Picture by John Heald. Ami Campbell at the crease for Yorkshire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup this summer.
Yorkshire’s women enjoyed a trophy-winning Tier 2 campaign, triumphant in the 50-over Metro Bank One-Day Cup. They also reached the final of the Vitality Blast and the quarter-finals of the other T20 competition, the Vitality County Cup.
Through the first half of the winter, we will be running a series of articles with members’ player-of-the-year Ami Campbell, who has been reflecting on key moments throughout the summer.
We have entitled this series ‘Campbell’s Classics’.
First, though, Ami chats us through her winter plans and reflects on that player-of-the-year award.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ami Cambell is awarded the Yorkshire women’s members’ player-of-the-year award by general manager of cricket Gavin Hamilton last month.
Ami Campbell says being honoured as the Yorkshire members’ player-of-the-year has given her that extra push for improvement ahead of 2026.
The White Rose left-handed batter enjoyed an excellent summer in Tier 2, totalling 633 runs from 24 innings.
Campbell was the second leading run-scorer across the Metro Bank One-Day Cup competition with 452 from 11 innings, including a superb career best 165 not out against Derbyshire at Derby in early May.
She was also the leading outfield catcher in that competition with nine.
“I was actually a little bit surprised because I hadn’t had a player-of-the-month award,” said Campbell.
“I was actually expecting it to be Maddie Ward or Liv Thomas, to be honest.
“Maddie’s done a brilliant job captaining, and she does everything – bats, bowls and keeps. And obviously Liv, she’s put in some great performances.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ami Campbell was the second leading run-scorer in this summer’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
“It could have been anyone’s really.
“But when I got it, I was like, ‘Oh my god, I don’t think I’ve won an award since I was 16, 17 or 18’.”
Campbell, aged 34, continued: “I do think this is the best place I’ve been in with my cricket in terms of actually enjoying it.
“The formula for performing well is being in the right team and enjoying the environment you’re in.
“I’m so proud of myself, and it’s exciting going forwards. It’s pushed me to try and get even better.
“Hopefully next year I’ll be up for another award.”
Campbell’s thirst for improvement ahead of Yorkshire’s elevation to Tier 1 has taken her Down Under to Australia, where she landed at the weekend ahead of a full winter’s spell with Sydney club, Gordon.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ami Campbell wouldn’t have been surprised to see Maddie Ward – amongst others – take home that player-of-the-year award.
“My first look was going to Perth because that’s where my partner’s from, but then a lot of people were telling me that the cricket in Sydney is a lot better,” she explained.
“And that’s what I’m going for, to play cricket and develop and improve.
“I’ve heard Gordon’s a really good club, a well established club, and the facilities are great, etc, etc. Sterre Kalis was with them last winter. She spoke very highly of them. She’s said they’re a great club.
“I’m going out for six months, training through the week and playing a game at the weekend.
“We have a 50-over and another T20 competition with finals towards the end of the winter, in March.
“My first game is this weekend, so there’s not much time to get over the jet-lag. I’m straight into it!
“It’s just an opportunity to get some more game time and work on my cricket IQ, all these things.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Jess Woolston is also in Australia for the winter.
“For me, even though I’ve played for 20 years, I always start the first game of the season thinking, “I can’t remember how to pick up a bat’.
“You spend so long training in the winter, building up to playing a game, that you can almost create your own pressure. Nothing can compare to a game situation in terms of problem solving, doing the right thing for the team. That’s really hard to replicate in a net.
“This will be the first time I’ve ever gone into a season having been playing in the build-up. I’m hoping that I can reap the rewards of that when we go into Tier 1 next April.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to stay in rhythm. I don’t think there’s a massive amount technically I need to do. I’m quite happy with the game that I’ve got. I’ll just be doing some fine-tuning, and will get the chance to do it outdoors.
“I also want to continue winning matches, which hopefully we can do at Gordon.”
Campbell will miss the “pretty brutal” fitness side of the winter training programme back at Headingley, as will the likes of Jess Woolston and Rebecca Duckworth, who are also spending their winters in Australia.
“I have to make sure I keep that standard high independently,” added Campbell. “Yorkshire are trusting me to go away and come back fitter and a better cricketer as well. But I’m always quite good with that because fitness and training is one of my passions.”
