After seven years in the Nottinghamshire set up, wicketkeeper Maddie Ward will enter 2023 as an England international, having been selected in the Three Lions’ squad for the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup.

A stalwart of County Age Group squads since she first joined the pathway at U12s level, the 18-year-old has stepped up to the Lightning Academy in recent summers.

And her performances at the School Games Festivals in September, organised to allow England scouts to pick from the best 40 girls at U19 level, secured her place on the plane.

However, finding out she’d made the touring party wasn’t straightforward.

“Because of my age, my dad got the phone call first and I wasn’t with him at the time,” said Ward.

“He sent me a text message saying ‘please answer the phone’ and then a number I hadn’t got saved called me.

“It was Richard Bedbrook (Head of England Women Performance Pathways) and he was ringing me to tell me the good news.

“I was really surprised and a bit emotional.

“I thought I had an alright chance but I was 50/50 on whether I would be involved or not.

“I still sit and think that I am going to play in a World Cup and how crazy that is.”

Ward has an experienced head on young shoulders; keeping for 16-year-old bowlers at the tender age of 11 has certainly set her up to take this all in her stride.

However, the enormity of the occasion won’t be lost on the 18-year-old as the World Cup marks the first time U19 cricketers have come together in the women’s game to compete in an ICC global event.

“I’ve never played cricket abroad before and South Africa isn’t the worst place to start,” said Ward.

“It is nice to see my hard work pay off.

“I first trialled for Nottinghamshire when I was ten so next year will be my eighth season representing the club.

“I have kept since I was young and when I was with the U12s I was behind the stumps for the U17s as there weren’t many wicketkeepers.

“Having that opportunity, at both club and regional level has allowed me to develop my game to where I am today.

“There is a still a lot of time left for me to reach more goals during my cricket career, but to picked for the national side now is really special.”

With the women’s game continuing to develop at a rapid pace, opportunities for the likes of Ward are plentiful as she enters the senior arena.

For now, though, she’s got her sights firmly set on World Cup preparations.

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International cricket in 2023

Trent Bridge will host three international matches next summer, with the sole Test Match of the Women’s Ashes taking place at Nottinghamshire’s historic home, before England’s men face New Zealand and Ireland in IT20 and ODI contests respectively. 

Enter the ticketing ballot or peruse further information at trentbridge.co.uk/internationals.