Worcestershire Women’s Rapids player, Phoebe Brett, has earned a place as part of the Central Sparks Academy intake for 2024 for the first time.
The spinner follows in the footsteps of Rapids duo Ellie Anderson and Charis Pavely, part of the inaugural intake in 2021, and Hannah Hardwick who has retained her place for another 12 months.
All four have developed through the flourishing Worcestershire pathway which is providing a conveyor belt of young talent for the Rapids squad.
Brett was voted the Women’s Rapids 2023 Young Player Of The Year
She stepped up from Under-15 level into the senior team last summer and helped them to trophy glory.
Brett finished fourth in the overall bowling averages for the West Midlands Regional Cup with figures of 17-0-63-6.
A four-wicket haul against Cricket Wales played a key part in that victory and in the final she had figures of 7-0-36-2 as the Rapids defeated Staffordshire.
Worcestershire Women’s Rapids captain, Chloe Hill said: “Congratulations to Phoebe on earning a place on the Sparks Academy and it is well deserved.
“It is so pleasing to see players coming through the pathway into the Worcestershire side and then going onto play and be involved with regional cricket – and have the chance to become professional cricketers.
“When I first joined Worcestershire there weren’t many players coming through the pathway but now the depth and strength of the various age groups is there for all to see.
“To have a conveyor belt of young talent coming through is really encouraging and Phoebe has made big strides in a short period of time and showed her potential last summer.
“It really does reflect the upward curve of the women’s game in the county.”
Anderson said: “Phoebe will love it and it has been great to see how the Academy has developed, the thought process of we can move people through it and get more players.
“To see that starting to take shape, is really nice to see.
“Phoebe does look like she has got loads of potential and I was really impressed when I first saw her at a T20 day.”
📸 Hannah Hardwick
