Central Sparks

English women's cricket team From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Central Sparks

Central Sparks were a women's cricket team that represented the West Midlands region, one of eight regional hubs in English domestic women's cricket. They primarily played their home matches at Edgbaston and New Road.[1][2] They were captained by Evelyn Jones and coached by Darren Franklin and Justine Dunce.[3][4] The team was partnered with Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire.[5]

Quick Facts Personnel, Captain ...
Central Sparks
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Personnel
CaptainEvelyn Jones
CoachDarren Franklin & Justine Dunce
Team information
Colours   Black and purple
Established2020
Home groundEdgbaston Cricket Ground
New Road, Worcester
Chester Road North Ground
Scorers, Shirley
History
RHFT wins0
CEC wins0
Official websiteCentral Sparks
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Playing kit

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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 Warwickshire team.[6]

History

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Perspective

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] Central Sparks were one of the sides created under this structure, representing the West Midlands and partnered with Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire.[5] The side was to be captained by Evelyn Jones and coached by Lloyd Tennant.[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] Central Sparks finished second in the North Group of the competition, winning three of their six games but failing to progress to the final.[10] At the end of the season, five Sparks players were given full-time domestic contracts, the first of their kind in England: Evelyn Jones, Marie Kelly, Issy Wong, Emily Arlott and Gwenan Davies.[11]

The following season, 2021, Sparks 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 three of their six matches.[12] In the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, Central Sparks qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament, finishing third in the group of eight with five wins from their seven matches.[13] During the group stages, Amy Jones hit the highest score of the tournament, scoring 163* against Western Storm, whilst Emily Arlott recorded the best individual bowling figures of the tournament against Southern Vipers, taking 5/29 including a hat-trick.[14][15] In the play-off, however, the side lost to Northern Diamonds by 6 wickets to be eliminated from the competition.[16] In 2022, they reached the final of the Charlotte Edwards Cup after finishing second in Group A and beating South East Stars in the semi-final.[17][18] However, they lost to Southern Vipers in the final.[19] Sparks batter Amy Jones was the leading run-scorer in the tournament, with 289 runs, and was named the PCA Player of the Tournament.[20] In July 2022, the side launched the West Midlands Regional Cup, to aid the development of players playing for county sides in the region.[21] The side finished fifth in the group of eight in the 2022 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.[22]

In 2023, Central Sparks finished seventh out of eight in the Charlotte Edwards Cup and fifth out of eight in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.[23][24] Sparks bowler Georgia Davis was the leading wicket-taker in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, with 27 wickets.[25] In 2024, the side reached the semi-finals of the Charlotte Edwards Cup and finished seventh in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.[26][27]

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 Warwickshire team.[6]

Home grounds

More information Venue, Games hosted by season ...
Venue Games hosted by season
2021222324Total
Edgbaston Cricket Ground2224515
New Road, Worcester2344518
Edgbaston Foundation Ground112
Sir Paul Getty's Ground11
Scorers, Shirley112
Chester Road North Ground11
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Players

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Current squad

Final squad, 2024 season.[28]

  • No. denotes the player's squad number, as worn on the back of their shirt.
  • denotes players with international caps.
More information No., Name ...
No. Name Nationality Birth date Batting style Bowling style Notes
Batters
2Chloe Brewer England (2002-07-12) 12 July 2002 (age 22)Right-handedRight-arm medium
6Ami Campbell England (1991-06-06) 6 June 1991 (age 33)Left-handedRight-arm medium
8Davina Perrin England (2006-09-08) 8 September 2006 (age 18)Right-handedRight-arm medium
11Evelyn Jones England (1992-08-08) 8 August 1992 (age 32)Left-handedLeft-arm mediumClub captain
16Meg Austin England (2004-09-07) 7 September 2004 (age 20)Right-handedRight-arm leg break
All-rounders
14Bethan Ellis England (1999-07-07) 7 July 1999 (age 25)Right-handedRight-arm medium
28Charis Pavely  England (2004-10-25) 25 October 2004 (age 20)Left-handedSlow left-arm orthodox
77Ria Fackrell England (1999-09-16) 16 September 1999 (age 25)Right-handedRight-arm off break
99Katie George  England (1999-04-07) 7 April 1999 (age 26)Right-handedLeft-arm medium
Wicket-keepers
27Abigail Freeborn England (1996-11-12) 12 November 1996 (age 28)Right-handed
29Poppy Davies England (2000-06-23) 23 June 2000 (age 24)Right-handed
40Amy Jones  England (1993-06-13) 13 June 1993 (age 31)Right-handed
Sophie Beech EnglandUnknownRight-handed
Bowlers
3Hannah Baker  England (2004-02-03) 3 February 2004 (age 21)Right-handedRight-arm leg break
9Grace Potts England (2002-07-12) 12 July 2002 (age 22)Right-handedRight-arm medium
17Anisha Patel England (1995-08-17) 17 August 1995 (age 29)Right-handedRight-arm leg break
19Hannah Hardwick England (2004-05-01) 1 May 2004 (age 20)Right-handedRight-arm medium
37Emily Arlott England (1998-02-23) 23 February 1998 (age 27)Right-handedRight-arm medium
45Ellie Anderson England (2003-10-30) 30 October 2003 (age 21)Right-handedRight-arm medium
64Georgia Davis  England (1999-06-03) 3 June 1999 (age 25)Right-handedRight-arm off break
95Issy Wong  England (2002-05-15) 15 May 2002 (age 22)Right-handedRight-arm medium
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Academy

The Central Sparks Academy team played against other regional academies in friendly and festival matches across various formats. The Academy selected players from across the West Midlands region, and included some players who were also in the first team squad. Players in the 2024 Academy are listed below:[29]

More information Name, County ...
Name County
Meg AustinStaffordshire
Sophie BeechStaffordshire
Phoebe BrettWorcestershire
Lexie CantrillStaffordshire
Emily ChurmsWarwickshire/Shropshire
Isabel EllsmoreStaffordshire
Hannah HardwickWorcestershire
Amy GriffithsShropshire
Libby ThomasWales
Ebony TweatsStaffordshire
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Overseas players

Coaching staff

  • Head Coaches: Darren Franklin & Justine Dunce
  • Regional Director: Laura Macleod
  • Team Operations Manager: Beth Gaskell
  • Physiotherapist: Julia Sawkings & Becky Webber
  • Strength & Conditioning Lead: Nick Karamouzis
  • Strength & Conditioning Coach: Andy Harland
  • Talent Manager: Lauren Rowles
  • Performance Analyst: George Isaacs

As of the 2024 season.[8]

Seasons

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

More information Season, Final standing ...
Season Final standing League standings[30] Notes
P W L T NR BP Pts NRR Pos
2020 Group stage 63300113−0.2852nd DNQ
2021 Losing semi-finalists: 3rd 75200222+0.8223rd Lost to Northern Diamonds in the semi-final
2022 Group stage 72401111+0.0735th DNQ
2023 Group stage 146512131–0.2335th DNQ
2024 Group stage 145801325–0.2997th DNQ
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Charlotte Edwards Cup

More information Season, Final standing ...
Season Final standing League standings Notes
P W L T NR BP Pts NRR Pos
2021 Group stages 63300012–0.6693rd DNQ
2022 Runners-up 64200117+0.5522nd Lost to Southern Vipers in the final
2023 Group stages 7250008–0.5587th DNQ
2024 Semi-finals 106400226+0.4024th Lost to The Blaze in the semi-finals
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Statistics

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

More information Year, Played ...
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy – summary of results[30]
Year Played Wins Losses Tied NR Win %
2020 6330050.00
2021 8530062.50
2022 7240128.57
2023 14651242.86
2024 14580135.71
Total 4921231442.86
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  • Abandoned matches are counted as NR (no result)
  • Win or loss by super over or boundary count are counted as tied.
More information Opposition, Mat ...
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy – teamwise result summary[31]
Opposition Mat Won Lost Tied NR Win %
Northern Diamonds9450044.44
North West Thunder8431050.00
South East Stars6240033.33
Southern Vipers6330050.00
Sunrisers6220233.33
The Blaze8250125.00
Western Storm6410166.67
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Charlotte Edwards Cup

More information Year, Played ...
Charlotte Edwards Cup - summary of results
Year Played Wins Losses Tied NR Win %
2021 6330050.00
2022 8530062.50
2023 7250028.57
2024 11650054.55
Total 3216160050.00
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  • Abandoned matches are counted as NR (no result)
  • Win or loss by super over or boundary count are counted as tied.
More information Opposition, Mat ...
Charlotte Edwards Cup - teamwise result summary
Opposition Mat Won Lost Tied NR Win %
Northern Diamonds3120033.33
North West Thunder3120033.33
South East Stars7340042.86
Southern Vipers5320060.00
Sunrisers44000100.00
The Blaze6240033.33
Western Storm4220050.00
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Records

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

Charlotte Edwards Cup

See also

References

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