Worcestershire Women’s Rapids will look to continue their flying start to the season tomorrow when they face Sussex Sharks at Visit Worcestershire New Road, with the chance to make it three wins from three in front of a home crowd.
Fresh from impressive back-to-back victories against Yorkshire and Leicestershire, the Rapids have not only found early-season form, but have shown a collective resilience and unity that is rapidly becoming the hallmark of this exciting new-look squad.
For one player in particular, tomorrow’s fixture is set to be especially poignant. All-rounder Clare Boycott, a product of the Worcestershire pathway, has played hundreds of games for the club, but the opportunity to step out at Visit Worcestershire New Road in front of home support still holds a unique place in her heart.
“This one’s going to be really special,” Boycott said. “We played a couple of games at Visit Worcestershire New Road maybe five or six years ago, but this one really stands out. It feels like playing there with this new professional unit is going to really stand out as one of my career highlights.”
Boycott, who grew up dreaming of playing at the county ground, said the increased presence of women’s fixtures at the venue marks a significant milestone for the game.
“I always used to come down to Visit Worcestershire New Road to watch the men’s team as a kid, and always hoped I’d get the chance to play here. So to be here now, in front of our supporters, in a team that’s really coming together, it’s a brilliant feeling. Tomorrow’s another big test, and hopefully we can rise to the occasion.”
The Rapids’ campaign began with a hard-fought win at Headingley, where they overcame early batting pressure to post a competitive total. That was followed by an impressive home victory against Leicestershire, in which the Rapids recovered from a slow start to post over 260 and defend it with authority.
“I think the performances so far have shown how tight this group is,” said Boycott. “At Headingley, we had to grind it out early on, and last week we showed composure again. It’s been a real team effort, everyone’s chipped in.”
Several new faces have made an instant impact. Gwenan Davies, Emily Churms, and Ruby Davis have quickly settled into the dressing room, while on-loan all-rounder Amy Wheeler made an explosive impression in last week’s win, smashing a six from just her second ball.
“Amy stepped in so well, she batted with total confidence. She was out there with me and just went for it straight away. That fearless mindset is spreading through the group.”
Sussex arrive at Visit Worcestershire New Road having endured a difficult start to their campaign and currently sit bottom of the table. But Boycott warned against complacency.
“They’ll be desperate to bounce back, so we’ve got to stay sharp and take our chances. We’d love to post a 300-plus score, especially here at Visit Worcestershire New Road, but we know we’ll need to earn the right to do that.”
With the bat, the Rapids have shown depth and aggression. With the ball, it’s been a blend of control and variation, particularly in the spin department.
“Flora and Phoebe have been outstanding for us. They’ve been our go-to spinners for a while now. Flora bowled brilliantly at Headingley, and even when they don’t take wickets, they tighten things up and create pressure.”
The variety in the bowling attack, with seamers offering pace and bounce and spinners controlling the middle overs, has been key to Worcestershire’s early success.
As the women’s game continues to grow across the country, Boycott believes the visibility of matches at Visit Worcestershire New Road is a huge step forward, and called on Worcestershire cricket fans to come down and be part of it.
“It would be amazing to get a big crowd in. You can feel the pride when you’re playing at this ground and see people coming out to support you. If you’re free, come down and cheer us on. We’d love your support, it means a lot to all of us.”
While the early-season results are promising, Boycott was keen to emphasise the culture that’s being built behind the scenes.
“The vibe around the group is fantastic. We’ve only been together a few months, but it already feels like a really close-knit squad. Everyone’s backing each other, you can see it in the way we play.”
Worcestershire Women’s Rapids vs Sussex Sharks
📍 Visit Worcestershire New Road
📅 Saturday 3 May
🕚 10:30am start
🎟 Free entry, no ticket required
Squad vs Sussex Sharks brought to by JPM Broking Services
