at mid-off), Elwiss (lbw) and Schofield (also lbw) to leave them 11-3 after 3 overs.

After Westbury had Taylor stumped for 21 in the 13th over, it was left to Alexia Walker (40) and Colvin to steady the ship, as the two shared a 30-run partnership. There was still time for some last-minute Sussex nerves when Walker was herself stumped in the 17th over, with 12 runs still needed – but Colvin finished with two boundaries to see her team over the line.

The next round of T20s will be played on 2nd August when all teams will be without their England players. For Middlesex, who are without a contracted player in their squad, it should provide an opportunity for a fightback.

Women’s County Championship Debrief (Round 5): Kent and Yorkshire Now Front-Runners

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Both Kent and Sussex continued winning streaks this weekend in the fifth round of Championship matches, with comprehensive wins over Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire respectively.

Yorkshire also had a great weekend, beating Middlesex by 9 wickets and securing maximum bonus points, ending Middlesex’s unbeaten record this season.

It means that Kent now sit top of division 1 with an average of 16.4, with Yorkshire catapaulting themselves into 2nd place with an average of 14.

For Surrey, who beat Lancashire by 6 wickets, the star was Sarah Clarke, who took 4-11 to become Surrey’s all-time leading wicket-taker in the county championship (with 123 wickets to her name).

Meanwhile in Division 2, Staffordshire (with an average of 17.5) and Somerset (17.33) are well out in front, following victories yesterday against Wales and Essex respectively.

The next round of Championship matches will take place on 19th July, when all counties will be without their England players (who will be preparing for the start of the Ashes two days later). It will be interesting to see how they fare.

A full summary of the fifth round matches is below:

DIVISION 1

Warwickshire / Kent – Tammy Beaumont continued her excellent domestic form this season as she top-scored for Kent with 67, with her team eventually finishing on 209-8, the highest total of the weekend. Warwickshire then collapsed for 125 all out, as Megan Belt (3-20), Tash Farrant (3-23) and Laura Marsh (2-33) shared the wickets between them.

Lancashire / Surrey – Putting Lancashire in to bat proved to be a good decision by Surrey as Nat Sciver (5-27) and Sarah Clarke (4-11) wreaked havoc, bowling Lancs out for 78. Sciver (28) in conjunction with Susie Rowe (35) then took Surrey to a 6-wicket victory.

Sussex / Nottinghamshire – Holly Colvin’s 4-20, her best figures since returning to competitive cricket, saw Notts bowled out for 132 in 36 overs, with Jenny Gunn’s 39 their top score. Sussex easily chased down the runs in just 28.3 overs with Sarah Taylor (39) ably assisted by Georgia Elwiss (27) and Paige Scholfield (25). Full report here.

Yorkshire / Middlesex – Middlesex lost both openers early and despite a fightback by the middle-order, including 45 from Fran Wilson, they were bowled out in the 40th over for 176. Yorkshire then raced to the required total for the loss of only 1 wicket, with Lauren Winfield finishing on 99 not out! Full report by Georgia Isaac here.

DIVISION 2

Wales / Staffordshire – Lauren Parfitt (30), Gabby Basketter (28) and Naomi Davies (25) took Wales to a respectable 173-8 in their 50 overs, but Staffordshire chased down the target with 8 balls to spare thanks to an unbeaten 47* from Aussie Molly Strano.

Devon / Ireland – In a tight match, Ireland eventually emerged the winners by 7 runs. Batting first, Ireland had put 165 on the board, the highlight being an unbeaten half-century from Kim Garth. Devon began with a 66-run opening partnership between Amara Carr (33) and Aylish Cranstone (22), but after Laura Delany removed both openers they struggled to find runs. After a series of run outs, a direct hit from Robyn Lewis to run out Devon number 11 Lydia Clements saw them bowled out for 158 in the penultimate over.

Durham / Worcestershire – This proved to be the closest match of the weekend, as Durham finished up the eventual winners by just 2 runs. Worcestershire had bowled Durham out for 133 in 37.4 overs – Catherine Chapman top-scored with 31 – but then themselves struggled with the bat. At 89-8, it looked to be all over, but a late 44 from number 6 batsman Lauren Rowles took them to within touching distance of victory. However, she was eventually caught behind with Worcestershire still 3 runs short, and they were subsequently all out for 131.

Essex / Somerset – Somerset won by 29 runs despite having been bowled out for 101, including a remarkable 3-6 across 10 overs by Hannah Jeffrey. But Essex also batted poorly, with only Cordelia Griffith (22) making it to double figures, and were themselves all out for a mere 72 in 34.4 overs.

Alex Blackwell (R) With Heather Knight

Alex Blackwell speaks to CRICKETher: on playing for Berkshire, the women’s Ashes – and seeing the ball like a watermelon!

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With less than 5 weeks to go until the start of the women’s Ashes, Australian vice-captain Alex Blackwell is quietly confident about her team’s chances. “We know we performed well in the last series in Australia in the shorter formats. We’re feeling very positive about it.”

Her confidence is understandable. Though England are the current holders of the women’s Ashes – having won back-to-back series’ in England in 2013 and Australia in 2014 – it was Australia who came out on top in both the ODI and T20 legs in the last series, winning 4 out of 6 of the limited-overs games. Only England’s early victory in the Test – worth 6 points (compared with 2 for each ODI and T20) – saw them home.

Since then, Australia have whitewashed both West Indies and Pakistan in ODI series’ – and more to the point they resoundingly beat England in the World Twenty20 final last April, by 6 wickets.

This time around, too, the multi-format points system has been rejigged. The Test match will be worth only 4 points, and will also be played mid-series, between the ODIs and T20s – a move Blackwell thoroughly approves of.

“The 4 points for the Test is really positive, because last Ashes to lose the Test and then win more of the limited overs games than England was really tough for us. To have the Test in the middle probably helps that scenario. If someone does take the Test match, the series is still very much alive.”

Blackwell herself is likely to be one of Australia’s key threats in the forthcoming series. Now aged 31, she has been a mainstay of Australia’s middle-order batting since her debut against England back in 2003, and since 2011 has averaged over 50 against England in ODIs.

And by the time the series begins on July 21 at Taunton, she will already have been in the UK for over 2 months, playing for Berkshire in the Women’s County Championship.

It’s meant time in the middle adjusting to English conditions, and the chance to face England bowlers Dani Hazell, Danni Wyatt, Jenny Gunn, Laura Marsh, and Tash Farrant (in matches against Yorkshire, Notts and Kent).

“It’s been a big advantage to see how the England girls are progressing,” Blackwell says. “Everyone goes about adding to their game and improving, so to see where they’re at now is really good.”

For Blackwell, too, who previously spent a season with Berkshire back in 2008, it’s been a chance to reconnect with her roots. She says Berkshire was always a natural choice for her when deciding to spend time in the UK this summer:

“I have family from Berkshire. My aunt and uncle are here, and my Dad is from Berkshire as well. He was born here. So for me to be able to represent my home county (if I was going to have one over here) is really special.”

Additionally, both Blackwell and fellow Aussie Erin Osborne – who has also been playing in England this season, representing Sussex – have enjoyed the unique opportunity to train with the Elite International Cricket Academy, based at the Ageas Bowl, alongside male cricketers from Australia and New Zealand.

“We’re getting to play in some really high-level practice matches. We actually played the New Zealand ODI squad the other day. I faced Grant Elliott and Mitchell Santner, and Santner tied me down pretty well! I found him more difficult than the fast bowlers.”

“These opportunities are incredible. It’s all an experience. That’s something new for us, and it’s made us very excited about cricket. Obviously the ball comes quicker to us in the field, so hopefully when it comes to the Ashes we can see that ball like a watermelon cos it’s coming a bit slower!”

Blackwell and Osborne’s early arrival in England might be thought to be simply a clever tactic on behalf of Cricket Australia to ensure that two of their top players have experience of English conditions before the biggest event in women’s world cricket kicks off in July, but Blackwell says that both she and Osborne wanted the experience for themselves as much as anything else.

“Both of us were searching for the best way to prepare for us, and we felt that playing matches and being over here in a new environment was something very worthwhile. Both of us have been in the team for a long time – I’ve been around since making my debut at 19 and I’m now 31. So you’re always looking for new ways to prepare better and stay enthusiastic about the game.”

Nonetheless, Blackwell stresses that her time in England has been crucial Ashes preparation: “I know that every match I get to play is part of my preparation. I’m not going to be warming up in the Ashes. I would have had all those ups and downs, working out how to best play in these conditions, and I think there’s probably no better way to prepare.”

Having recently hit a solid 42* for Berkshire against Ireland – an innings in which Blackwell did indeed appear to be seeing the ball like a watermelon (!) – there’s no doubt that England’s bowlers had better watch out this summer.

OPINION: Is Alex Hartley’s Ashes Star Rising?

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With England’s squad for the women’s Ashes due to be announced very soon, speculation has already begun as to who we might see in England’s starting XI come July 21.

Perhaps one of the biggest questions is whether we will see any players from outside of the contracted 18 included in the squad.

This might seem unlikely given that those 18 are, by definition, perceived to be the best players in the country, and that their opportunity to train regularly far exceeds that of any uncontracted players.

On the other hand, England’s tour of New Zealand this winter didn’t exactly go to plan (whatever anyone says about England “winning both series”, they would certainly have been expecting to win all 3 Championship matches. Winning 1 wasn’t a brilliant result.)

And the selectors showed in picking Sonia Odedra for the Test squad last August that they are prepared to look outside of the 18 when a player has shown consistent form in both Academy games and in the county championship.

On that basis, if they were to look outside of the contracted players, you’d have to think that there would be one player in particular currently on their radar: Middlesex’s Alex Hartley.

Alex Hartley

Alex Hartley

The 21-year-old left-arm spinner is one of the few players in either the England or the Academy squads to survive the past winter with her reputation not just intact but enhanced.

In the England Academy’s recent one-day matches against Australia’s Shooting Stars in Dubai, she finished as the leading wicket-taker, with 10 wickets at an average of 19.30 across the four games.

And you can’t argue with Hartley’s recent form for Middlesex. It’s not very often that you see a bowler bowl two successive maidens in a Twenty20 game, as Hartley did against Surrey in the inaugural Pemberton Greenish Cup game.

It’s been a tough few years for her. Having originally been selected for the England Academy when she was just 15, she was dropped soon afterwards, being told that her batting and fielding needed to improve.

Her recent selection in the winter Academy tour was her first recall to the side for six years.

Last summer she spent her weekends commuting from her home in Clitheroe down to London, having moved from playing for her home county, Lancashire, to representing Middlesex. She felt that playing for a Division 1 team would give her the best chance of playing for England.

Might that chance finally come this summer against the Australians?

When CRICKETher spoke to Sarah Taylor during England’s Ashes warm-up match against Hampstead CC on Sunday, she told us:

“[Games like this are] good practice for us. There’s people moving in and out of the squad and it’s a good opportunity for them to come and show us what they’re about.”

Could Alex Hartley – the only non-contracted player present at that game – be the one “moving in”? At the very least, it seems that the other players take the possibility seriously.

Though I suspect Hartley would only get a game against the Aussies if other players fall injured, it would certainly be refreshing to see her name in the squad. The selectors need to keep one eye on the future, and players like Alex Hartley are that future.

#ThisGirlCan…Play Cricket!

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It’s great to see the ECB getting behind Women’s Sports Week this week and going all out to encourage more women and girls to take up cricket.

While there are currently 565 women’s and girls’ clubs in England and Wales, it’s pretty clear that we can’t rest on our laurels. There are still loads of girls and women out there missing out on the best summer sport of all*, and here at CRICKETher we’re right behind the ECB in seeking to change that!

Why not get involved?

You could get your club to register online here to sign up for documents and resources suggesting new ways to attract women into cricket.

You could run a taster session at your club this summer, as a friendly way to encourage girls and women to get down to the club and have a go.

You and some friends (maybe some who have never played before) could sign up for one of four six/eight-a-side cricket festivals due to take place this summer – in Birmingham and St Albans on June 14, and Bristol and Tadcaster on June 21. There are links to sign up here.

And if you live in London, why not come along to the England Women masterclass at Hampstead Cricket Club on Sunday? From midday the best female cricketers in the country will be kick-starting Hampstead’s new women’s and girls’ coaching programme – who better to inspire them, and you, than Charlotte Edwards & co? It’ll be followed by a 25-over match, England Women vs Hampstead CC, which should be worth a watch!

CRICKETher might see you there – we’ll be heading down to Hampstead ourselves. Maybe CRICKETher’s editor will even be persuaded (after making a 9-ball duck the last time she played) to pick up a bat again.

After all… #ThisGirlCan, right?

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(*Best sport of all, full stop!)

Women’s Ashes: No Surprises As Australia Squad Announced

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There were no real surprises in today’s announcement of the Southern Stars squad to face England in this summer’s Women’s Ashes.

The squad is similar to that which faced England in the last series in Australia in 2014, with key threats being the powerful batting of captain Meg Lanning (recently named Wisden‘s Leading Female Cricketer in the World), and the all-round talents of Ellyse Perry.

Vice-captain Alex Blackwell and off-spinner Erin Osborne will go into the series with the advantage of having already experienced English conditions in their recent appearances for Berkshire (Blackwell) and Sussex (Osborne).

Holly Ferling, returning to the squad after a back injury which ruled her out for most of last season, will be a useful bolster to the Stars’ pace attack.

Meanwhile Victorian leg-spinner Kristen Beams will be eyeing up a place in the Test match, having made her international debut against Pakistan last August.

All-rounder Delissa Kimmince, who made her debut against New Zealand in 2008 and returned to international cricket in last year’s World Twenty20, is another notable addition to the squad for the T20 leg of the tour.

The series begins on 21 July at Taunton with the first of three ODIs.

Full squad:

  • Meg Lanning (Captain)
  • Alex Blackwell (Vice-Captain)
  • Kristen Beams
  • Nicole Bolton (Test + ODI)
  • Jess Cameron
  • Sarah Coyte
  • Rene Farrell
  • Holly Ferling
  • Alyssa Healy
  • Jess Jonassen
  • Delissa Kimmince (T20)
  • Erin Osborne
  • Ellyse Perry
  • Megan Schutt
  • Elyse Villani