2023 ANNUAL REPORT

THE BLAZE REPORT 31 The signings of Sarah Glenn and Nat Sciver-Brunt to play alongside Tammy Beaumont also added a little extra star quality to our team. The value they add for the group as a whole cannot be overstated. Their inclusion in the team is not seen as a blockade for those coming through; rather, it is a means via which our younger players can learn and progress. Elsewhere, Georgie Boyce – who made no secret of her desire to play for The Blaze as a team with a base in her home city – added top-order knowhow, and Cassidy McCarthy brought great energy having moved from SouthernVipers. The latter’s reward of game time withThe Blaze and selection for Trent Rockets reflected both the progress she has made and the capability of our coaches to develop players. One of the most pleasing aspects of the whole year was the way players from across the squad made key contributions – whether long- standing members of the team or new players. Tammy and Georgie were our top run-scorers in 20 and 50-over cricket respectively, but Nat, Sarah Bryce, Kathryn Bryce, Marie Kelly, Teresa Graves and Sophie Munro all played crucial parts in winning performances with the bat. We also saw the progress of Michaela Kirk who made strides as a senior player in Second XI cricket, and earned her spot in the senior team at the back end of the year as a result. With the ball, Grace Ballinger assumed responsibility as a strike bowler, but was brilliantly supported by Sarah Glenn – who won our Charlotte Edwards Cup Player of theYear award, as voted for by the playing and coaching group – as well as Kathryn Bryce, Josie Groves, Kirstie Gordon, Lucy Higham and Nadine de Klerk. The latter also had an instrumental role to play not just in winning us games, but enhancing the standards within the group. She took 28 wickets and amassed 187 runs, including numerous unbeaten innings, in both formats. But what cannot be measured is the way she pushed others on to improve.The quality and commitment she added were exactly what we were looking for in an overseas signing, and her availability stood us in great stead. Whilst we did not secure the finishes to both campaigns we would have liked, and we will learn the lessons from defeats in those finals, it is well worth celebrating what we did well. “THE SIGNINGS OF SARAH GLENN AND NAT SCIVER- BRUNT ADDED A LITTLE EXTRA STAR QUALITY TO OUR TEAM. THEIR INCLUSION IN THE TEAM IS NOT SEEN AS A BLOCKADE FOR THOSE COMING THROUGH; RATHER, IT IS A MEANS VIA WHICH OUR YOUNGER PLAYERS CAN LEARN AND PROGRESS.” James Cutt