In a year filled with some remarkable debuts, here’s a handpicked list of cricketers who make the cut
2022 presented youngsters with a plethora of opportunities to make a mark and here are some cricketers who shone and deserve a mention!
1. Issy Wong
She is a fast-medium bowler for England and currently competes for Warwickshire, Central Sparks, Birmingham Phoenix, and England. On June 27, 2022, she played in her first Test match for England against South Africa. On July 15, 2022, she played in her first ODI against South Africa, and she claimed three wickets. Later that month, she was selected to play for England in the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Wong received her first England central contract in November 2022. Having made her debut across formats in 2022, she has had a remarkable year for England scalping 3, 4 and 6 wickets respectively in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
2. Alice Capsey
She presently competes for Surrey, South East Stars, Oval Invincibles, and Melbourne Stars as an English cricketer. She is an all-rounder who bats right-handed and bowls right-arm off-break. During England’s home series against South Africa on July 23, 2022, Capsey made her World T20 debut. Although she did not bat, Capsey claimed her first international wicket by dismissing Lara Goodall. In the same series’ last game, she made 25 out of 17 balls which was a memorable knock. Capsey was the leading run-getter for England at the Commonwealth Games with 135 runs in 5 games. She scored the most runs in England’s triumphs over Sri Lanka and New Zealand, as well as reaching her first international half-century against South Africa. Capsey suffered a black eye during the warm-up for England’s opening game, which limited her eyesight for part of the Commonwealth Games competition yet she displayed remarkable tenacity. In September 2022, Capsey was a part of all six of England’s games against India, including her ODI debut on September 18. Capsey received her first England central contract in November 2022 deservingly.
3. Emma Lamb
She is an English cricketer who has previously played for Lancashire Thunder and currently competes for Lancashire Women, North West Thunder, and Manchester Originals. Lamb bowls off-spin and is a batter. Although she debuted in the T20I format in 2021, she made her debut in the Test and ODI formats in 2022. She was selected to play in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. On June 27, 2022, she played in her first Test match for England against South Africa. In the series against South Africa the following month, Lamb also got her first W-ODI century. Lamb received her first England central contract in November 2022.
4. Sabbhineni Meghana
She is a cricketer from India who represents Railways in the domestic circuit. On February 12, 2022, she made her ODI debut for India against New Zealand. Having featured in 3 ODIs so far, she has raked up 114 runs at an average of 38 and an admirable high score of 61. Going ahead, she will be crucial to India’s prospects.
5. Renuka Singh Thakur
She is a cricketer from India who hails from Himachal Pradesh. She was selected to play for India in the ICC Women’s World Cup and made her debut against New Zealand on February 18, 2022. She was selected to play for India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and ended up as the leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets, and she and her team also took home a silver medal. Her consistent performances for India in the subsequent Asia Cup and other bilateral series has made her a crucial cog in the Indian pace bowling department.
6. Anjali Sarvani
Anjali Sarvani is an Indian cricketer who hails from Andhra Pradesh. Known for her left-arm pace, her performances in domestic cricket propelled her to a national call-up. She made her debut in the recently concluded series versus Australia scalping 3 wickets and looks like an exciting prospect to back.
7. Kim Garth
Kim Garth is an Australian cricketer who was born in Ireland and decided to go to Australia in 2020 to pursue her dream of playing full-time professional cricket. The wish came true two years later when she made her T20I debut in the recently concluded series versus India. Having picked up just 1 wicket in the 3 matches she featured in, she will be looking to have a greater impact in the upcoming matches and fine-tune her skillset.
8. Heather Graham
Heather Graham is an Australian cricketer. In the 2nd T20I of the India versus Australia tour, at DY Patil Stadium, Graham made her T20I debut. She took 3-22 before delivering the Super Over for a memorable start to her T20I career. With Australia evaluating its various pace options before the World Cup in February, she was replaced by Nicola Carey for the next game, and when she came back into the lineup and her three overs were taken for 40 runs which was a setback. But in the series finale, the 26-year-old came back strongly, bowling two economical overs for figures of 4-8 and ended the series as one of the highest wicket-takers at 7 and an average of 10.
9. Eden Carson
Carson was one of six players who received their first ‘surprise’ central contract offer from New Zealand Cricket in May 2022. In June 2022, she received her first call-up to the New Zealand team after being chosen for the Commonwealth Games squad. On July 30, 2022, against South Africa, she made her T20I debut in New Zealand’s opening encounter at the Commonwealth Games. On September 22, 2022, she played in her first ODI match against the West Indies, taking 3/31 from her 8 overs.
10. Tuba Hassan
Pakistani cricketer Tuba Hassan bowls right-arm leg breaks for her team. She was selected for the Sri Lankan vs Pakistan tour’s T20I and ODI squads. On May 24, 2022, she played in her first T20I where she recorded the highest bowling stats for a Pakistani debutant with 3/8 from her four overs. She was selected later that month to play for Pakistan at the Commonwealth Games. She became the first woman from the Pakistani side to win the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award as a result of her success on her debut. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) granted her a central contract in July 2022.
I am a first year postgraduate student pursuing a MA in Media and Communication Studies at Christ University, Bengaluru. I am a podcaster, blogger and an avid cricket fan. When not glued to cricket matches, you can find me submerged in books and thinking about cricket all the time.
