The 2024 season was Central Sparks' fifth season, in which they competed in the 50 over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Twenty20 Charlotte Edwards Cup. In the Charlotte Edwards Cup, the side won six of their ten group stage matches, finishing fourth and progressing to the semi-finals, where they lost to The Blaze. In the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the side finished seventh in the group, winning five of their fourteen matches.
The side was captained by Evelyn Jones and initially coached by Lloyd Tennant, before he was replaced by Darren Franklin and Justine Dunce in June 2024. They played five home matches apiece at Edgbaston Cricket Ground and New Road, Worcester, and one apiece at Chester Road North Ground, Kidderminster and Scorers, Shirley.
This was Central Sparks' final season in existence, effectively being replaced by a professionalised Warwickshire team under the England and Wales Cricket Board's changes to the structure of women's domestic cricket from 2025 onwards.
Squad Departures On 14 November 2023, Elizabeth Russell announced her retirement from cricket. On 30 April 2024, it was announced that Ellie Anderson had gone on a month-long loan to Western Storm. On 12 June 2024, Anderson's loan was extended until 23 July 2024, and then again on 23 August 2024 until the end of the season. On 24 May 2024, it was announced that the side had loaned Issy Wong to Western Storm for the duration of the Charlotte Edwards Cup. Wong's loan was later extended on 27 June 2024 until the end of July, and then again on 23 August 2024 for one match on 26 August 2024. On 31 August 2024, it was announced that Evelyn Jones had gone on loan to North West Thunder for the remainder of the season.
Arrivals On 23 April 2024, the side announced the signing of Courtney Webb as an overseas player, with her stint beginning in May. On 25 August 2024, Meg Austin and Hannah Hardwick were included in a matchday squad for the first time. On 3 September 2024, Sophie Beech was included in a matchday squad for the first time.
Personnel and contract changes On 1 November 2023, it was announced that Charis Pavely had signed her first professional contract with the side. On 1 June 2024, it was announced that Head Coach Lloyd Tennant and Assistant Coach Dominic Ostler had left the club, with Darren Franklin and Justine Dunce taking over leadership of the side under the end of the season.
Squad list Age given is at the start of Central Sparks' first match of the season (20 April 2024).
Name Nationality Birth date Batting Style Bowling Style Notes Batters Meg Austin Right-handed Right-arm leg break Joined August 2024 Chloe Brewer Right-handed Right-arm medium Ami Campbell Left-handed Right-arm medium Evelyn Jones Left-handed Left-arm medium Captain; loaned to North West Thunder in September 2024 Davina Perrin Right-handed Right-arm leg break Courtney Webb Right-handed Right-arm medium Overseas player; May to September 2024 All-rounders Bethan Ellis Right-handed Right-arm medium Ria Fackrell Right-handed Right-arm off break Katie George Right-handed Left-arm medium Charis Pavely Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Wicket-keepers Sophie Beech Unknown Right-handed — Joined September 2024 Poppy Davies Right-handed — Abigail Freeborn Right-handed — Amy Jones Right-handed — Bowlers Ellie Anderson Right-handed Right-arm medium Loaned to Western Storm from April to September 2024 Emily Arlott Right-handed Right-arm medium Hannah Baker Right-handed Right-arm leg break Georgia Davis Right-handed Right-arm off break Hannah Hardwick Right-handed Right-arm medium Anisha Patel Right-handed Right-arm leg break Grace Potts Right-handed Right-arm medium Issy Wong Right-handed Right-arm medium Loaned to Western Storm from May to September 2024
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Season standings
advanced to the Semi-finals
Fixtures
Tournament statistics Batting Player Matches Innings Runs Average High score 100s 50s 12 12 2 2 14 13 0 3 13 12 0 3 12 11 0 2 12 9 0 1 11 11 0 1 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 200 runs.
Bowling Player Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi 13 15 0 12 15 1 13 14 1 6 13 0 12 10 0 9 10 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 10 wickets.
Charlotte Edwards Cup Season standings
advanced to the Semi-finals
Fixtures
Semi-final
Tournament statistics Batting Player Matches Innings Runs Average High score 100s 50s 11 11 0 1 11 11 0 2 11 10 0 0 9 9 0 0 4 4 0 1 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 150 runs.
Bowling Player Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi 10 14 0 11 13 0 11 12 0 10 12 0 11 10 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo Qualification: 10 wickets.
Season statistics Batting PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Runs High score Average Strike rate 100s 50s Matches Innings Runs High score Average Strike rate 100s 50s Emily Arlott 10 7 50 15 7.14 56.17 0 0 10 8 77 28 12.83 122.22 0 0 Meg Austin 2 2 21 14 10.50 55.26 0 0 – – – – – – – – Hannah Baker 12 6 8 4 2.66 27.58 0 0 10 1 0 0* – 0.00 0 0 Chloe Brewer 11 11 202 54 20.20 59.94 0 1 3 3 15 14 5.00 68.18 0 0 Ami Campbell 8 8 107 48 13.37 68.15 0 0 6 6 57 21 9.50 111.76 0 0 Georgia Davis 6 3 26 20* 13.00 63.41 0 0 11 6 12 5* 6.00 63.15 0 0 Bethan Ellis 12 9 215 57 35.83 70.49 0 1 3 1 3 3* – 42.85 0 0 Ria Fackrell 9 7 75 39 18.75 72.81 0 0 1 – – – – – – – Abigail Freeborn 14 13 370 93 33.63 62.92 0 3 11 11 239 71* 23.90 120.70 0 2 Katie George 13 12 321 57* 35.66 74.13 0 3 11 9 75 28* 9.37 88.23 0 0 Hannah Hardwick 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Amy Jones – – – – – – – – 4 4 168 67* 56.00 129.23 0 1 Evelyn Jones 12 12 483 136* 48.30 71.76 2 2 9 9 190 43 23.75 95.47 0 0 Charis Pavely 6 4 36 13* 12.00 39.13 0 0 9 8 59 27* 9.83 86.76 0 0 Davina Perrin 12 11 223 50 20.27 67.37 0 2 11 11 245 79* 24.50 133.15 0 1 Grace Potts 13 7 35 13* 11.66 50.72 0 0 11 3 5 2* 2.50 55.55 0 0 Courtney Webb 7 6 138 40 23.00 84.14 0 0 11 10 197 45* 32.83 119.39 0 0 Issy Wong 5 5 53 34* 13.25 73.61 0 0 – – – – – – – – Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Bowling PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi Matches Overs Wickets Average Economy BBI 5wi Emily Arlott 10 58.0 9 24.77 3.84 4/15 0 10 32.2 14 16.14 6.98 4/21 0 Hannah Baker 12 90.0 15 28.33 4.72 5/45 1 10 37.0 12 20.50 6.64 3/24 0 Georgia Davis 6 42.0 8 21.25 4.04 6/23 1 11 34.3 10 24.60 7.13 3/23 0 Bethan Ellis 12 57.0 10 28.80 5.05 2/16 0 3 5.0 3 9.66 5.80 2/11 0 Ria Fackrell 9 68.3 10 34.60 5.05 2/19 0 1 3.0 2 6.50 4.33 2/13 0 Katie George 13 80.5 14 30.85 5.34 5/50 1 11 34.5 13 19.07 7.11 4/36 0 Hannah Hardwick 2 8.0 2 17.50 4.37 2/20 0 – – – – – – – Charis Pavely 6 38.3 13 11.46 3.87 4/31 0 9 18.0 7 18.57 7.22 1/8 0 Davina Perrin 12 4.0 0 – 7.25 – 0 11 – – – – – – Grace Potts 13 88.1 15 28.06 4.77 3/38 0 11 34.0 12 18.41 6.50 3/15 0 Courtney Webb 7 2.0 0 – 6.00 – 0 11 5.0 1 34.00 6.80 1/14 0 Issy Wong 5 32.4 3 56.33 5.17 1/25 0 – – – – – – – Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Fielding PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Catches Matches Innings Catches Emily Arlott 10 9 1 10 10 3 Meg Austin 2 2 0 – – – Hannah Baker 12 11 3 10 10 1 Chloe Brewer 11 10 1 3 3 1 Ami Campbell 8 8 2 6 6 2 Georgia Davis 6 5 2 11 11 1 Bethan Ellis 12 11 2 3 3 0 Ria Fackrell 9 9 4 1 1 1 Abigail Freeborn 14 – – 11 3 1 Katie George 13 12 9 11 11 7 Hannah Hardwick 2 2 0 – – – Amy Jones – – – 4 1 0 Evelyn Jones 12 11 5 9 9 6 Charis Pavely 6 6 4 9 9 5 Davina Perrin 12 11 4 11 11 7 Grace Potts 13 12 3 11 11 0 Courtney Webb 7 6 3 11 11 3 Issy Wong 5 5 0 – – – Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Wicket-keeping PlayerRachael Heyhoe Flint TrophyCharlotte Edwards Cup Matches Innings Catches Stumpings Matches Innings Catches Stumpings Abigail Freeborn 14 13 9 2 11 8 7 3 Amy Jones – – – – 4 3 1 0 Source: ESPN Cricinfo
References