The 2023 season saw The Blaze compete in the 50 over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Twenty20 Charlotte Edwards Cup. The season was the first since their rebrand as The Blaze, having previously been known as Lightning, with the team also primarily based at Trent Bridge, having previously been based at Loughborough University. The side were runners-up in both competitions. In the Charlotte Edwards Cup, the side finished top of the group stage, winning all seven of their matches, but lost to Southern Vipers in the final. In the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the side finished second in the group stage before beating South East Stars in the play-off, but again lost in the final to Southern Vipers.
The side was captained by Kirstie Gordon and coached by Chris Guest. They played two home matches apiece at Trent Bridge, Grace Road, John Fretwell Sporting Complex and Haslegrave Ground, as well as one apiece at the County Ground, Derby and Queen's Park.
Squad Departures On 18 April 2023, it was confirmed that Bethan Ellis had left the side, joining Central Sparks. Ahead of the 2023 season, it was confirmed that Katie Midwood, Ilenia Sims, Alicia Presland and Rhiannon Knowling-Davies were no longer in the side's full squad.
Arrivals On 22 November 2022, it was confirmed that Cassidy McCarthy had joined the side on a retainer contract. On 20 February 2023, The Blaze announced the signing of England players Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sarah Glenn from Northern Diamonds and Central Sparks, respectively. On 23 March 2023, it was announced that the side had signed Nadine de Klerk as an overseas player. In September 2023, Lizelle Lee signed as an overseas player for the side's remaining Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy matches, replacing Nadine de Klerk. In September 2023, Rhiannon Knowling-Davies returned to the full squad, first being named in a matchday squad on 9 September 2023.
Personnel and contract changes On 16 September 2022, it was announced that Lightning would be moving their regional base from Loughborough University to Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, and that the name and branding of the team would change. On 11 November 2022, it was announced that the team would now be known as The Blaze. On 22 November 2022, The Blaze announced the players who had signed professional contracts for the upcoming season, with Georgie Boyce and Sophie Munro signing their first such contracts with the side. On 1 February 2023, The Blaze announced a further three players who had been awarded professional contracts with the side, with Grace Ballinger, Teresa Graves and Josie Groves all signing their first such contracts. In April 2023, it was announced that Kirstie Gordon would be the side's new captain, replacing Kathryn Bryce.
Squad list Age given is at the start of The Blaze's first match of the season (22 April 2023). Name Nationality Birth date Batting Style Bowling Style Notes Batters Georgie Boyce Right-handed Right-arm medium Bethany Harmer Right-handed Right-arm off break Marie Kelly Right-handed Right-arm off break Lizelle Lee Right-handed Right-arm medium Overseas player; September 2023 All-rounders Kathryn Bryce Right-handed Right-arm medium Nadine de Klerk Right-handed Right-arm medium Overseas player; April to July 2023 Teresa Graves Right-handed Right-arm medium Nat Sciver-Brunt Right-handed Right-arm medium Wicket-keepers Tammy Beaumont Right-handed — Sarah Bryce Right-handed — Ella Claridge Right-handed — Michaela Kirk Right-handed Right-arm off break Bowlers Grace Ballinger Left-handed Left-arm medium Sarah Glenn Right-handed Right-arm leg break Kirstie Gordon Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Captain Josie Groves Right-handed Right-arm leg break Lucy Higham Right-handed Right-arm off break Rhiannon Knowling-Davies Unknown Right-handed Right-arm medium Joined September 2023 Cassidy McCarthy Right-handed Right-arm medium Sophie Munro Right-handed Right-arm medium
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Season standings
advanced to the final advanced to the play-off
Fixtures
Play-off
Final
Tournament statistics Batting Player Matches Innings Runs Average High score 100s 50s 7 7 0 4 14 13 1 0 13 13 0 2 12 12 0 3 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 200 runs.
Bowling Player Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi 13 18 0 13 14 0 7 13 1 13 13 0 14 13 1 6 12 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 10 wickets.
Charlotte Edwards Cup Season standings
advanced to final advanced to the semi-final
Fixtures
Final
Tournament statistics Batting Player Matches Innings Runs Average High score 100s 50s 8 8 0 1 4 4 0 2 6 6 0 0 8 6 0 1 8 8 0 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 100 runs.
Bowling Player Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi 8 15 0 5 6 0 5 6 0 4 6 0 8 6 0 7 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 Grace Ballinger 13 7 21 11* 21.00 48.83 0 0 8 – – – – – – – Tammy Beaumont 7 7 317 83* 52.83 85.21 0 4 6 6 191 49* 38.20 142.53 0 0 Georgie Boyce 14 13 253 104 21.08 66.57 1 0 8 8 200 63* 28.57 123.45 0 1 Kathryn Bryce 13 11 177 51 16.09 70.51 0 1 7 7 97 54* 16.16 103.19 0 0 Sarah Bryce 13 13 241 53* 21.90 69.45 0 2 8 6 115 67* 23.00 127.77 0 1 Ella Claridge 4 3 58 33 19.33 71.60 0 0 – – – – – – – – Nadine de Klerk 7 7 104 43 20.80 63.80 0 0 8 7 83 21* 20.75 115.27 0 0 Sarah Glenn 4 4 79 38 26.33 80.61 0 0 5 5 81 43* 27.00 112.50 0 0 Kirstie Gordon 13 8 118 40 29.50 57.84 0 0 7 1 3 3* – 150.00 0 0 Teresa Graves 7 6 118 56 19.66 57.84 0 1 – – – – – – – – Josie Groves 6 4 28 13 9.33 82.35 0 0 3 – – – – – – – Bethany Harmer 1 1 11 11 11.00 52.38 0 0 1 1 12 12 12.00 70.58 0 0 Lucy Higham 14 11 86 24 8.60 52.76 0 0 8 2 6 6 6.00 54.54 0 0 Marie Kelly 12 12 239 61 19.91 74.45 0 3 8 8 115 26* 19.16 100.00 0 0 Michaela Kirk 5 4 91 40 22.75 67.91 0 0 2 1 0 0 0.00 0.00 0 0 Lizelle Lee 6 6 75 40 12.50 104.16 0 0 – – – – – – – – Cassidy McCarthy 2 1 12 12 12.00 92.30 0 0 – – – – – – – – Sophie Munro 12 9 183 41 26.14 55.96 0 0 5 3 21 12* 21.00 131.25 0 0 Nat Sciver-Brunt 1 1 66 66* – 92.95 0 1 4 4 194 96* 64.66 174.77 0 2 Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Bowling PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi Grace Ballinger 13 100.4 18 23.44 4.19 4/54 0 8 22.0 6 27.50 7.50 2/23 0 Kathryn Bryce 13 89.0 13 28.61 4.17 2/17 0 7 12.0 4 17.75 5.91 2/17 0 Nadine de Klerk 7 53.3 13 16.30 3.96 7/33 1 8 28.3 15 11.40 6.00 3/21 0 Sarah Glenn 4 19.0 5 10.00 2.63 4/22 0 5 18.0 6 16.00 5.33 2/9 0 Kirstie Gordon 13 104.5 14 30.50 4.07 3/54 0 7 26.0 6 28.16 6.50 2/29 0 Teresa Graves 7 28.5 5 31.20 5.41 2/25 0 – – – – – – – Josie Groves 6 45.0 12 20.50 5.46 3/39 0 3 6.0 1 45.00 7.50 1/14 0 Lucy Higham 14 81.5 13 29.23 4.64 5/19 1 8 15.0 3 31.00 6.20 1/6 0 Marie Kelly 12 10.0 3 20.00 6.00 2/7 0 8 1.0 0 – 8.00 – 0 Cassidy McCarthy 2 14.0 2 30.50 4.35 2/17 0 – – – – – – – Sophie Munro 12 35.0 8 21.75 4.97 3/35 0 5 12.2 6 15.00 7.29 2/18 0 Nat Sciver-Brunt 1 – – – – – – 4 13.0 6 19.66 9.07 2/16 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Fielding PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Catches Matches Innings Catches Grace Ballinger 13 13 3 8 8 0 Tammy Beaumont 7 7 2 6 6 1 Georgie Boyce 14 14 4 8 8 2 Kathryn Bryce 13 13 5 7 7 2 Ella Claridge 4 4 3 – – – Nadine de Klerk 7 7 2 8 8 1 Sarah Glenn 4 4 1 5 5 2 Kirstie Gordon 13 13 6 7 7 3 Teresa Graves 7 7 0 – – – Josie Groves 6 6 1 3 3 0 Bethany Harmer 1 1 0 1 1 0 Lucy Higham 14 14 6 8 8 1 Marie Kelly 12 12 9 8 8 5 Michaela Kirk 5 5 4 2 2 1 Lizelle Lee 6 5 0 – – – Cassidy McCarthy 2 2 0 – – – Sophie Munro 12 12 3 5 5 1 Nat Sciver-Brunt 1 1 1 4 4 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Wicket-keeping PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Catches Stumpings Matches Innings Catches Stumpings Sarah Bryce 13 13 12 5 8 8 0 1 Lizelle Lee 6 1 1 1 – – – – Source: ESPN Cricinfo
References