Wikipedia

North West Thunder

For the Australian basketball team, see North-West Tasmania Thunder.

North West Thunder, commonly referred to as Thunder, were a women's cricket team that represented Lancashire and North West England, one of eight regional hubs in English domestic women's cricket. They played their home matches at various grounds, including Old Trafford Cricket Ground.[1][2] They were captained by Eleanor Threlkeld and coached by Chris Read.[3][4] The team carried over many elements of the WCSL team Lancashire Thunder, but were partnered with Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria.[5]

North West Thunder
Personnel
CaptainEleanor Threlkeld
CoachChris Read
Team information
Colours   Red and dark blue
Established2020
Home groundOld Trafford Cricket Ground
Rookwood Cricket Ground
Trafalgar Road Ground
Stanley Park
Sedbergh School
History
RHFT wins0
CEC wins0
Official websiteThunder Cricket

Playing kit

At the end of the 2024 season, following reforms to the structure of women's domestic cricket, the team was effectively replaced by a professionalised Lancashire team.[6]

History

edit

In 2020, women's cricket in England was restructured, creating eight new 'regional hub' teams, with the intention of playing both 50-over and 20-over cricket.[7] North West Thunder were one of the sides created under this structure, effectively replacing the Women's Cricket Super League team Lancashire Thunder and representing Lancashire and North West England, partnering with Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria.[5] The side was to be captained by Alex Hartley and coached by Paul Shaw.[8] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was truncated, and only 50-over cricket was played, in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.[9] North West Thunder finished third in the North Group of the competition, winning two of their six matches.[10] At the end of the season, five Thunder players were given full-time domestic contracts, the first of their kind in England: Alex Hartley, Georgie Boyce, Emma Lamb, Eleanor Threlkeld and Hannah Jones.[11]

The following season, 2021, North West Thunder competed in both the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the newly-formed Twenty20 competition, the Charlotte Edwards Cup. In the Charlotte Edwards Cup the side finished third in their group, winning two of their six matches, as well as their away match against Sunrisers ending in a tie.[12][13] Thunder batter Emma Lamb hit the first Charlotte Edwards Cup century in the reverse fixture against Sunrisers, as her side made the highest team score of the tournament, 186/1.[14][15] In the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the team finished seventh in the group of eight, winning three of their seven matches.[16] North West Thunder bowler Hannah Jones was the joint-second highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 14 wickets.[17]

 
North West Thunder take the field during their match against Western Storm in May 2023.

Ahead of the 2022 season, Hartley stood down as captain of the side.[18] Eleanor Threlkeld was named as her replacement.[3] The side finished third in their group in the Charlotte Edwards Cup that season, winning two of their six matches.[19] The side finished seventh in the group of eight in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.[20]

In 2023, the side qualified for the knockout stages of a tournament for the first time, doing so in the Charlotte Edwards Cup after winning four of their last five matches.[21] However, they lost in the semi-final to Southern Vipers.[22] The side finished seventh in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, winning three matches.[23] Head Coach Paul Shaw stepped down from his role at the end of the season, and was later replaced by Chris Read.[24][4] In 2024, the side finished fifth in the Charlotte Edwards Cup and finished sixth in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.[25][26]

2024 was the side's final season, with reforms to the structure of domestic cricket in England meaning that the side was effectively replaced by a professionalised Lancashire team.[6]

Home grounds

edit
Venue Games hosted by season
20 21 22 23 24 Total
Aigburth Cricket Ground, Liverpool 2 – – – – 2
Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club – 4 – – – 4
Old Trafford Cricket Ground – 1 4 5 7 17
Rookwood Cricket Ground, Sale – 1 2 2 1 6
Trafalgar Road Ground – – 1 1 1 3
Stanley Park – – – 2 2 4
Sedbergh School – – – 1 1 2

Players

edit

Current squad

edit

Final squad, 2024 season.[27]

  • No. denotes the player's squad number, as worn on the back of their shirt.
  • ‡ denotes players with international caps.
No. Name Nationality Birth date Batting style Bowling style Notes
Batters
23 Shachi Pai   England (1998-10-10) 10 October 1998 (age 26) Right-handed Right-arm medium
30 Danielle Collins   England (2000-07-07) 7 July 2000 (age 24) Left-handed Right-arm medium
50 Daisy Mullan   England (2002-11-29) 29 November 2002 (age 21) Right-handed Right-arm medium
All-rounders
6 Emma Lamb ‡   England (1997-12-16) 16 December 1997 (age 26) Right-handed Right-arm off break
11 Naomi Dattani   England (1994-04-28) 28 April 1994 (age 30) Left-handed Left-arm medium
31 Fi Morris   England (1994-01-31) 31 January 1994 (age 30) Right-handed Right-arm off break
39 Liberty Heap   England (2003-09-16) 16 September 2003 (age 21) Right-handed Right-arm off break
Wicket-keepers
21 Eleanor Threlkeld   England (1998-11-16) 16 November 1998 (age 26) Right-handed — Captain
32 Ailsa Lister ‡   Scotland (2004-04-08) 8 April 2004 (age 20) Right-handed —
35 Alice Clarke   England (2001-08-04) 4 August 2001 (age 23) Left-handed Right-arm medium
47 Seren Smale ‡   England (2004-12-13) 13 December 2004 (age 19) Right-handed —
Bowlers
3 Sophie Morris   England (2004-01-02) 2 January 2004 (age 20) Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox
4 Olivia Bell ‡   Scotland (2003-11-12) 12 November 2003 (age 21) Right-handed Right-arm off break
7 Hannah Jones   England (1999-02-10) 10 February 1999 (age 25) Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox
16 Kate Cross ‡   England (1991-10-03) 3 October 1991 (age 33) Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast
17 Phoebe Graham   England (1991-10-23) 23 October 1991 (age 33) Right-handed Right-arm medium
18 Mahika Gaur ‡   England[a] (2006-03-09) 9 March 2006 (age 18) Right-handed Left-arm medium
19 Sophie Ecclestone ‡   England (1999-05-06) 6 May 1999 (age 25) Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox
22 Laura Jackson   England (1997-12-27) 27 December 1997 (age 26) Right-handed Right-arm medium
24 Tara Norris ‡   United States (1998-06-04) 4 June 1998 (age 26) Left-handed Left-arm medium
26 Hannah Rainey ‡   Scotland (1997-06-02) 2 June 1997 (age 27) Right-handed Right-arm medium
53 Grace Johnson   England (2004-12-21) 21 December 2004 (age 19) Right-handed Right-arm medium

Academy

edit

The North West Thunder Academy team played against other regional academies in friendly and festival matches across various formats. The Academy selected players from across the North West region, and included some players who were also in the first team squad. Players in the 2024 Academy are listed below:[28]

Name County
Olivia Brinsden Cumbria
Holly Brown Lancashire
Summer Carrington Lancashire
Eliza Cottam Lancashire
Olivia Cunliffe Lancashire
Grace Hemsted Cheshire
Grace Johnson Lancashire
Maeve Jones Lancashire
Tilly Kesteven Lancashire
Emilia Lamb Lancashire
Martha Rimmer Lancashire
Bethan Robinson Lancashire
Amelia Sammons Lancashire
Hannah Snape Lancashire
Venus Weerapuli Lancashire

Overseas players

edit

Coaching staff

edit
  • Head Coach: Chris Read
  • Regional Director: David Thorley
  • Senior Regional Talent Manager: Jen Barden

As of the 2024 season.[8]

Seasons

edit

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

edit
Season Final standing League standings[29] Notes
P W L T NR BP Pts NRR Pos
2020 Group stage 6 2 4 0 0 1 9 −0.515 3rd DNQ
2021 Group stage 7 3 4 0 0 1 13 −0.620 7th DNQ
2022 Group stage 7 1 5 0 1 0 6 −0.366 7th DNQ
2023 Group stage 14 3 5 2 4 2 26 −0.274 7th DNQ
2024 Group stage 14 5 8 0 1 3 25 −0.013 6th DNQ

Charlotte Edwards Cup

edit
Season Final standing League standings Notes
P W L T NR BP Pts NRR Pos
2021 Group stages 6 2 3 1 0 1 11 0.029 3rd DNQ
2022 Group stages 6 2 4 0 0 2 10 –0.190 3rd DNQ
2023 Losing semi-finalists: 3rd 7 4 3 0 0 2 18 0.331 3rd Lost to Southern Vipers in the semi-final
2024 Group stages 10 3 6 0 1 1 15 –0.727 5th DNQ

Statistics

edit

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

edit
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy – summary of results[30]
Year Played Wins Losses Tied NR Win %
2020 6 2 4 0 0 33.33
2021 7 3 4 0 0 42.86
2022 7 1 5 0 1 14.29
2023 14 3 5 2 4 21.43
2024 14 5 8 0 1 35.71
Total 48 14 26 2 6 29.17
  • Abandoned matches are counted as NR (no result)
  • Win or loss by super over or boundary count are counted as tied.
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy – teamwise result summary[31]
Opposition Mat Won Lost Tied NR Win %
Central Sparks 8 3 4 1 0 37.50
Northern Diamonds 8 1 7 0 0 12.50
South East Stars 6 3 3 0 0 50.00
Southern Vipers 6 0 4 1 1 0.00
Sunrisers 6 2 1 0 3 33.33
The Blaze 8 3 3 0 2 37.50
Western Storm 6 2 4 0 0 33.33

Charlotte Edwards Cup

edit
Charlotte Edwards Cup - summary of results
Year Played Wins Losses Tied NR Win %
2021 6 2 3 1 0 33.33
2022 6 2 4 0 0 33.33
2023 8 4 4 0 0 50.00
2024 10 3 6 0 1 30.00
Total 30 11 17 1 1 36.67
  • Abandoned matches are counted as NR (no result)
  • Win or loss by super over or boundary count are counted as tied.
Charlotte Edwards Cup - teamwise result summary
Opposition Mat Won Lost Tied NR Win %
Central Sparks 3 2 1 0 0 66.67
Northern Diamonds 7 4 3 0 0 57.14
South East Stars 2 1 1 0 0 50.00
Southern Vipers 5 0 5 0 0 0.00
Sunrisers 4 3 0 1 0 75.00
The Blaze 5 1 4 0 0 20.00
Western Storm 4 0 3 0 1 0.00

Records

edit

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

edit

Charlotte Edwards Cup

edit

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Gaur has also played international cricket for the United Arab Emirates.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Fixtures". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Women's Regional T20 2021 - Fixtures". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Thunder confirms squad and announces Threlkeld captain". Lancashire Cricket. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Chris Read named Thunder Head Coach". Lancashire Cricket. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Thunder Cricket About". Lancashire Cricket. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Eight Tier 1 Counties confirmed for 2025 and plans unveiled for four more women's professional domestic teams by 2029". England and Wales Cricket Board. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  7. ^ "ECB launches new plan to transform women's and girls' cricket". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Thorley aiming high as Women's Regional Director". Lancashire Cricket. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy: The special-edition 50-over competition explained". the Cricketer. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2020/Table". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Forty-one female players sign full-time domestic contracts". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Charlotte Edwards Cup 2021/Table". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Thunder tie thriller with Sunrisers, thanks to Kate Cross-Hannah Jones death bowling". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Emma Lamb becomes first Charlotte Edwards Cup centurion as Thunder strike down Sunrisers". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021/Highest Totals". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2021/Table". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2021/Most Wickets". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Alex Hartley steps down as Thunder Captain". Lancashire Cricket. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Charlotte Edwards Cup 2022/Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2022/Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Olivia Bell conjures dream spell as Diamonds all but vanish from Finals Day race". ESPNcricinfo. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Wyatt, Bouchier fireworks take Southern Vipers into Charlotte Edwards Cup final". ESPNcricinfo. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2023". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Paul Shaw to step down as Thunder Head Coach". Lancashire Cricket. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2024 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Charlotte Edwards Cup 2024 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Thunder Cricket". Lancashire Cricket. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Thunder Academy intake announced for 2024". Lancashire Cricket. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  29. ^ "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Tables". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  30. ^ "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Tables". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  31. ^ "Thunder Match Results". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  32. ^ a b "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2020 - Thunder/Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2021 - Thunder/Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  34. ^ a b "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2022 - Thunder/Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  35. ^ a b "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2023 - Thunder/Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  36. ^ a b "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2024 - Thunder/Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  37. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2020 - Thunder/High scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  38. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2021 - Thunder/High scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  39. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2022 - Thunder/High scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  40. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2023 - Thunder/High scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  41. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2024 - Thunder/High scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  42. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2020 - Thunder/Best bowling figures in an innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  43. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2021 - Thunder/Best bowling figures in an innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  44. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2022 - Thunder/Best bowling figures in an innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  45. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2023 - Thunder/Best bowling figures in an innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  46. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2024 - Thunder/Best bowling figures in an innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  47. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2020 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  48. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2021 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  49. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2022 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  50. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2023 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  51. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2024 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  52. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2020 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  53. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2021 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  54. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2022 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  55. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2023 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  56. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2024 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  57. ^ a b "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021 - Thunder/Highest Totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  58. ^ a b "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2022 - Thunder/Highest Totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  59. ^ a b "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2023 - Thunder/Highest Totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  60. ^ a b "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2024 - Thunder/Highest Totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  61. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021 - Thunder/High Scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  62. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2022 - Thunder/High Scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  63. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2023 - Thunder/High Scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  64. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2024 - Thunder/High Scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  65. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021 - Thunder/Best Bowling Figures in an Innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  66. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2022 - Thunder/Best Bowling Figures in an Innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  67. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2023 - Thunder/Best Bowling Figures in an Innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  68. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2024 - Thunder/Best Bowling Figures in an Innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  69. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  70. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2022 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  71. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2023 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  72. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2024 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  73. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  74. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2022 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  75. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2023 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  76. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2024 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_West_Thunder&oldid=1248496568"