In an episode of “Around the Globe with Female Cricket,” Danielle Gregory of the Manchester Originals shared insights into her journey with various champion teams and her excitement about embarking on a new chapter with the Originals and a whole lot more.
Danielle Gregory commenced her career in The Hundred with the two-time champions Oval Invincibles during the first two seasons, subsequently joining the reigning champions Southern Brave in 2023. She has now been chosen as the wildcard entrant for the Manchester Originals.
On Family Support and Roots in Cricket
Danielle shared how cricket has been a significant part of her family for a long time, with her dad and older brother both involved in the sport. She spent a lot of time watching her brother play and was coached by her dad from a young age. Despite an early setback where she got hit in the face with a cricket bat while playing with her brother and his friends, her parents allowed her to continue pursuing cricket.
She first played at her local club and was scouted by the Surrey system at the age of twelve. Her involvement in cricket grew from there, leading to her selection for the SouthEast Stars. She credited her brother and dad as early inspirations and expressed gratitude for the strong local cricket culture and opportunities at her school. Danielle’s family has been supportive throughout her journey, celebrating her achievements, including when she received her professional contract with the SouthEast Stars. She feels fortunate to have their support and is grateful for their dedication to following her career across the country.
Danielle mentioned, “I actually had an unfortunate experience early on where I was playing cricket with my brother and his friends, actually got hit in the face off the cricket bat, so it’s quite surprising my parents actually allowed me to pursue a career in it, but fortunately they did.”
She further added, “When I got the opportunity to play, my mum was overjoyed. When I finally got offered that professional contract at SouthEast Stars. We pretty much both erupted into tears because she was so happy.”
On the Hundred
Danielle expressed her excitement about joining the Manchester Originals after being predominantly involved with the Southern Brave. She mentioned the challenge and thrill of moving north and bringing her winning experience. Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledged the SouthEast Stars for kickstarting her professional career with a contract in November 2021 and highlighted the successful campaign they had, even though they fell short in the final against the Blaze.
Danielle mentioned, “I’ve been really fortunate to win The Hundred three times and being in and around that kind of winning environment, so hopefully I can bring a bit of expertise from the other teams to the Manchester Originals.”
She further expressed her gratitude towards SouthEast Stars stating, “I’m really grateful for the SouthEast Stars also. They started my professional journey in the game, offering that contract back in November 2021. So, yeah, I owe a lot to them and everything that they’ve done to obviously get me to this point.”
Danielle shared her motivation after not being picked in the main draft, using it to fuel her performance in the T20 competition, which led to a call from the Originals’ head coach Stephen Parry. She is eager to face new challenges with a new coach and team, though is familiar with most teammates sharing the dressing room in the regional setup.
Danielle expressed, “Obviously, it’s quite disappointing in the main draft not to get picked up, but I kind of used that as my motivation just to go into that T20 competition and just try and prove a point and do the best I could, which fortunately it seems to have paid off. And then, yeah, when I got the call from Stephen Parry, I was over the moon.”
Danielle expressed her admiration for sharing the changing room with players like Dane van Niekerk and Smriti Mandhana. She finds it incredible to observe how they discuss the game, employ tactics, and conduct themselves on and off the field. She highlighted the joy of being part of successful tournaments with them, emphasizing the valuable learning experience from their approach to the game.
Danielle acknowledged, “But just listening to how they (Dane van Niekerk and Smriti Mandhana) all talk about the game and the tactics they employ and just how they go about their business, it’s pretty incredible to watch and then well come off as well because we won both tournaments.”
She also looks forward to rubbing shoulders with seasoned domestic players alongside international stars in The Hundred, particularly hoping to learn from Sophie Ecclestone. Danielle is excited about playing at the Old Trafford and believes cricket’s beauty lies in its ability to bring together diverse cultures, enhancing everyone’s knowledge and awareness.
She humorously expressed, “Obviously, I’ll be knocking on Ecclestone’s door every now and then just to get a few spin tips, of course. So, it’d be great to learn from someone like her and then just the caliber of players we’ve got on the team.”
And added, “I think that’s the beauty of cricket, how it brings together so many different cultures, and it’s just incredible to learn about everybody because, I mean, it’s so easy to get caught up in what your own self is doing.”
Reflection on her idol
Danielle expressed her admiration for leg spinners, highlighting Shane Warne as the quintessential example of greatness in the game, acknowledging his incredible legacy and influence. Danielle also mentioned Adil Rashid, appreciating his skills and approach to the game. She aspires to emulate their success and hopes to achieve even half of what they have accomplished, which would make her very happy.
When asked about her idol she said, “It’s incredible to also see the legacy that he (Shane Warne) left behind, and then also I’m English, so it’d be weird not to look up to someone like Adil Rashid and just the way they go about their business and what they do with the board.”
On Smriti Mandhana
Danielle acknowledged that while there are many great players, she finds Smriti Mandhana particularly impressive. Now that they are on opposing teams, Danielle looks forward to the opportunity to challenge Mandhana and take her wicket. She described Mandhana as a very quiet yet intriguing character, noting how inspirational she is to young cricket fans. Danielle admires how Mandhana approaches the game and cherishes the experience of being around her, even if they don’t get to play on the pitch together.
When sharing her thoughts on the possibility of featuring in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India, she expressed her strong desire to play in the WPL alongside Smriti Mandhana again. Recognizing the high regard in which Mandhana is held, especially in India, she said she wouldn’t hesitate to take up any opportunity to play with her, believing it would be an incredible experience.
Danielle expressed her views on Smriti, saying, “She’s (Smriti Mandhana) a very quiet character, so it’s quite interesting, actually, to watch her go about her business, but, I mean, just to sit on the sidelines and watch how she picks the game on was incredible.”
She further added her thoughts on the WPL, “I definitely wouldn’t say no to other opportunities alongside her (Smriti Mandhana), especially with her being held in such high regard, especially in India.”
On Red-Ball Format
Danielle expressed her ambition to push for a spot on the England team, acknowledging that while the future is uncertain, she is determined to keep striving for those opportunities. She is open to playing red-ball cricket, despite not having much experience with it. Growing up, she played a lot of boys and men’s cricket, which often used the red ball, albeit in shorter formats like 50 overs. Although she hasn’t played multi-day cricket, she hopes to get the chance in the future as more women play it and it potentially filters down to the regional level.
Danielle expressed, “Yeah, it’s definitely an ambition of mine to obviously try and push for that England team.”