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Writer's pictureGeorgie Heath

ECB announce professional regional contracts for 2021/22 season

The ECB has released the names of those who have been awarded regional contracts for next year's season with a sixth player to be funded at each.


In a positive move for the domestic game, this sees an increase from 41 to 51 and reflects the positive momentum of the professionalism of the women's game. This means that there are now 67 professional English cricketers across the regional and professional stage with the youngest aged just 17.


Where last year, Western Storm funded their own sixth professional, 2021/22 sees Northern Diamonds fund an extra two players and North West Thunder and extra one.


ECB Managing Director of Women's Cricket, Clare Connor MBE, said: "It’s absolutely fundamental to the future of women's and girls’ cricket in England and Wales that we’re able to continue increasing the depth of our regional game by offering more professional contracts to our players.


“We cannot overstate the impact that a new professional structure is having on our game. We’ve already seen the positive impact it has had on players’ performances in a relatively short space of time. The players are thriving, raising standards across the game and deepening the potential talent pool for England Women.


“Just as important is the visibility of these players, showing young girls that cricket is a game that can offer them a professional future.

“Professionalising the women’s game is a significant chapter for our sport and I’m thrilled that we’re able to continue that momentum by increasing the number of professional contracts on offer.”



Charlotte Edwards Cup defending champions South East Stars have added 2021's breakout star Alice Capsey to their contracts as well as fellow Oval Invincibles youngster Danielle Gregory. Back-to-back Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy champions Southern Vipers have added England player Charlie Dean to theirs as they look to make it three in a row.



There have also been some changes in allegiance with Phoebe Graham making the move to North West Thunder from Northern Diamonds and Ami Campbell also leaving the Diamonds to join the Central Sparks. She fills a spot left by Marie Kelly at Sparks as she joins Lightning.


Winter nets will soon be underway as well as stars including Issy Wong, Eve Jones, Linsey Smith and Maia Bouchier returning from the WBBL in Australia.


Following from the huge successes of the 2021 summer of women's cricket, this is already shaping up to be another year of big hits, stunning wickets and a further demonstration of the class of women's cricket in England.





​Central Sparks

Lightning

Northern Diamonds

Southern Vipers

Emily Arlott

Katherine Bryce

Hollie Armitage

Georgia Adams

Ami Campbell

Sarah Bryce

Jenny Gunn

Lauren Bell

Gwenan Davies

Bethan Ellis

Bess Heath

Maia Bouchier

Abbey Freeborn

Kirstie Gordon

Beth Langston

Charlie Dean

Eve Jones

Lucy Higham

Katie Levick

Tara Norris

Issy Wong

Marie Kelly

Linsey Smith

Paige Schofield

Sterre Kalis

Rachel Slater

South East Stars

Sunrisers

North West Thunder

Western Storm

Alice Capsey

Amara Carr

Georgie Boyce

Dani Gibson

Aylish Cranstone

Kelly Castle

Alex Hartley

Alex Griffiths

Alice Davidson-Richards

Naomi Dattani

Laura Jackson

Georgia Hennessey

Danielle Gregory

Jo Gardner

Hannah Jones

Sophie Luff

Tash Farrant

Cordelia Griffith

Ellie Threlkeld

Fi Morris

Bryony Smith

Grace Scrivens

Emma Lamb

Nat Wraith

Phoebe Graham





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