Kyle Coetzer has hailed the perseverance and quality of Beth Langston as the pair get ready for a showpiece final this weekend in the colours of Welsh Fire.
Northern Diamonds assistant coach Coetzer is in his second season in a similar role with the Fire, while Langston is coming towards the end of her first campaign with the Cardiff-based side, who have finished top of the eight-team ladder and will play in Sunday’s final at Lord’s.
Fast bowler Langston has played five of the Fire’s seven games, taking three wickets.
She is coming off the back of almost two years of injury hell.
In August 2022, she suffered an ACL knee injury which required surgery, and she only played one match up until July 10 of this year when she claimed a stunning 6-24 for the Diamonds in a Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy win against Sunrisers at York.
Langston played two matches for the Diamonds before the Hundred – the other she didn’t bowl in because of rain – and has gone on to take a wicket in three matches.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Northern Diamonds assistant coach Kyle Coetzer is fulfilling a similar role in the women’s Hundred with finalists Welsh Fire.
If she played in Sunday afternoon’s final at the Home of Cricket against either London Spirit or Oval Invincibles – they play in the Eliminator tomorrow, it would be quite the occasion for the popular seamer and without doubt reward for hard work.
“She’s been great and a really good addition for us,” said Coetzer.
“With my Diamonds hat on, it’s been really good to see her back on the park, and everyone has been rooting for her.
“What I found really special was when she took her first wicket for the Fire (Spirit opener Georgia Redmayne), everyone got around her because they knew the journey she’s been on and what it meant to her.
“To see the players running in and wanting to congratulate her was very special. We’re all delighted for her.”
What has been mightily impressive about Langston’s return is that she has fitted back into the cut and thrust seamlessly.
Picture by Warren Little/Getty Images. Beth Langston and team-mates celebrate the wicket of London Spirit opener Georgia Redmayne at Lord’s in this season’s Hundred.
You can do all the rehab you want, but some rust would be understandable given the length of the lay-off. But there hasn’t been any signs of that whatsoever.
“Beth is an ultimate professional,” continued Coetzer.
“She’s worked so hard to get herself fit and ready to play, and she’s been so well supported by the staff at the Diamonds and at Yorkshire. Matt (Anderson, strength and conditioning) and Jo (Knowles, physio) have done a fantastic job.
“Everyone is just very proud to see her back on the park.
“She hit the ground running at York, didn’t she, and it didn’t surprise anyone at all.
“She’s still one of the best in the country – there’s no doubting that.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Beth Langston leads her side off after taking six wickets for the Diamonds against the Sunrisers at York last month.
The likes of Jess Jonassen, Hayley Matthews, Sophia Dunkley and Tammy Beaumont have all been key players for the Fire women this term, and they are confident of winning their first Hundred crown.
“The team’s played some really good cricket,” continued Coetzer.
“I also think the tournament as a whole has been very good, because the quality’s been good and everyone’s beating everyone. To go down to the last round of games and have it all to play, you would have taken that at the start.
“To have the chance of finishing top, an opportunity we managed to take when we beat Southern Brave on Wednesday, was really exciting. The players have all deserved it.
“As a whole, the women’s tournament has been really good to follow.
“There’s been some close games and some hard hard-fought ones – a couple of ties as well.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Rachel Slater could be playing in Sunday’s final for Oval Invincibles. Her wickets in this season’s Hundred include England star Nat Sciver-Brunt.
“I guess the disappointing one was us not getting to play the Superchargers because of rain.
“It would have been a good game, and – for myself and Beth – it would have been good to play against Dani (Hazell) and a couple of our Diamonds group.
“There would have been a bit riding on it, and it would have been good fun.”
In the group stages, Fire lost to the Invincibles but beat the Spirit, two teams who will play-off at the Kia Oval tomorrow (2.15pm) for a place in the final 24 hours later.
“Any game of cricket at Lord’s is pretty spectacular, really. But to be playing in a final like this is even more special,” said Coetzer.
“We have to embrace the challenge. With it being a final at such a venue, I’m sure people will feel there’s a bit more pressure on it. Ultimately, they just have to enjoy themselves and have fun.”
Picture by David Rogers/Getty Images. Katie Levick has starred for Birmingham Phoenix this summer.
A number of Diamonds players have impressed through the tournament.
Katie Levick has taken 10 wickets for Birmingham Phoenix, for whom Sterre Kalis (201) was one of only two players to pass 200 runs. Her superstar opening partner Ellyse Perry was the other.
Lauren Winfield-Hill (118 runs) and Rachel Slater (five wickets) have both contributed for the Invincibles and could be lining up in Sunday’s final. Slater’s wickets including the notable scalps of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hollie Armitage.
If the Sprit qualify, Yorkshire’s men’s assistant coach Ali Maiden would be involved as, like Coetzer, he is an assistant coach in the women’s tournament.
Diamonds captain Armitage was one who had a tricky campaign leading the Superchargers, with a top-score of 22 in seven innings.
“It was great to see Slats on Wednesday picking up the wicket of Nat Sciver-Brunt. She put the ball in the right areas, got her rewards, and she’s bowled well all season,” added Coetzer, who has no doubt Armitage will be able to rediscover her stunning regional form when she pulls on a Diamonds shirt once again.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Hollie Armitage has had a challenging Hundred as Northern Superchargers captain, but she’s too good not to find form quickly.
“Tournament play can be tough. Sometimes it can be momentum.
“Hollie’s a fine cricketer and has been playing very well for a long period of time now.
“It’s not always an exact science. You can do all the right things in preparation, but sometimes it doesn’t go your way.
“Hollie’s a fine cricketer who I’m confident will be raring to go when we join up as a group ahead of the 50-over stuff.”
