Worcestershire Women’s Rapids captain Chloe Hill is delighted with the competition for places in the squad this summer.
The Rapids have recruited batter Ami Campbell, who signed this winter for Central Sparks, on loan for the 2022 season.
The left-hander top-scored for Northern Diamonds with 60 in last summer’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final against Southern Vipers.
She has joined the Sparks after being awarded her first full-time professional contract by the ECB and will add quality to the Rapids line-up.
With another batter in Sparks player, Milly Home, also re-signing on loan, it provides strength in depth for the Rapids, who will be competing in the ECB Women’s County Championship T20 Group and the Regional 50 Over League.
Hill said: “It is great to have the two competitions again. We are looking forward to having more cricket, and we need more cricket, especially with some of it being so early before the regional (Central Sparks) fixtures.
“You get to hit the ground running nice and early, but it is good also to have the 50 over competition later in the summer and spreads the schedule out nicely.
“We are delighted to have signed Ami, who is a powerful left-handed batter, and I’d rather her be on my team than against me!
“She is a hard-hitting, quick-hitting batter. It doesn’t take her many deliveries to start scoring runs.
“We’ve got Milly coming back as well, and we are still trying to work out our best order is, numbers one to five or even one to eight.
“It is nice to have competition, and everyone is fighting for a spot instead of just expecting to go somewhere (play).”
Assistant Coach, Ryan D’Oliveira, said: “We are very much looking forward to two competitive leagues this year, via the ECB T20 Competition and also the Regional League 50 that has been set up.
“As a squad, we have only been strengthened by the signing of Ami Campbell, who is also involved with the Central Sparks.
“The group as a whole is extremely talented, and myself and Gareth Davies are looking forward to the match phase.”
Hill also confirmed that pace bowler, Emily Arlott, will be part of the Rapids side this summer after winter speculation about a move.
She said: “I don’t know who started that rumour, but it is not true. Emily is staying with Worcestershire. We’ve got everyone still, plus Ami.”
The Sparks trio of Hill, Boycott and Arlott will all again be in action for the Rapids, while Sarah Glenn’s involvement, as always, will depend on England commitments.
In addition, Ellie Anderson, Charis Pavely and Hannah Hardwick, members
of the Sparks Academy will also be part of the Rapids squad.
Hill said: “As always if the girls do well in county cricket, they have a chance of being selected for regional cricket.
“With the two competitions back (T20 and 50 over), it is really positive for women’s cricket, which is nice to see.”
The Sparks will play four more games at New Road this summer, and Hill said: “It is something extra as Rapids captain to play on your home ground, and I always enjoy playing there.”
Wicket-keeper-batter Hill is delighted with the general quality of women’s cricket.
“I think the overall standard is brilliant. The regional competition, if you don’t have the England girls playing in it, I don’t think it matters because the standard is strong.
“That is saying something about how the domestic game has grown so much.
“From our point of view, To have six or seven Rapids players involved in the Sparks at either senior or Academy level is excellent.”
