Rachael Heyhoe Flint 2022: 1st
Charlotte Edwards Cup 2022: 4th
Most Runs RHFT: Lauren Winfield-Hill (470) Most Runs CEC: Hollie Armitage (151)
Most Wickets RHFT: Linsey Smith (13) Most Wickets CEC: Katie Levick (15)
New Signings: Rebecca Duckworth
New Domestic Contracts: Lauren Winfield-Hill (Previously Centrally Contracted), Emma Marlow, Phoebe Turner, Leah Dobson
Departed Players: Jenny Gunn (ret.), Katherine Sciver-Brunt (ret.), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Linsey Smith
Star Player: Sterre Kalis
Young Player: Bess Heath
Unfairly nicknamed the ‘serial chokers’, the Northern Diamonds broke their choking habits, beating the Southern Vipers in a thrilling final of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Lords. It was third time lucky for the Diamonds in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. However, there is silverware still to be won for the team having lost to South East Stars in the Charlotte Edwards Cup final in 2021.
Elation at Lords was the end of the road as a Diamond for some of the key players. Opening batter and left-arm spinner, Linsey Smith took 2/24 in the final, contributing 27 runs with the bat. Northern Diamonds later confirmed that Smith had left the Diamonds and had signed a contract with fellow finalists, Southern Vipers.
Perhaps a shock to Diamonds fans, this news has not led to any new signings and, without any other left-arm spinners in the squad, is begs the question of how will Diamonds approach their bowling plans this season without an essential member of their attack.
Another bowler to depart was England and Diamonds stalwart, Jenny Gunn. The 36-year-old has been an integral part of Yorkshire-based sides over the past 11 years and her illustrious England career has been testament to her consistency over the years. Gunn only featured three times for the Diamonds in 2022 including a winning knock of 41*, getting Diamonds over the line against Lighting.
Although Gunn’s experience will be greatly missed from the side, the north-east is developing exciting young seam bowlers such as 19-year-old Lizzie Scott who featured for England at the inaugural U19 Women’s World Cup in South Africa and Durham-born Jessica Wollston who made her senior debut the week before the RHF Final.
Scott has had a smooth transition to the senior side from the Academy in which she had spent most of the summer. “The team made the transition so easy” she says. “We had an away trip which was my first one. We went down to Taunton, and it was such a long bus journey, but it was a bonding experience because it was such a long few days” the Northumberland-born seamer continued. “I feel like we learned a lot about one another, and it felt really welcoming so I'm really supported by everyone in the team.”
Nat and Katherine Sciver-Brunt have also departed from Northern Diamonds, Nat making the move to the Blaze while Katherine announced her retirement from regional and country cricket ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Neither have played huge parts in the team’s campaigns over the past few seasons due to extensive England commitments. However, like Gunn, their great experience and knowledge will be hugely missed from training sessions.
The north-east is still home to some of the best female cricketing talent in the country. A player who has found home in Leeds is Dutch cricketer, Sterre Kalis. Hailing from the Hague, Kalis has been playing domestic cricket in England since 2016 and has been an integral part of Northern Diamonds’ batting order, signing her first professional contract in 2021.
Kalis’ cricket has thrived over in England but, off the pitch, there have been challenges living in a new country. “The two countries are really different” Sterre explains. “In Holland I’m used to just getting on my bike and riding around the city and stuff like that whereas England, the distances are way bigger!”
Often coming in at number four, Sterre has become a master at steadying the innings and building partnerships, especially in the 50-over format. In T20s, Kalis took responsibility, opening the batting alongside Bess Heath. Her versatility and ability to adapt to different formats – especially given her minimal 50-over experience – is impressive.
Another player who the Northern Diamonds need to utilise this year is the aforementioned 21-year-old Bess Heath. As a batter, Heath is tactically aware and is excellent at building an innings, as was clear from her performances in Diamonds’ winning Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy campaign. Not only can she play safely, but Heath also displayed her explosive batting during the Hundred where she played for the Northern Superchargers, scoring 57 from 34 balls against London Spirit, receiving the Player of the Match award.
However, head coach, Danielle Hazell has a problem. On the one hand, Lauren Winfield-Hill, who has just signed a three-year deal with the side is an excellent wicket-keeper. On the other hand, Bess Heath is a young keeper with plenty of potential and needs to develop that side of her game. Who does Hazell pick as the keeper?
It was clear, with Winfield-Hill out of favour with England selectors and available to play for the Diamonds, that it would be the World Cup Winner who would take the gloves last season, but could there be a place for Heath this year?
With speculation as to who England’s next wicketkeeper will be once Amy Jones calls time on an international career, the two main contenders seem to be Bess Heath and Thunder’s Ellie Threlkeld. If Heath is given the opportunity to be played as a wicketkeeper-batter, this season could be a turning point in her cricket career.
What will Northern Diamonds want?
Back-to-back titles. Northern Diamonds are winners and will want to defend that precious title that they fought three years on the trot to win. They will also want to improve their results in the Charlotte Edwards Cup and become more dominant in that competition.
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