The 2023 season saw Western Storm compete in the 50 over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Twenty20 Charlotte Edwards Cup. In the Charlotte Edwards Cup, the side won three of their seven matches, finishing sixth in the group. In the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the side finished bottom of the group, winning two of their fourteen matches.

The side was captained by Sophie Luff and coached by Trevor Griffin. They played four home matches at the County Ground, Taunton, three at the County Ground, Bristol, two at Sophia Gardens, and one apiece at College Ground, Cheltenham and Millfield School.

Squad Departures On 3 November 2022, it was announced that Katie George had left the side, signing for Central Sparks. On 4 November 2022, it was announced that Fi Morris had left the side, joining North West Thunder. On 7 November 2022, it was announced that Georgia Hennessy had left the side to pursue opportunities outside cricket. Ahead of the 2023 season, it was confirmed that Lauren Parfitt, Bethan Gammon and Emily Geach had left the side.

Arrivals Ahead of the 2023 season, the side's squad for the season was announced, confirming that Isobel Patel, Rebecca Odgers and Isla Thomson had been added to the squad. On 27 April 2023, the side announced the signing of Orla Prendergast as an overseas player for the months of May and June. On 2 July 2023, it was announced that the side had signed Piepa Cleary as an overseas player, for three Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy matches. In July 2023, the side signed Phoebe Graham on loan from North West Thunder for four Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy matches. On 4 September 2023, the side announced the signing of Gemma Lane on a pay-as-you-play contract.

Personnel and contract changes On 7 November 2022, it was announced that Fran Wilson, Chloe Skelton, Sophia Smale and Lauren Filer had signed their first professional contracts with the side. On 13 March 2023, it was announced that Niamh Holland had signed her first professional contract with the side. On 20 April 2023, it was announced that Emma Corney had signed her first professional contract with the side.

Squad list Age given is at the start of Western Storm's first match of the season (22 April 2023).

Name Nationality Birth date Batting Style Bowling Style Notes Batters Sophie Luff Right-handed Right-arm medium Captain Rebecca Odgers Right-handed Right-arm off break Fran Wilson Right-handed Right-arm off break All-rounders Emma Corney Right-handed Right-arm medium Danielle Gibson Right-handed Right-arm medium Alex Griffiths Right-handed Right-arm medium Niamh Holland Right-handed Right-arm medium Heather Knight Right-handed Right-arm off break Isobel Patel Right-handed Right-arm medium Orla Prendergast Right-handed Right-arm medium Overseas player; May to June 2023 Chloe Skelton Right-handed Right-arm off break Isla Thomson Right-handed Left-arm medium Wicket-keepers Katie Jones Right-handed — Nat Wraith Right-handed — Bowlers Piepa Cleary Right-handed Right-arm medium Overseas player; July 2023 Lauren Filer Right-handed Right-arm medium Phoebe Graham Right-handed Right-arm medium Four match loan from North West Thunder in July 2023 Nicole Harvey Right-handed Right-arm leg break Gemma Lane Right-handed Right-arm medium Joined September 2023 Claire Nicholas Right-handed Right-arm off break Mollie Robbins Right-handed Right-arm medium Sophia Smale Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox

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 11 0 3 12 10 0 2 10 9 0 2 12 11 0 1 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 200 runs.

Bowling Player Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi 12 14 0 12 12 0 12 11 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 2 6 6 0 2 7 7 0 0 7 7 0 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 100 runs. Bowling Player Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi 6 8 0 7 6 0 5 5 0 7 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 Piepa Cleary 3 2 28 14* – 90.32 0 0 – – – – – – – – Emma Corney 12 10 296 69 29.60 59.91 0 2 1 1 23 23 23.00 71.87 0 0 Lauren Filer 6 2 9 6 4.50 60.00 0 0 5 3 34 21 17.00 87.17 0 0 Danielle Gibson 6 5 74 35 14.80 129.82 0 0 6 6 166 62 27.66 141.88 0 2 Phoebe Graham 4 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Alex Griffiths 12 11 203 67 20.30 54.13 0 1 7 4 55 31 18.33 107.84 0 0 Nicole Harvey 5 2 26 25 26.00 65.00 0 0 – – – – – – – – Niamh Holland 12 10 100 44 12.50 90.90 0 0 7 4 48 21 12.00 117.07 0 0 Katie Jones 6 2 48 32 24.00 96.00 0 0 1 1 4 4* – 80.00 0 0 Heather Knight 1 1 5 5* – 100.00 0 0 3 3 74 62 24.66 139.62 0 1 Gemma Lane 4 1 5 5* – 45.45 0 0 – – – – – – – – Sophie Luff 10 9 254 87 36.28 71.54 0 2 7 7 150 44 50.00 93.75 0 0 Claire Nicholas 2 1 0 0 0.00 0.00 0 0 3 – – – – – – – Rebecca Odgers – – – – – – – – 1 – – – – – – – Isobel Patel 1 1 1 1* – 33.33 0 0 – – – – – – – – Orla Prendergast 3 2 131 115 65.50 89.11 1 0 7 7 117 46* 23.40 109.34 0 0 Mollie Robbins 7 3 12 10 12.00 32.43 0 0 1 1 1 1* – 50.00 0 0 Chloe Skelton 13 6 72 26* 36.00 56.69 0 0 7 1 5 5 5.00 100.00 0 0 Sophia Smale 12 8 132 56 18.85 59.72 0 1 7 4 16 10 8.00 114.28 0 0 Isla Thomson 1 1 16 16* – 84.21 0 1 – – – – – – – – Fran Wilson 13 11 404 74* 40.40 90.58 0 3 7 7 186 58* 31.00 121.56 0 2 Nat Wraith 10 8 187 61 26.71 93.03 0 1 7 7 43 16 6.14 91.48 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 Piepa Cleary 3 19.0 5 17.60 4.63 3/43 0 – – – – – – – Emma Corney 12 3.0 0 – 8.66 – 0 – – – – – – – Lauren Filer 6 37.0 8 30.25 6.54 3/60 0 5 16.0 5 24.80 7.75 1/12 0 Danielle Gibson 6 38.0 8 21.12 4.44 3/42 0 6 23.0 8 21.25 7.39 4/23 0 Phoebe Graham 4 11.0 1 55.00 5.00 1/45 0 – – – – – – – Alex Griffiths 12 61.1 11 31.45 5.65 2/25 0 7 10.0 2 44.00 8.80 1/12 0 Nicole Harvey 5 25.0 3 38.00 4.56 3/32 0 – – – – – – – Niamh Holland 12 20.4 2 93.00 9.00 2/53 0 7 1.0 0 – 23.00 – 0 Heather Knight 1 – – – – – – 3 3.0 0 – 6.66 – 0 Gemma Lane 4 13.1 0 – 7.67 – 0 – – – – – – – Claire Nicholas 2 7.0 0 – 7.14 – 0 3 10.0 3 19.66 5.90 2/24 0 Isobel Patel 1 5.0 0 – 9.60 – 0 – – – – – – – Orla Prendergast 3 10.0 0 – 6.40 – 0 7 24.4 6 30.16 7.33 2/12 0 Mollie Robbins 7 46.0 6 39.83 5.19 2/23 0 1 1.0 0 – 6.00 – 0 Chloe Skelton 13 88.0 14 31.28 4.97 3/36 0 7 23.0 5 33.40 7.26 2/19 0 Sophia Smale 12 78.5 12 28.66 4.36 4/34 0 7 21.1 3 53.66 7.60 1/16 0 Isla Thomson 1 1.0 0 – 19.00 – 0 – – – – – – – Source: ESPN Cricinfo

Fielding PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Catches Matches Innings Catches Piepa Cleary 3 2 2 – – – Emma Corney 12 10 0 1 1 0 Lauren Filer 6 5 1 5 5 0 Danielle Gibson 6 5 2 6 6 4 Phoebe Graham 4 2 0 – – – Alex Griffiths 12 10 3 7 7 0 Nicole Harvey 5 4 1 – – – Niamh Holland 12 10 2 7 7 0 Katie Jones 6 1 0 1 1 0 Heather Knight 1 1 1 3 3 0 Gemma Lane 4 4 0 – – – Sophie Luff 10 8 1 7 7 3 Claire Nicholas 2 2 0 3 3 0 Rebecca Odgers – – – 1 1 0 Isobel Patel 1 1 0 – – – Orla Prendergast 3 3 1 7 7 3 Mollie Robbins 7 6 2 1 1 0 Chloe Skelton 13 11 2 7 7 3 Sophia Smale 12 11 6 7 7 4 Isla Thomson 1 1 0 – – – Fran Wilson 13 11 7 7 7 3 Nat Wraith 10 2 0 7 0 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo

Wicket-keeping PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Catches Stumpings Matches Innings Catches Stumpings Katie Jones 6 4 1 2 1 – – – Nat Wraith 10 7 6 1 7 7 1 2 Source: ESPN Cricinfo

References