Captain Kirstie Gordon says there is excitement among The Blaze squad as preparations for the 2026 season continue with a trip to Essex for a behind-closed-doors 50-over friendly.

“I think, having seen the lads out playing warm-up games, and with their season starting this week, you know that it’s almost our time [too],” said Gordon.

“There’s certainly now a bit of anticipation building and excitement growing around the group. It is really exciting.”

Gordon will lead a 12-strong squad to the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, with the self-professed aim of ensuring that every member of the group plays at least some part in the game.

“From my point of view, there’s still a bit of tinkering to be done with what the team might look like, and how we get people into the roles that they’re best suited to” she explained.

“But that’s what makes it really great; we’ve got this opportunity to go down to Essex and then take part in a few more squad-based practices leading up to the first game.

“It’s very different batting in [the] Hadlee and Sobers [indoor halls at Trent Bridge] to being out there on an April wicket.

“So, our aim now is to take confidence from putting into practice the things that we’ve been working hard on all winter.”

The off-season of 12 months ago certainly represented a time of upheaval for The Blaze, with current head coach Craig Cumming only able to enter the fray midway through.

However, the benefits of a full winter with the New Zealander at the helm have been felt by everyone, according to Gordon.

“Craig probably didn’t have the time that he’d have wanted to cement how he wants us to play, versus now, when he’s been able to hammer that home,” said Gordon.

“It’s really important now that when the girls go out there, we show exactly how we want to play our 50-over cricket.”

While Cumming has been instilling his values from a coaching point of view, Gordon is clear what she wants to see from her charges in Chelmsford as the team’s on-field leader.

“From my point of view, I want to see how players play in the different stages and phases of the game,” she said.

“We want to give people opportunities to put their name in the hat, because while we’re playing 12 in this game, we will have to try and fit people into the team during the season.

“We’ve also got England players when they come back, so it’s really difficult to know how we’re going to shape up in the first few weeks of the season.

“That’s why it’s important to give people as many chances as we can to put their names into the hat for selection.”