When the eight newly reorganised Tier 1 county teams play their first games in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup this week, the redesigned women’s domestic structure officially gets underway. As the game enters a new era, these are the riders and runners.
The main questions: Durham has put together a team that includes both wise and star acquisitions. At the beginning of a new era for women’s cricket in the county, would they be able to get started right away? With Katherine Fraser, Mady Villiers, and Katie Levick in the forefront, spin bowling appears to be their greatest strength.
Player to keep an eye on: Captain Hollie Armitage is expected to bring good fortune. She is one of the top leaders in English cricket and excels at batting, leg-spin bowling, and fielding. Her primary skill is batting, and she will be hoping that significant runs will enable her to move from the England team’s periphery to a regular selection.
Young gun: Phoebe Turner, an all-rounder, has shown promise in the Northern Diamonds’ colours over the past two seasons. She and her seamers hit a game-winning six for 20 in a 50-over encounter against Lancashire Thunder last September. dynamic in the middle order as well with the bat. The 21-year-old has a hint of Nat Sciver-Brunt.
In conclusion, Durham will be sure they can compete with teams like Surrey and The Blaze this summer, but a lot will depend on Armitage and Suzie Bates, the captain of New Zealand, at bat. Bates has signed a contract with the Banks Homes Riverside for the entire summer. Lauren Filer, a pacer for England, will add a unique element to their bowling approach.
Hollie Armitage (captain), Leah Dobson, Lauren Filer, Katherine Fraser, Abi Glen, Bess Heath, Trudy Johnson, Katie Levick, Emma Marlow, Mia Rogers, Lizzie Scott, Phoebe Turner, Sophia Turner, Mady Villiers, and Emily Windsor comprise the squad.
By Graham Hardcastle, the preview
The big question: Having mostly retained the Sunrisers’ Rachael Heyhoe Flint winning squad from the previous season, Essex may have the most stable lineup of the Tier One teams. Can this already-bonded bunch repeat the feat now that they have a winning formula? That success followed three seasons of intense hardship.
Watch this player: Sophie Munro. Munro got 22 wickets in 50-over cricket last term, more than anyone else save Phoebe Turner. After joining on loan from The Blaze, the 23-year-old seamer flourished, showing particular skill in the “death overs” and towards the close of an innings. Last September, Munro permanently moved south from Nottingham.
Sophia Smale is a young shooter. It’s interesting that Smale is the sole new member because winning teams change. In a potent bowling combination, the slow left-armer fills the vacuum left by Villiers’s move to Durham by enhancing the right-arm leg-spin of Abtaha Maqsood and Jodi Grewcock. Smale, a 19-year-old Newport native, has enormous potential.
Conclusion: The difficulty will be in scoring enough runs, especially when setting a goal, because Essex will bowl other sides out. If they are to consistently post totals above 250, Cordelia Griffith may need to build on her four fifties in the final five games of the previous season. Skipper Grace Scrivens will lead from the front.
The squad consists of the following members: Esmae MacGregor, Lissy Macleod, Abta Maqsood, Flo Miller, Sophie Munro, Sophia Smale, Jo Gardner, Eva Grey, Jodi Grewcock, Cordelia Griffith, Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones, Amara Carr, Kelly Castle, Kate Coppack, Ariana Dowse, Jo Gardner, Kate Coppack, Ariana Dowse, and Jo Gardner.
Jon Batham previewed
What is life like without Charlotte Edwards? is one of the key questions. Edwards won seven trophies and developed innumerable cricket players while she was employed at Utilita Bowl. It was hardly surprising that England called. With the help of an outstanding ensemble that includes Beth Morgan, Ian Cox, and James Hibberd, Paul Prichard emerges from her shadow.
Player to keep an eye on: Without Charli Knott, the Vipers lost every game last season. With her efficient style, she amassed two fifties, a century, and 16 off-spin wickets in 50-over cricket. She recently received her first international call-up following a stellar winter in her home country, and she possesses all the makings of Australia’s next major star.
Young talent: During the winter, Abi Norgrove led the England Under-19 team to a World Cup semifinal. provides consistent middle-order batting and maturity beyond her years. quite challenging to remove when she is flowing.
Conclusion: Senior players from the south coast have moved on, along with Edwards. With Naomi Dattani as the sole replacement, Charlie Dean, Emily Windsor, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Monaghan, and Georgia Elwiss have all departed and have limited experience. Young talent is abundant, but will they be able to step up? Ellyse Perry’s appearance in two matches is incredibly thrilling.
Charli Knott, Ellyse Perry, Maia Bouchier, Lauren Bell, Freya Kemp, Nancy Harman, Linsey Smith, Rhianna Southby, Ella McCaughan, Mary Taylor, Freya Davies, Bex Tyson, Naomi Dattani, Megan Sturge, Ava Lee, Abi Norgrove, Daisy Mullan, Poppy Tulloch (rookie), and Daisy Gibb (rookie) comprise the squad. Georgia Adams is the captain.
Alex Smith provided the preview.
Will this be Lancashire’s year? That is the key question. Only once, throughout five years of regional cricket, did they go past the group stages of both 50-over and T20 cricket. However, there is a lot of confidence that they can quickly impact the new age of English domestic cricket after a winter of preparation and some important additions.
Player to watch: Two players from Central Sparks, or Warwickshire as they are currently known, have joined Lancashire. Eve Jones, the key top order batsman, comes first. Ellie Threlkeld’s team will have a strong chance of winning if the seasoned left-hander keeps up her recent home form. Few players will be as good as Jones without senior England recognition.
Grace Potts, a young bowler from the West Midlands, has travelled the similar route. After travelling to South Africa with them prior to Christmas, she is about to receive senior England honours. The 22-year-old will have a fantastic opportunity to make his debut under new national coach Charlotte Edwards during a glittering summer.
In conclusion, Lancashire’s team appears to be stronger than prior performance has shown. It will be very beneficial if their England stars Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross play a significant number of games. Significant contributions will also be made by fringe internationals Seren Smale, Emma Lamb, and Mahika Gaur. During the first half of 2025, Australian leg-spinner Alana King and batter Katie Mack will split time abroad.
Olivia Bell, Alice Clarke, Danielle Collins, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Mahika Gaur, Phoebe Graham, Liberty Heap, Hannah Jones, Alana King, Emma Lamb, Ailsa Lister, Katie Mack, Fi Morris, Sophie Morris, Tara Norris, Hannah Rainey, and Seren Smale comprise the squad, which includes captain Ellie Threlkeld.
By Graham Hardcastle, the preview
The key questions: the availability of England players Heather Knight, Charlie Dean, and Dani Gibson might make the difference between success and failure, while it is unclear how Somerset will handle the departure of Sophia Smale, Lauren Filer, and Nat Wraith. Will Ellie Anderson and Laura Jackson, recent additions, be able to fill the voids?
The player to keep an eye on is Amanda-Jade Wellington. The Australian leg spinner is back and ready to build on his impressive maiden season in England from the previous year. She can go either way, is hard to score against, and frequently takes important wickets. She can win games with the bat and is a skilled finisher.
Katie Jones is a young gun. The teenage wicketkeeper-batter, who has long been regarded as a gifted child, is prepared to reach her full potential and become a mainstay in the senior squad. She helped England get to the ICC Under-19 T20 World Cup semi-finals in Malaysia last winter and was able to score important mid-order runs.
In conclusion, a full-strength Somerset lineup would prove to be a match for anyone, thanks to its international calibre. Nevertheless, England calls will deplete that strength, and it will be on to the less seasoned players to step up if they want to achieve the consistency of play needed to compete. Although young talent certainly thrills, West Country prospects may be hampered by a lack of depth.
Emma Corney, Sophie Luff, Sophie Knight, Fran Wilson, Rebecca Odgers, Charlie Dean, Dani Gibson, Alex Griffiths, Niamh Holland, Amelie Munday, Erin Vukusic, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Olivia Barnes, Katie Jones, Jess Hazell, Laura Jackson, Lola Harris, Chloe Skelton, Mollie Robbins, Ellie Anderson, and Heather Knight comprise the squad.
Andrew Stockhausen provided the preview.
The big questions: Despite being among the best teams in the nation for a long time, Surrey’s predecessors, the South East Stars, only won one Charlotte Edwards Trophy. Will they be able to turn a string of second and third-place finishes into trophies with the help of two incredibly astute new additions, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Alice Monaghan from the Southern Vipers?
Player to watch: Alice Capsey is the kind of cricket player who can use the bat and ball to force the opposition to lose a match. The 20-year-old will be hoping to start strong with her home county after a challenging winter with England in order to solidify her status as an important player for England going forward.
Young gun: At the age of 16, Tilly Corteen-Coleman made her debut with the Southern Brave last season, making her the youngest player in the Hundred’s history. She joined the Stars’ academy and was immediately accepted into the starting lineup.
Conclusion: After their winter tour to Australia, England stars Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, Wyatt-Hodge, and Ryana MacDonald-Gay are undoubtedly anxious to return to the local ranks, demonstrating Surrey’s abundance of star talent.
Priyanaz Chatterji, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophia Dunkley, Tash Farrant, Phoebe Franklin, Danielle Gregory, Charlotte Lambert, Emma Jones, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Bethan Miles, Alice Monaghan, Kalea Moore, Paige Scholfield, Jemima Spence, Alexa Stonehouse, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge comprise the squad.
Fred Atkins provided the preview.
The key questions: How will The Blaze perform now that head coach Chris Guest has departed to coach England’s Under-19s Women? The Blaze won their first trophy in the 2024 Charlotte Edwards Cup. After winning two domestic 50-over crowns in three years, can Craig Cumming, the former New Zealand Test hitter, repeat his feat with Otago Sparks?
Player to observe: The Blaze squad gains proven experience and availability with the return of Georgia Elwiss, the former captain of the Loughborough Lightning, to the East Midlands following four trophy-winning seasons with Southern Vipers. With 488 runs at 69.71 in the 50-over competition, the 33-year-old former England all-rounder had one of her greatest seasons ever in 2024.
Young gun: Josie Groves, a leg spinner who recently turned 20, has claimed 20 List A wickets in the last two seasons and is still striving to reach her full potential as a batsman and bowler. She is a finalist for the Under-19 World Cup and will probably play a significant role this season.
Final Thought: With all-rounders Orla Prendergast (Ireland) and Heather Graham (Australia) splitting overseas responsibilities, the Blaze, who were the 20-over champions and 50-over finalists the previous two years, have recruited Amy Jones, a current England player, to their team. They will be keen to make amends for not making it to the knockout round of the 50-over competition last season.
Grace Ballinger, Sarah Glenn, Georgie Boyce, Josie Groves, Cassidy McCarthy, Lucy Higham, Sarah Bryce, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Tammy Beaumont, Kathryn Bryce, Prisha Thanawala, Charley Phillips, Marie Kelly, Michaela Kirk, Ella Claridge, Georgia Elwiss, Amy Jones, Olivia Baker, Amy Wheeler, Scarlett Hughes, Heather Graham, and Orla Prendergast comprise the squad.
Read by Jon Culley
The main question: Edgbaston is clearly excited about the women’s team’s complete incorporation into the county setup. Can the players now handle the strain that comes with expectations and the club’s significant investment and still succeed?
Georgia Davis is the player to watch. By advancing into the England lineup, off-spinner Davis has fully justified her choice to leave the police force for full-time cricket. Returning from a trip to England Davis, who was born in Birmingham, will be hoping to lead her beloved Warwickshire to victory and amass a tonne of wickets to further her international career on a tour to Australia.
Davina Perrin is a young gun. Perrin, 18, is the player Warwickshire will expect to for huge runs at the top of the order. The energetic batswoman, who was born in Wolverhampton, will draw strength from her successful England U19 World Cup campaign in Malaysia in January, which resulted in a last-minute call-up for the A Tour to Australia.
Lastly, everyone at the club would love for the women’s squad to start strong and add to Edgbaston’s significant role in women’s cricket history. With Ali Maiden as the head coach, Darren Franklin as the assistant coach, and Kabir Ali as the bowling coach, the team has talent and a wealth of coaching experience. Come on, a fresh chapter is waiting!
Meg Austin, Em Arlott, Chloe Brewer, Hannah Baker, Bethan Ellis, Abbey Freeborn, Katie George, Hannah Hardwick, Charis Pavely, Davina Perrin, Amu Surenkumar, Millie Taylor, Issy Wong, and Nat Wraith comprise the squad, which is led by Georgia Davis.
India
