The English domestic women’s cricket season commences on April 20, 2024, with the 5th edition of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, a domestic 50-over competition. From squads and schedule to format and broadcasting details, below is everything you need to know about the competition.
The tournament is structured in three legs – the 1st leg runs from April 20 to May 8, the 2nd leg from June 30 to July 14, and the final leg fixtures are scheduled from August 26 to September 21 – with the tournament set to run alongside the Charlotte Edwards Cup, a 20-over competition, and The Hundred.
Format:
The competition follows a double round-robin format, meaning each of the eight teams will play the others twice in league games. For a change in this edition, four teams will advance to the knockouts, replacing the previous format, where the top-ranked team directly advanced to the final, and their opponent was decided in a playoff between the 2nd and 3rd seeded teams.
Winners over the years:
Southern Vipers won the title in the first couple of seasons, and Northern Diamonds claimed their first title in 2022. Southern Vipers are the defending champions again this season, and notably, they completed the double last season by winning the Charlotte Edwards Cup as well.
Squads:
Southern Vipers – Georgia Adams (C), Georgia Elwiss, Freya Davies, Maia Bouchier, Megan Sturge, Mary Taylor, Alice Monaghan, Rhianna Southby, Abi Norgrove, Lauren Bell, Danni Wyatt, Freya Kemp, Linsey Smith, Emily Windsor, Ava Lee, Charlie Dean, Charlotte Taylor, Ella McCaughan, Finty Trussler, Nancy Harman, Charli Knott*
The Blaze – Kirstie Gordon (C), Ella Claridge, Marie Kelly, Sarah Bryce, Beth Harmer, Josie Groves, Sarah Glenn, Grace Ballinger, Teresa Graves, Sophie Munro, Lucy Higham, Tammy Beaumont, Scarlett Hughes, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Michael Kirk, Georgie Boyce, Cassidy McCarthy, Kathryn Bryce, Nadine de Klerk*, Heather Graham*
South East Stars – Bryony Smith (C), Chloe Hill, Claudie Cooper, Kira Chathli, Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones, Emma Jones, Priyanaz Chatterji, Sophia Dunkley, Aylish Cranstone, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Alice Capsey, Alice Davidson-Richards, Tash Farrant, Phoebe Franklin, Bethan Miles, Paige Scholfield, Kirstie White, Charlotte Lambert, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Alexa Stonehouse, Jemima Spence, Dani Gregory, Kalea Moore
Sunrisers – Grace Scrivens (C), Charley Phillips, Cordelia Griffith, Amara Carr, Amu Surenkumar, Esmae MacGregor, Lissy Macleod, Abtaha Maqsood, Flo Miller, Jess Olorenshaw, Jo Gardner, Kate Coppack, Kelly Castle, Ariana Dowse, Eva Gray, Jodi Grewcock, Katherine Speed, Mady Villiers, Nicola Hancock*, Dane van Niekerk*
Central Sparks – Eve Jones (C), Davina Perrin, Georgia Davis, Chloe Brewer, Grace Potts, Bethan Ellis, Ria Fackrell, Ami Campbell, Ellie Anderson, Issy Wong, Em Arlott, Katie George, Abbey Freeborn, Poppy Davies, Charis Pavely, Amy Jones, Hannah Baker
Northern Diamonds – Hollie Armitage (C), Abi Glen, Grace Hall, Katie Levick, Rachel Slater, Bess Heath, Lizzie Scott, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Sophia Turner, Katherine Fraser, Emma Marlow, Phoebe Turner, Jess Woolston, Leah Dobson, Rebecca Duckworth, Sterre Kalis, Beth Langston, Erin Burns*
Thunder – Ellie Threlkeld (C), Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Tara Norris, Dani Collins, Daisy Mullan, Laura Jackson, Seren Smale, Emma Lamb, Mahika Gaur, Olivia Bell, Liberty Heap, Naomi Dattani, Alice Clarke, Hannah Jones, Ailsa Lister, Sophie Morris, Fi Morris, Hannah Rainey, Phoebe Graham, Shachi Pai, Katie Mack*, Georgia Voll*
Western Storm – Sophie Luff (C), Niamh Holland, Isla Thompson, Dani Gibson, Nicole Harvey, Imogen Cooper, Lola Harris, Chloe Skelton, Emma Corney, Isobel Patel, Alex Griffiths, Claire Nicholas, Heather Knight, Lauren Filer, Fran Wilson, Katie Jones, Sophia Smale, Mollie Robbins, Nat Wraith, Robecca Rodgers, Amanda-Jade Wellington*
*overseas players
Availability of overseas players:
Charlie Knott – April-July
Nadine de Klerk – April-May, August-September
Heather Graham – June-July (Named as Nadine’s replacement)
Nicola Hancock – April-May
Dane van Niekerk – From May 19
Erin Burns – April-July
Katie Mack – April-May, August-September
Georgia Voll – June-July
Amanda-Jade Wellington – April-September
Schedule:
| DATE | MATCH | VENUE |
20-Apr-24 |
Central Sparks v The Blaze | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| Northern Diamonds v Thunder | Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street | |
| South East Stars v Southern Vipers | The Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham | |
| Western Storm v Sunrisers | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | |
24-Apr-24 |
Northern Diamonds v Western Storm | Headingley, Leeds |
| Southern Vipers v Central Sparks | Sir Paul Getty’s Ground, Wormsley | |
| Thunder v Sunrisers | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester | |
| The Blaze v South East Stars | Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester | |
27-Apr-24 |
South East Stars v Central Sparks | The Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham |
| Thunder v Western Storm | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester | |
| Southern Vipers v Northern Diamonds | Utilita Bowl, Southampton | |
| Sunrisers v The Blaze | The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford | |
01-May-24 |
Northern Diamonds v The Blaze | North Marine Road, Scarborough |
| Central Sparks v Sunrisers | Chester Road North, Kidderminster | |
| Southern Vipers v Thunder | Sir Paul Getty’s Ground, Wormsley | |
| Western Storm v South East Stars | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton | |
04-May-24 |
Central Sparks v Northern Diamonds | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| Sunrisers v South East Stars | County Ground, Northampton | |
| Western Storm v Southern Vipers | The Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol | |
| 06-May-24 | The Blaze v Thunder | Trent Bridge, Nottingham |
08-May-24 |
South East Stars v Northern Diamonds | The Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham |
| Sunrisers v Southern Vipers | Brunton Memorial Ground, Radlett | |
| The Blaze v Western Storm | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | |
| Thunder v Central Sparks | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester | |
30-Jun-24 |
Northern Diamonds v Central Sparks | North Marine Road, Scarborough |
| South East Stars v The Blaze | The Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham | |
| Southern Vipers v Western Storm | The 1st Central County Ground, Hove | |
| Sunrisers v Thunder | The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford | |
| 05-Jul-24 | The Blaze v Southern Vipers | Queen’s Park, Chesterfield |
07-Jul-24 |
Thunder v South East Stars | Stanley Park, Blackpool |
| Western Storm v Northern Diamonds | College Ground, Cheltenham | |
| Sunrisers v Central Sparks | Brunton Memorial Ground, Radlett | |
10-Jul-24 |
Central Sparks v Thunder | New Road, Worcester |
| Western Storm v The Blaze | College Ground, Cheltenham | |
| Northern Diamonds v Sunrisers | Clifton Park, York | |
| Southern Vipers v South East Stars | Falkland Cricket Club, Newbury | |
| 12-Jul-24 | Central Sparks v Western Storm | New Road, Worcester |
14-Jul-24 |
South East Stars v Sunrisers | The Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham |
| Thunder v Southern Vipers | Sedbergh School, Sedbergh | |
| The Blaze v Northern Diamonds | Lindum Sports Club Ground, Lincoln | |
26-Aug-24 |
South East Stars v Thunder | The Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham |
| Sunrisers v Northern Diamonds | The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford | |
| Western Storm v Central Sparks | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton | |
| Southern Vipers v The Blaze | Arundel Castle Cricket Club Ground, Arundel | |
| 30-Aug-24 | Central Sparks v Southern Vipers | New Road, Worcester |
31-Aug-24 |
The Blaze v Sunrisers | County Ground, Derby |
| South East Stars v Western Storm | The Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham | |
| 01-Sep-24 | Thunder v Northern Diamonds | Trafalgar Road, Southport |
04-Sep-24 |
Northern Diamonds v Southern Vipers | Headingley, Leeds |
| Sunrisers v Western Storm | Brunton Memorial Ground, Radlett | |
| Thunder v The Blaze | Sale CC, Sale | |
| 06-Sep-24 | The Blaze v Central Sparks | Queen’s Park, Chesterfield |
07-Sep-24 |
Northern Diamonds v South East Stars | Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street |
| Southern Vipers v Sunrisers | Utilita Bowl, Southampton | |
| Western Storm v Thunder | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton | |
14-Sep-24 |
Semi-Final 1 | T.B.C. |
| Semi-Final 2 | T.B.C. | |
| 21-Sep-24 | Final | T.B.C. |
*All league games have a start time of 3:00 PM IST
Broadcast:
The regional teams will broadcast their games live on their websites and YouTube channels.