Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ami Campbell has praised the impact of Maddie Ward in 2025.
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’.
Ami Campbell has been looking back on the impact of one of Yorkshire’s youngest ever captains, Maddie Ward.
Ami Campbell has hailed the development of emerging all-rounder Maddie Ward, who took on a number of different roles this summer and impressed in them all.
Ward is a true all-rounder, she bats, bowls, keeps wicket and captains, and it’s easy to see why the White Rose county’s hierarchy are so excited about her progression.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Maddie Ward enjoyed a progressive summer in 2025.
At the start of the Vitality Blast campaign in June, Ward became of Yorkshire’s youngest ever captains – female or male – at the age of 20 years and 133 days.
With club captain Lauren Winfield-Hill on loan at Essex and fellow vice captain Rachel Slater out injured, Ward led the county through the Blast, helping them reach Finals Day.
“I think Maddie’s done really well this year to sort of keep her head together in terms of am I keeping, am I bowling, where am I batting, what is my actual role in the team as well as taking on the captaincy at such a young age,” said Campbell.
“I think she’s dealt with that amazingly well.
“She’s great with the group and shows a lot of maturity for her age.
“That’s why Rich Pyrah (head coach) and Chris Brice (assistant) are so excited about her going forwards. To be fair, we all are.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Yorkshire coach Rich Pyrah handed Maddie Ward the captaincy following Lauren Winfield-Hill’s departure to Essex on loan for the Vitality Blast.
“She’s definitely stepped up this year.”
In all cricket this year for the county, including friendlies, Ward scored 749 runs from 32 matches, she took nine wickets with her spinners and contributed 14 catches and six stumpings. In a June 50-friendly against Scotland A, she posted an eye-catching unbeaten 150.
“Maddie has a really good level of confidence, which is very useful at that age,” said Campbell.
“There have been challenges for her this year, but she’s communicated at the right times. She’s led the side brilliantly when called upon.”
Perhaps the best example of that confidence Campbell spoke about comes in her style of batting – the Nottinghamshire-born right-hander being a fearless innovator at the crease.
“You might get it when some people start ramping in the third over, you’ll say, ‘What are you doing?’,” laughed Campbell. “But when Maddie does it, you don’t think twice.
“That’s her strength, and it’s credit to the coaches for backing her to go and play freely.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Maddie Ward and Ami Campbell saw Yorkshire home in the Vitality Blast semi-final victory over Glamorgan at Wantage Road in late July.
“There’s been teams I’ve played in in the past where I’ve tried to play shots and it’s been like, ‘Ami, don’t do that’. Then I go out and play tentatively.
“But what we’ve created at Yorkshire is, if you’re doing it in the nets and practicing it, then go and do it on the pitch because that’s your strength.
“The coaches are pushing us to play to our strengths and make mistakes because that’s the only way you’re going to learn.
“I think Maddie’s been a great example of that this season.”
