The 2023 season was Central Sparks' fourth season, in which they competed in the 50 over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Twenty20 Charlotte Edwards Cup. In the Charlotte Edwards Cup, the side won two of their seven matches, finishing seventh in the group. In the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the side finished fifth in the group, winning six of their fourteen matches, with one tie and two no results.

The side was captained by Evelyn Jones and coached by Lloyd Tennant. They played four home matches apiece at Edgbaston Cricket Ground and New Road, and one apiece at Sir Paul Getty's Ground and Scorers, Shirley.

Squad Departures On 7 November 2022, it was announced that Chloe Hill was leaving the side, joining Southern Vipers, the side she had been on loan to the previous season. On 20 February 2023, it was announced that Sarah Glenn had left the side, joining The Blaze. On 6 March 2023, it was confirmed that Stephanie Butler had left the side at the end of the 2022 season. On 18 April 2023, Central Sparks announced their squad for the season, confirming the departures of Gabrielle Basketter, Clare Boycott, Thea Brookes, Gwenan Davies and Milly Home.

Arrivals On 3 November 2022, the side announced the signing of Chloe Brewer and Katie George on professional contracts, joining from South East Stars and Western Storm respectively. On 17 April 2023, Central Sparks announced the signing of Erin Burns as an overseas player between May and July 2023. On 18 April 2023, Central Sparks announced their squad for the season, confirming the additions of Ellie Anderson, Charis Pavely and Bethan Ellis. On 1 July 2023, Meg Austin was included in a matchday squad for the first time. On 31 August 2023, the side announced the signing of overseas player Maddy Green.

Personnel and contract changes On 3 November 2022, the side announced the players that had been awarded professional contracts for the 2023 season, with Davina Perrin signing her first such contract with the side. On 31 January 2023, Central Sparks announced a further three players who had been awarded professional contracts with the side, with Hannah Baker, Grace Potts and Georgia Davis all signing their first such contracts.

Squad list Age given is at the start of Central Sparks' first match of the season (22 April 2023).

Name Nationality Birth date Batting Style Bowling Style Notes Batters Meg Austin Right-handed Right-arm leg break Joined July 2023 Chloe Brewer Right-handed Right-arm medium Ami Campbell Left-handed Right-arm medium Maddy Green Right-handed Right-arm off break Overseas player; September 2023 Evelyn Jones Left-handed Left-arm medium Captain Davina Perrin Right-handed Right-arm leg break All-rounders Erin Burns Right-handed Right-arm off break Overseas player; May to July 2023 Bethan Ellis Right-handed Right-arm medium Ria Fackrell Right-handed Right-arm off break Katie George Right-handed Left-arm medium Charis Pavely Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Wicket-keepers Poppy Davies Right-handed — Abigail Freeborn Right-handed — Amy Jones Right-handed — Bowlers Ellie Anderson Right-handed Right-arm medium Emily Arlott Right-handed Right-arm medium Hannah Baker Right-handed Right-arm leg break Georgia Davis Right-handed Right-arm off break Anisha Patel Right-handed Right-arm leg break Grace Potts Right-handed Right-arm medium Elizabeth Russell Left-handed Right-arm medium Issy Wong Right-handed Right-arm medium

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Season standings

advanced to the final advanced to the play-off

Fixtures

Tournament statistics Batting Player Matches Innings Runs Average High score 100s 50s 13 12 0 4 13 12 1 1 13 12 0 2 13 9 0 2 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 200 runs.

Bowling Player Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi 13 27 0 13 18 0 6 12 1 9 11 0 7 10 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 10 wickets.

Charlotte Edwards Cup Season standings

advanced to final advanced to the semi-final

Fixtures

Tournament statistics Batting Player Matches Innings Runs Average High score 100s 50s 7 7 0 1 4 4 0 2 7 6 0 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 100 runs.

Bowling Player Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi 5 9 0 7 9 0 7 8 0 3 6 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 5 wickets.

Season statistics Batting PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Runs High score Average Strike rate 100s 50s Matches Innings Runs High score Average Strike rate 100s 50s Ellie Anderson 1 – – – – – – – 4 3 14 8 7.00 70.00 0 0 Emily Arlott 9 6 50 22 8.33 54.34 0 0 3 3 57 28* 28.50 126.66 0 0 Hannah Baker 7 3 19 11 6.33 43.18 0 0 5 3 4 2* 2.00 66.66 0 0 Chloe Brewer 4 4 4 4 1.00 23.52 0 0 2 2 9 9 4.50 52.94 0 0 Erin Burns 6 5 94 37 23.50 81.73 0 0 7 7 185 66 26.42 141.22 0 1 Ami Campbell 13 12 237 68 23.70 81.72 0 2 7 7 60 20 8.57 83.33 0 0 Georgia Davis 13 8 28 8 4.00 42.42 0 0 7 4 7 5* 7.00 53.84 0 0 Bethan Ellis 8 6 113 53 18.83 50.00 0 1 5 5 60 29 20.00 101.69 0 0 Ria Fackrell 2 2 22 12* – 78.57 0 0 – – – – – – – – Abigail Freeborn 13 12 401 107* 36.45 63.05 1 1 7 6 108 31* 21.60 111.34 0 0 Katie George 13 9 231 56 25.66 92.03 0 2 6 6 80 30 13.33 89.88 0 0 Maddy Green 4 4 117 64 29.25 84.17 0 1 – – – – – – – – Amy Jones 1 1 40 40 40.00 100.00 0 0 4 4 167 55 41.75 131.49 0 2 Evelyn Jones 13 12 440 84* 44.00 59.70 0 4 6 6 80 30 13.33 89.88 0 0 Charis Pavely 6 5 110 57* 36.66 90.90 0 1 2 2 7 4* 7.00 100.00 0 0 Davina Perrin 9 6 62 30 15.50 53.44 0 0 6 6 76 28 12.66 95.00 0 0 Grace Potts 13 7 51 12* 25.50 43.58 0 0 3 1 5 5 5.00 100.00 0 0 Issy Wong 8 6 84 50 16.80 81.55 0 1 3 3 14 7 14.00 116.66 0 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo

Bowling PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi Ellie Anderson 1 – – – – – – 4 14.0 2 45.00 6.42 1/14 0 Emily Arlott 9 72.4 11 27.09 4.10 3/41 0 3 11.3 6 13.33 6.95 4/23 0 Hannah Baker 7 55.1 10 27.10 4.91 2/31 0 5 17.0 2 67.50 7.94 1/21 0 Chloe Brewer 4 2.0 0 – 8.50 – 0 – – – – – – – Erin Burns 6 47.0 12 17.83 4.55 5/36 1 7 26.0 9 22.22 7.69 3/26 0 Georgia Davis 13 99.4 27 14.77 4.00 4/19 0 7 21.0 8 15.75 6.00 3/12 0 Bethan Ellis 8 26.0 3 43.33 5.00 2/22 0 5 16.2 9 13.33 7.34 4/29 0 Ria Fackrell 2 10.0 1 54.00 5.40 1/37 0 – – – – – – – Katie George 13 92.2 18 25.77 5.02 3/30 0 6 15.0 4 36.25 9.66 1/18 0 Charis Pavely 6 4.0 0 – 5.25 – 0 – – – – – – – Grace Potts 13 84.1 7 54.00 4.49 3/46 0 3 10.0 4 13.75 5.50 2/13 0 Issy Wong 8 46.1 8 32.37 5.61 2/29 0 3 7.0 2 35.50 10.14 2/39 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo

Fielding PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Catches Matches Innings Catches Ellie Anderson 1 1 0 4 4 0 Emily Arlott 9 9 4 3 3 1 Hannah Baker 7 7 0 5 5 0 Chloe Brewer 4 4 1 2 2 1 Erin Burns 6 5 2 7 7 8 Ami Campbell 13 12 8 7 7 1 Georgia Davis 13 12 4 7 7 1 Bethan Ellis 8 7 2 5 5 1 Ria Fackrell 2 2 0 – – – Abigail Freeborn 13 0 0 7 4 1 Katie George 13 12 6 6 6 7 Maddy Green 4 4 1 – – – Amy Jones 1 1 0 4 0 0 Evelyn Jones 13 12 5 6 6 4 Charis Pavely 6 5 2 2 2 1 Davina Perrin 9 8 2 6 6 3 Grace Potts 13 12 7 3 3 0 Issy Wong 8 8 3 3 3 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo

Wicket-keeping PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Catches Stumpings Matches Innings Catches Stumpings Abigail Freeborn 13 12 10 1 7 3 1 2 Amy Jones 1 – – – 4 4 1 3 Source: ESPN Cricinfo

References