North_West_Thunder
North West Thunder
English women's cricket team
North West Thunder, commonly referred to as Thunder, are a women's cricket team that represent Lancashire and North West England, one of eight regional hubs in English domestic women's cricket. They play their home matches at various grounds, including Old Trafford Cricket Ground.[1][2] They are captained by Eleanor Threlkeld and coached by Chris Read.[3][4] The team carries over many elements of the WCSL team Lancashire Thunder, but are now partnered with Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria.[5]
| Personnel | ||
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Eleanor Threlkeld | |
| Coach | Chris Read | |
| Team information | ||
| Colours | Red and dark blue | |
| Established | 2020 | |
| Home ground | Old Trafford Cricket Ground Rookwood Cricket Ground Trafalgar Road Ground Stanley Park Sedbergh School | |
| History | ||
| RHFT wins | 0 | |
| CEC wins | 0 | |
| Official website | Thunder Cricket | |
| ||
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.[6] 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.[7] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was truncated, and only 50-over cricket was played, in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.[8] North West Thunder finished third in the North Group of the competition, winning two of their six matches.[9] 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.[10]
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.[11][12] 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.[13][14] In the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the team finished seventh in the group of eight, winning three of their seven matches.[15] North West Thunder bowler Hannah Jones was the joint-second highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 14 wickets.[16]
Ahead of the 2022 season, Hartley stood down as captain of the side.[17] 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.[18] The side finished seventh in the group of eight in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.[19]
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.[20] However, they lost in the semi-final to Southern Vipers.[21] The side finished seventh in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, winning three matches.[22] Head Coach Paul Shaw stepped down from his role at the end of the season, and was later replaced by Chris Read.[23][4]
| Venue | Games hosted by season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | Total | |
| Aigburth Cricket Ground, Liverpool | 2 | – | – | – | 2 |
| Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club | – | 4 | – | – | 4 |
| Old Trafford Cricket Ground | – | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| Rookwood Cricket Ground, Sale | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Trafalgar Road Ground | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Stanley Park | – | – | – | 2 | 2 |
| Sedbergh School | – | – | – | 1 | 1 |
Current squad
As per 2024 season.[24]
- 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 | ||||||
| 2 | Katie Mack |  Australia | (1993-09-14) 14 September 1993 (age 30) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | Overseas player |
| 23 | Shachi Pai |  England | (1998-10-10) 10 October 1998 (age 25) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 30 | Danielle Collins | England | (2000-07-07) 7 July 2000 (age 23) | Left-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 50 | Daisy Mullan | England | (2002-11-29) 29 November 2002 (age 21) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| – | Georgia Voll | Australia | (2003-08-05) 5 August 2003 (age 20) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | Overseas player |
| 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 20) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| Wicket-keepers | ||||||
| 21 | Eleanor Threlkeld | England | (1998-11-16) 16 November 1998 (age 25) | Right-handed | — | Captain |
| 35 | Alice Clarke | England | (2001-08-04) 4 August 2001 (age 22) | Left-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 47 | Seren Smale |  Wales | (2004-12-13) 13 December 2004 (age 19) | Right-handed | — | |
| – | Ailsa Lister ‡ |  Scotland | (2004-04-08) 8 April 2004 (age 20) | 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 20) | 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 32) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | |
| 17 | Phoebe Graham | England | (1991-10-23) 23 October 1991 (age 32) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 18 | Mahika Gaur ‡ | England[lower-alpha 1] | (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 25) | Left-handed | Left-arm medium | |
| 26 | Hannah Rainey ‡ | Scotland | (1997-06-02) 2 June 1997 (age 26) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| – | Grace Johnson | England | (2004-12-21) 21 December 2004 (age 19) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
Academy
The North West Thunder Academy team plays against other regional academies in friendly and festival matches across various formats. The Academy selects players from across the North West region, and includes some players who are also in the first team squad. Players in the 2024 Academy are listed below:[25]
| 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
Piepa Cleary – Australia (2021)
Deandra Dottin – West Indies (2022–2023)
Laura Delany – Ireland (2023)- Katie Mack – Australia (2024)
- Head Coach: Chris Read
- Regional Director: David Thorley
- Senior Regional Talent Manager: Jen Barden
As of the 2023 season.[7]
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
Charlotte Edwards Cup
| 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 |
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
| 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 |
| Total | 34 | 9 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 26.47 |
- Abandoned matches are counted as NR (no result)
- Win or loss by super over or boundary count are counted as tied.
| Opposition | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Sparks | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Northern Diamonds | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16.67 |
| South East Stars | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Southern Vipers | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Sunrisers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 25.00 |
| The Blaze | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 33.33 |
| Western Storm | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
Charlotte Edwards Cup
| Year | Played | Wins | Losses | Tied | NR | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33.33 |
| 2022 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| 2022 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Total | 20 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 40.00 |
- Abandoned matches are counted as NR (no result)
- Win or loss by super over or boundary count are counted as tied.
| Opposition | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Sparks | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Northern Diamonds | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| South East Stars | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Southern Vipers | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Sunrisers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
| The Blaze | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Western Storm | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
- Highest team total: 291/8, v Western Storm on 29 May 2021.[29][30][31][32]
- Lowest (completed) team total: 110 v Southern Vipers on 10 September 2021.[29][30][31][32]
- Highest individual score: 121, Emma Lamb v Western Storm on 29 May 2021.[33][34][35][36]
- Best individual bowling analysis: 6/24, Alex Hartley v South East Stars on 16 July 2022.[37][38][39][40]
- Most runs: 794 runs in 30 matches, Eleanor Threlkeld.[41][42][43][44]
- Most wickets: 33 wickets in 20 matches, Alex Hartley.[45][46][47][48]
Charlotte Edwards Cup
- Highest team total: 186/1, v Sunrisers on 9 July 2021.[49][50][51]
- Lowest (completed) team total: 90/9 v Northern Diamonds on 30 August 2021.[49][50][51]
- Highest individual score: 111*, Emma Lamb v Sunrisers on 9 July 2021.[52][53][54]
- Best individual bowling analysis: 5/15, Sophie Ecclestone v Lightning on 3 June 2022.[55][56][57]
- Most runs: 609 runs in 16 matches, Emma Lamb.[58][59][60]
- Most wickets: 17 wickets in 16 matches, Emma Lamb.[61][62][63]
- Gaur has also played international cricket for the United Arab Emirates.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Fixtures". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Women's Regional T20 2021 - Fixtures". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- "Thunder confirms squad and announces Threlkeld captain". Lancashire Cricket. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- "Chris Read named Thunder Head Coach". Lancashire Cricket. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- "Thunder Cricket About". Lancashire Cricket. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- "ECB launches new plan to transform women's and girls' cricket". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- "Thorley aiming high as Women's Regional Director". Lancashire Cricket. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy: The special-edition 50-over competition explained". the Cricketer. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2020/Table". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- "Forty-one female players sign full-time domestic contracts". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- "Charlotte Edwards Cup 2021/Table". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- "Thunder tie thriller with Sunrisers, thanks to Kate Cross-Hannah Jones death bowling". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- "Emma Lamb becomes first Charlotte Edwards Cup centurion as Thunder strike down Sunrisers". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021/Highest Totals". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2021/Table". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2021/Most Wickets". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- "Alex Hartley steps down as Thunder Captain". Lancashire Cricket. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- "Charlotte Edwards Cup 2022/Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2022/Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- "Olivia Bell conjures dream spell as Diamonds all but vanish from Finals Day race". ESPNcricinfo. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Wyatt, Bouchier fireworks take Southern Vipers into Charlotte Edwards Cup final". ESPNcricinfo. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2023". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Paul Shaw to step down as Thunder Head Coach". Lancashire Cricket. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Thunder Cricket". Lancashire Cricket. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- "Thunder Academy intake announced for 2024". Lancashire Cricket. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Tables". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- "Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Tables". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- "Thunder Match Results". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2020 - Thunder/Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2021 - Thunder/Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2022 - Thunder/Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2023 - Thunder/Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2020 - Thunder/High scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2021 - Thunder/High scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2022 - Thunder/High scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2023 - Thunder/High scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2020 - Thunder/Best bowling figures in an innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2021 - Thunder/Best bowling figures in an innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2022 - Thunder/Best bowling figures in an innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2023 - Thunder/Best bowling figures in an innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2020 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2021 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2022 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2023 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2020 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2021 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2022 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2023 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021 - Thunder/Highest Totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2022 - Thunder/Highest Totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2023 - Thunder/Highest Totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021 - Thunder/High Scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2022 - Thunder/High Scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2023 - Thunder/High Scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021 - Thunder/Best Bowling Figures in an Innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2022 - Thunder/Best Bowling Figures in an Innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2023 - Thunder/Best Bowling Figures in an Innings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2022 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2023 - Thunder/Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2022 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2023 - Thunder/Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.