Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Yorkshire off-spinner Claudie Cooper believes the county’s fielding will be crucial in Tier 1 next summer.
Off-spinner Claudie Cooper has revealed one of the county’s key aims between now and the start of next season as the county prepare for top-flight cricket.
Cooper says the squad are happy with their development ahead of 2026, though by no means are they the finished article.
Yorkshire have so far won eight of 10 matches across all competitions, the majority of which have come against Tier 2 opposition.
That number includes two from two at the start of the ongoing Vitality Blast, which continues with a trip to face Derbyshire at the Central Co-op County Ground on Saturday afternoon (2.30pm).
“What we’ve really wanted to work on is our fielding because we know that’s going to make the difference when we get into Tier 1,” said the ex-Surrey spinner.
“We’re happy with where our bowling and batting is at, but we want to get that side of things into good shape as well.
“I think we’re nearly there, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that we want to be one of the best fielding teams in Tier 1. That’s what will win us games.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ami Campbell has played for Yorkshire against Derbyshire twice in 2025, across the formats, and has posted scores of 165 not out and 41 not out.
“We keep saying before games, ‘Give it everything, leave it all out there on the pitch’.”
Last November, shortly after joining Yorkshire, Cooper spoke about her own game and said: “I really enjoy boundary fielding, and I’m quite a reliable fielder.”
And that has definitely been evident so far this season, taking six outfield catches.
In the Vitality County T20 Cup third round win over Essex Eagles at Headingley last month, she took a stunning one-handed return catch off her own bowling to dismiss Grace Scrivens. You will not see many better catches all season.
But her main contribution has come courtesy of 16 wickets in 10 matches, including a best of 3-22. She has struck at least twice in six of those matches.
The 23-year-old took the new ball and claimed 2-17 from four overs last time out in victory over Leicestershire Foxes at Headingley a week last Sunday.
“I set my standard quite high, taking at least a wicket in every game in the early stages of the season,” she reflected. “The last couple of games I hadn’t taken one, and it was getting in my head a bit. So it was nice to get out there against Leicester and get a couple.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Ria Fackrell has taken eight wickets in three T20 appearances for Yorkshire this summer with her off-spin, including six in two against Derbyshire.
“I’m still a bit off where I want to be. There are things I can work on.
“But we’ve been playing with four spinners, and I love it. Spin really does work.”
Cooper moved up north in the winter from Surrey and is loving life wearing the White Rose.
“The environment’s amazing here,” she said. It’s the best one I’ve ever been a part of.
“There’s a lot of trust between the coaches and the players, and it helps you go out there and perform.”
Yorkshire are bidding for a fourth win of the season against Derbyshire when they travel to the East Midlands. They have beaten them once in the 50-over One-Day Cup and twice in T20s. One of those was in the first round of the Vitality County Cup, and the latest was in the Blast at Headingley at the start of the month.
The Falcons have won two of their three matches so far in the Blast and, like the table-topping White Rose, are very much in contention for a top-two finish in the North Group and a place at Finals Day.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Seam bowler Jess Woolston has only recently returned to action following a foot stress fracture.
“We’ve really set the tone against Derbyshire so far this season, and we want to keep that going,” added Cooper.
“We’re desperate to go as far as we can this season in both competitions.
“We want to win two trophies, but getting to the knockouts also means you’re getting more games in.
“We’re a very competitive group of girls.
“I understand that we see it as a developmental year, but the bottom line is that we want to win trophies. If we start that here, it can only be a positive to take into Tier 1.”
