The 2023 season was North West Thunder's 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 finished third in the group, winning four matches and progressing to the semi-final. In the semi-final, they lost to Southern Vipers by 18 runs. In the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the side finished seventh in the group, winning three of their fourteen matches.
The side was captained by Eleanor Threlkeld and coached by Paul Shaw. They played five home matches at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, two apiece at Rookwood Cricket Ground and Stanley Park, and one apiece at Trafalgar Road Ground and Sedbergh School.
Squad Departures On 4 November 2022, it was announced that Natalie Brown, Rebecca Duckworth and Alice Dyson had all been released. In July 2023, Phoebe Graham went on loan to Western Storm for four Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy matches. Alex Hartley retired from cricket in August 2023, after taking a break from the game in May. On 8 September 2023, it was announced that the side had loaned Sophia Turner to Northern Diamonds for the remainder of the season.
Arrivals On 4 November 2022, it was announced that North West Thunder had signed Naomi Dattani, Fi Morris and Tara Norris from Sunrisers, Western Storm and Southern Vipers respectively. On 6 March 2023, it was confirmed that Stephanie Butler, having left Central Sparks at the end of the 2022 season, had joined the side. On 19 April 2023, it was announced that Deandra Dottin had signed for the side as an overseas player for the entire season, alongside Scotland international Hannah Rainey. On 21 April 2023, it was confirmed that Olivia Thomas was in the side's squad for the season. On 28 April 2023, Mahika Gaur was named in a matchday squad for the first time. On 20 May 2023, Olivia Bell was named in a matchday squad for the first time. On 6 June 2023, academy player Sophie Morris was named in a matchday squad for the first time. On 1 September 2023, it was announced that Laura Delany was replacing Deandra Dottin as the overseas player for the side, due to the latter's involvement in the 2023 Women's Caribbean Premier League.
Personnel and contract changes On 4 November 2022, it was announced that Daisy Mullan had signed her first professional contract with the side. On 23 February 2023, it was announced that a further two players had signed professional contracts, with Liberty Heap and Seren Smale both signing their first such contracts. On 29 June 2023, it was announced that both Danielle Collins and Mahika Gaur had signed professional contracts with the club, Collins until the end of the season and Gaur on a part-time professional deal until the end of 2024. In September 2023, it was announced that Head Coach Paul Shaw was stepping down from his role at the end of the season.
Squad list Age given is at the start of North West Thunder's first match of the season (22 April 2023). Name Nationality Birth date Batting Style Bowling Style Notes Batters Danielle Collins Left-handed Right-arm medium Laura Marshall Right-handed Right-arm medium Daisy Mullan Right-handed Right-arm medium Shachi Pai Right-handed Right-arm medium All-rounders Stephanie Butler Left-handed Right-arm off break Laura Delany Right-handed Right-arm medium Overseas player; September 2023 Naomi Dattani Right-handed Right-arm medium Deandra Dottin Right-handed Right-arm medium Overseas player; April to July 2023 Liberty Heap Right-handed Right-arm off break Emma Lamb Right-handed Right-arm off break Fi Morris Right-handed Right-arm off break Wicket-keepers Alice Clarke Left-handed Right-arm medium Seren Smale Right-handed — Eleanor Threlkeld Right-handed — Captain Bowlers Olivia Bell Right-handed Right-arm off break Joined May 2023 Kate Cross Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast Sophie Ecclestone Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Mahika Gaur Gaur has also played international cricket for the United Arab Emirates. Right-handed Left-arm medium Joined April 2023 Phoebe Graham Right-handed Right-arm medium Four match loan to Western Storm in July 2023 Alex Hartley Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Retired from all formats of cricket in August 2023 Laura Jackson Right-handed Right-arm medium Hannah Jones Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Sophie Morris Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Joined June 2023 Tara Norris Left-handed Left-arm medium Hannah Rainey Right-handed Right-arm medium Olivia Thomas Right-handed Right-arm leg break Sophia Turner Right-handed Right-arm medium Three match loan to Northern Diamonds in September 2023
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 11 11 1 1 10 10 0 1 7 7 0 3 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 200 runs.
Bowling Player Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi 4 14 0 10 10 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 10 wickets.
Charlotte Edwards Cup Season standings
advanced to final advanced to the semi-final
Fixtures
Semi-final
Tournament statistics Batting Player Matches Innings Runs Average High score 100s 50s 8 8 0 0 6 6 0 2 8 8 0 0 8 8 0 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 100 runs.
Bowling Player Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi 4 11 0 8 9 0 8 7 0 4 6 0 3 5 0 8 5 0 8 5 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 Olivia Bell 4 2 23 15 11.50 53.48 0 0 4 1 0 0 0.00 0.00 0 0 Stephanie Butler – – – – – – – – 2 1 2 2 2.00 50.00 0 0 Danielle Collins 7 5 97 25 24.25 59.87 0 0 8 5 38 15* 38.00 92.68 0 0 Kate Cross 3 2 2 2 1.00 28.57 0 0 3 1 22 22* – 146.66 0 0 Naomi Dattani 10 10 263 82 26.30 58.83 0 0 8 7 81 30* 20.25 93.10 0 0 Laura Delany 4 4 52 23* 26.00 75.36 0 0 – – – – – – – – Deandra Dottin 7 6 196 54* 39.20 84.48 0 2 8 8 128 26* 18.28 120.75 0 0 Sophie Ecclestone 2 1 74 74 74.00 113.84 0 1 4 3 58 33 19.33 138.09 0 0 Mahika Gaur 6 4 30 10 10.00 56.60 0 0 8 2 4 3* 4.00 100.00 0 0 Phoebe Graham 5 2 16 16 8.00 35.55 0 0 – – – – – – – – Alex Hartley 3 3 5 5 2.50 33.33 0 0 1 – – – – – – – Liberty Heap 10 8 74 23 9.25 82.22 0 0 8 8 162 46 20.25 89.50 0 0 Laura Jackson 4 1 5 5 5.00 50.00 0 0 – – – – – – – – Hannah Jones 3 2 13 11* 13.00 68.42 0 0 – – – – – – – – Emma Lamb 7 7 250 74 41.66 79.36 0 3 6 6 200 64 33.33 140.84 0 2 Fi Morris 11 11 155 52 14.09 72.42 0 0 8 8 209 44 29.85 122.22 0 0 Sophie Morris 1 1 2 2* – 33.33 0 0 1 – – – – – – – Daisy Mullan 3 2 26 26 13.00 57.77 0 0 – – – – – – – – Tara Norris 10 7 133 51* 26.60 91.09 0 1 8 3 3 2 3.00 42.85 0 0 Seren Smale 8 8 179 94 22.37 72.17 0 1 3 2 16 15 8.00 84.21 0 0 Olivia Thomas 2 2 9 5* 9.00 60.00 0 0 – – – – – – – – Eleanor Threlkeld 11 11 287 107* 41.00 74.16 1 1 8 8 85 31 14.16 92.39 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 Olivia Bell 4 37.4 14 9.28 3.45 4/23 0 4 12.1 11 8.27 7.47 4/37 0 Stephanie Butler – – – – – – – 2 1.0 0 – 13.00 – 0 Danielle Collins 7 3.0 0 – 6.66 – 0 – – – – – – – Kate Cross 3 19.0 3 28.33 4.47 3/40 0 3 12.0 5 14.60 6.08 2/20 0 Naomi Dattani 10 56.0 9 32.11 5.16 4/16 0 8 20.0 5 22.00 5.50 2/25 0 Laura Delany 4 6.0 1 33.00 5.50 1/12 0 – – – – – – – Deandra Dottin 7 13.0 1 95.00 7.30 1/58 0 8 1.0 0 – 11.00 – 0 Sophie Ecclestone 2 9.0 2 16.50 3.66 2/33 0 4 16.0 6 18.50 6.93 2/18 0 Mahika Gaur 6 37.0 6 29.16 4.72 3/39 0 8 26.0 5 42.00 8.07 2/27 0 Phoebe Graham 5 22.0 3 33.00 4.50 2/20 0 – – – – – – – Alex Hartley 3 15.0 2 46.50 6.20 1/22 0 1 1.0 0 – 9.00 – 0 Liberty Heap 10 18.0 6 13.50 4.50 3/39 0 – – – – – – – Laura Jackson 4 20.0 5 20.20 5.05 2/37 0 – – – – – – – Hannah Jones 3 25.0 4 20.25 3.24 2/34 0 – – – – – – – Emma Lamb 7 24.0 2 72.00 6.00 2/35 0 6 10.0 4 18.50 7.40 2/17 0 Fi Morris 11 80.0 8 43.75 4.37 3/33 0 8 25.0 7 23.42 6.56 2/16 0 Sophie Morris 1 7.0 0 – 3.71 – 0 1 2.0 0 – 7.00 – 0 Tara Norris 10 68.0 10 35.40 5.20 4/42 0 8 22.4 9 18.22 7.23 2/2 0 Olivia Thomas 2 3.0 1 28.00 9.33 1/28 0 – – – – – – – Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Fielding PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Catches Matches Innings Catches Olivia Bell 4 4 2 4 4 1 Stephanie Butler – – – 2 2 0 Danielle Collins 7 7 1 8 8 2 Kate Cross 3 2 1 3 3 1 Naomi Dattani 10 10 5 8 8 5 Laura Delany 4 4 1 – – – Deandra Dottin 7 6 2 8 8 6 Sophie Ecclestone 2 1 1 4 4 0 Mahika Gaur 6 5 1 8 8 0 Phoebe Graham 5 4 1 – – – Alex Hartley 3 3 0 1 1 0 Liberty Heap 10 9 1 8 8 2 Laura Jackson 4 3 0 – – – Hannah Jones 3 3 0 – – – Emma Lamb 7 6 1 6 6 1 Fi Morris 11 10 7 8 8 4 Sophie Morris 1 1 0 1 1 0 Daisy Mullan 3 3 0 – – – Tara Norris 10 10 5 8 8 4 Seren Smale 8 7 2 3 3 1 Olivia Thomas 2 2 1 – – – Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Wicket-keeping PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Catches Stumpings Matches Innings Catches Stumpings Eleanor Threlkeld 11 10 5 4 8 8 4 2 Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Notes
References