The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced its list of 18 centrally contracted players for 2022/23 and this time around, for the first time the cycle runs from the 1st of November. This is done to align with the professional contracts in the women’s regional game.
New inductees in the list of 18 see promising teen all-rounders, Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp in the mix. Opening batter, Emma Lamb too after now cementing her place in the squad has earned herself a contract. Seamers, Lauren Bell and Issy Wong too have the cut and joining them in the bowling department is Charlie Dean, the off-spin all-rounder.
18 players in total have been handed central contract deals for the 2022-23 season.
6 players were handed central contracts for the first time. #CricketTwitter #TeamEngland pic.twitter.com/1qoaXosPV8
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) November 3, 2022
ENGLAND’S CENTRALLY CONTRACTED 18 :
Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Katherine Brunt, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt
The 6 inductees have come at the cost of, opener Lauren Winfield-Hill, off-spinner Mady Villiers and all-rounders Katie George and Georgia Elwiss missing out on deals after having not been retained from the previous list for 2021-22. The remaining 2 vacant slots were of Anya Shrubsole and Fran Wilson who have now retired from international cricket.
JUST IN:
6 Players have been awarded their first ever Contract by England Cricket
✅Lauren Bell
✅Alice Capsey
✅Charlie Dean
✅Freya Kemp
✅Emma Lamb
✅Issy Wong #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/WC2abCBoc3— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) November 2, 2022
Jonathan Finch, the Director of England women’s cricket, said, “It’s great to be able to share the list of centrally contracted England women’s cricketers for the next 12 months. Huge congratulations to all those who have earned their contract. Introducing six new names on to the list of contracted players is exciting and provides a new look and feel to the group.
“We have a really exciting 12 months of cricket ahead and we feel this group of players will form the foundations of our side that will take us through various bilateral series, the Women’s Ashes and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Our thanks as ever go to the England Women’s Player Partnership and the PCA who continue to play an important role in representing the international players during our ongoing discussions.”
KNOW THE 6 INDUCTEES INTO THE ANNUAL CONTRACT SYSTEM :
Charlie Dean, since her international debut has been a sensation in the English camp as she in her debut series picked up 10 wickets at an average of 19.20. With time, she is starting to be a lethal force in the English bowling lineup and the 21-year-old has picked up 34 wickets in 21 innings across both Test and 50-over formats.
Emma Lamb in the sides’ recent outing against South Africa registered scores of 102, 65 and 67 across the 3-match One-Day International (ODI) series and the 24-year-old being a technically sound batter, is definitely one to watch out for.
18-year-old, Alice Capsey and 17-year-old, Freya Kemp have only played a handful of games, but such is their reputation that in only a few months of international appearance have earned themselves a central contract.
Capsey in 9 T20I innings has got to 234 runs striking at the rate of 127.86 and in 3 ODI innings has got to 63 runs with the highest in the format of a 39. Kemp with the ball in T20I cricket has picked up 9 wickets in 8 innings and has scored 52 runs in 2 innings, with the majority of it coming in an innings with her personal best being a 51*. In a couple of ODI outings, she’s picked up 3 wickets and got to 17 runs.
Exciting pacers, Lauren Bell and Issy Wong again only with a handful of game experience have been invested faith in by handing out a contract.
Highly reputed, 20-year-old, Issy Wong in a couple of Test innings bagged 3 wickets, in 3 ODI outings struck 4 wickets and has got 6 scalps against her name in 8 T20I innings.
Lauren Bell in a couple of Test innings has picked up 2 wickets and in 3 ODI innings has picked up 2 wickets, while she’s gone wicketless in both of her T20I outings. The inclusion of Lauren Bell had come as a surprise as Test centurion, Alice Davidson Richards looked to be the one making the cut, but wasn’t to be.
