Four new players have earned selection onto The Blaze’s Academy for 2025 as the new domestic structure takes force.
Diya Badge, Katie Fidler, Emily Carpenter and Mim Aldred are the new faces in the squad of 11.
Meanwhile, Amy Wheeler, Prisha Thanawala and Liv Baker have all graduated to the senior squad having been part of the Academy last summer, and have each earned professional contracts.
“We’re entering an exciting new stage for the women’s game domestically,” Senior Regional Talent Manager, Cain Hamilton-Boyle, said.
“But our aim remains the same as it was: to take on high ceiling cricketers and help them to fulfill their potential with the hope of playing professional cricket.
“For Amy, Prisha and Liv to have done that heading into 2025 is really exciting for them and vindication for the work carried out in the Academy.
“As we start a new cycle, there are players at various stages of their cricketing journey.
“Some will be hopeful of following in the footsteps of those on full-time contracts in the next year or two, while there are others who need to consolidate in this system, grow in confidence, then kick on.
“Our job is to help everyone along that spectrum; creating an environment in which everyone has the chance to develop and progress.”
Academy 2025 (*new selections)
- Annie Williams
- Flora Davies
- Maria Andrews
- Diya Badge*
- D’Nica Roff
- Katie Fidler*
- Hayva Abbott
- Lara Shaw
- Bella Howarth
- Emily Carpenter*
- Mim Aldred*
Hayva Abbott
Role: Bowler
Batting hand: Right
Bowling style: Right arm medium
Abbott’s resilience has been to the fore in recent summers, having suffered a collarbone injury in 2023. However, the right-armer possesses the required drive and determination to overcome such setbacks, making 13 appearances across all formats in 2024, her third with the Academy.
Mim Aldred
Role: Wicketkeeper-batter
Batting hand: Right
An energetic presence at the crease and behind the stumps, Mim is set for her first full year with the Academy after one summer on The Blaze’s Emerging Player Programme (EPP).
The right-hander did make an impact on her appearances for the Academy last summer, with an unbeaten 28 seeing her side home against Northern Diamonds in a T20.
At county level, she averaged 38 with the bat for Derbyshire’s U18s, with a high score of 69.
Maria Andrews
Role: All-rounder
Batting hand: Left
Bowling style: Left arm orthodox
A player of grit and determination, Andrews enjoyed a productive year with the ball in 2024.
Her 30 wickets across all formats included a best return of 6/28 with the red ball, while her economy rate with the white ball of 3.92 was testament to her control.
She was second in the wicket-taking charts in the Academy Festival, and earned a spot at the School Games and as a non-travelling reserve for England U19s.
Maria’s batting continues its upward trajectory too, with a useful average of 24 recorded for Derbyshire U18 in 2024.
Diya Badge
Role: Wicketkeeper-batter
Batting hand: Right
Entering her first year on the Academy, Badge has focused heavily on developing her style of play over the past 12 months.
An explosive prospect in the T20 format, she maintained a strike-rate of 137 during the Academy Festival and averaged an eye-watering 87 in U15 cricket last year.
At Academy level, she hit 44 from 50 deliveries against Thunder at the height of summer.
Emily Carpenter
Role: Bowler
Bowling style: Left-arm seam
Another fresh face in the Academy, Carpenter impressed in what was a baptism of fire in her performances during observation fixtures last August.
Facing a Blaze Academy side featuring a number of professionals, she took 6/26 with her left-arm pace in the 50-over fixture between the two sides.
She also represented The Blaze’s Second XI last summer, and earns a full-time promotion to the Academy setup for 2025.
Flora Davies
Role: Batter
Batting hand: Right
It was in the longer forms of the game that Davies excelled in 2024, hitting a half-century apiece in 50-over and red-ball cricket in The Blaze colours.
Academy Player of the Season in 2023, she was another of The Blaze’s cohort to earn selection for the School Games.
At county level, she averaged 53 for Leicestershire’s U18s, with her two centuries coming in crunch clashes - an unbeaten 102 against Middlesex in the 50-over quarter-final, and 114* in the third-place playoff fixture.
Katie Fidler
Role: Bowler
Bowling style: Left-arm spin
The final fresh face in the Academy this summer, Fidler possesses the mentality to thrive in crunch moments, and has an aggressive approach to the game.
Her exploits have previously earned selection for the North v North event and at the School Games for U19s Academy prospects.
At county level, she maintained eye-catching averages of 15 with the ball for Northants’ senior women's side, and 12.50 for the under 18s. She also recorded a useful batting average of 33 for Northants U15.
Bella Howarth
Role: Batter
Batting hand: Right
2024 was a breakthrough year for Howarth, with a maiden Academy century secured in the 50-over competition.
That was one of three 50+ scores last summer, with the batter averaging 50.17 in 50-over cricket and striking at 80.93 in the T20 format.
She captained Essex U18 last summer, making 78 in the U18 County Cup final against Lancashire.
D’Nica Roff
Role: Bowler
Batting hand: Right
Bowling style: Leg-spin
Having averaged 20.07 with the ball in 2023, Roff returned even more impressive numbers last summer, taking 19 wickets at 13.53 and a strike-rate of 17.05.
Her opportunities with the bat were more limited, but a score of 62 against Northern Diamonds in 2023 is testament to her all-round ability.
Indeed, she thrived with the willow at county level - averaging 53.50 for Leicestershire women and making her maiden century at U18 level. With the ball, she averaged 14 for the U18s, and recorded best figures of 6/17 for Leicestershire’s senior side.
Lara Shaw
Role: Batter
Batting hand: Right
An energetic member of the group, Shaw made 97 in her sole red-ball appearance of the summer, and was a key component of the Academy’s T20 batting order.
Her 258 runs came at a strike rate of 103.20, with a top score of 49 - while she scored the fourth most runs in the ECB Academy Festival with 133.
Having averaged 32 with the bat for Derbyshire women, her standout innings was an unbeaten 106 in a T20 win over Cumbria.
Annie Williams
Role: Wicketkeeper-batter
Batting hand: Right
As The Blaze emerged victorious at the Academy Festival, Williams was a key player, scoring the second-most runs of any player (150) and maintaining a strike-rate of 147 across five innings.
She secured the most dismissals of any wicketkeeper in the tournament, and joined Maria Andrews as a non-travelling reserve for England U19.
Williams also recorded an astonishing unbeaten 250 at club level for Keyworth against Cutthorpe.
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