Ria Fackrell has hailed the development of her trophy-winning team-mate Maddie Ward and is backing her to be a big hit in a Yorkshire shirt this summer.
All-rounder Fackrell and wicketkeeper-batter Ward have both signed their maiden professional contracts at Headingley this winter, the former joining from Central Sparks and the latter progressing out of the Northern Diamonds Academy.
But they know each other well. During the last two winters, they have been part of a England National Counties Cricket Association squad which has triumphed in the pre-Christmas European Championship T10 competition in Malaga.
In December just gone, while Ward was an ever-present behind the stumps for England, Fackrell unfortunately missed the majority of the competition having suffered a concussion injury in its opening stages. But she was delighted to see her county colleague and room-mate shine.
“Maddie with the gloves, I don’t think’s many who can match her,” said the 25-year-old.
“With the bat, she’s come on leaps and bounds in the last few months.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Ria Fackrell has joined Yorkshire from Central Sparks.
“After speaking to her, she’s enjoying the game a lot more as well now.
“She’s still young, so she still has a lot to learn. But she’s doing really well. And I can’t wait to see what she does for us this summer at Yorkshire.”
Ward, aged 20, made her senior debut for the Northern Diamonds last August in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. She deputised for Lauren Winfield-Hill, who was unavailable due to commitments in the Caribbean Premier League.
Ward is set to get plenty of chances behind the stumps this summer even with Winfield-Hill in Yorkshire’s squad.
The latter, for example, has been retained by the Oval Invincibles for the Hundred in August, which clashes with a number of the county’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2 fixtures.
Fackrell continued: “The first time I met Maddie was in December 2023, and she was still young and fresh out of the Under 19s World Cup with England.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Maddie Ward has signed for Yorkshire having spent time on the Northern Diamonds Academy.
“You could see then the ability she had with the gloves, and this year her confidence has grown, which has improved her ability with gloves and the bat.
“We roomed together in Malaga this winter, and we got more time to chat – more than you would do at training. We learnt a lot about each other, what makes her tick, what will help her and what will help me. That brought us together.
“That’s why I’m excited for this tour. We’ve not yet had that kind of time together as a group. We know each other in a cricket environment and have met up a heck of a lot outside of that. But it’s a lot different when you’re together on tour.”
Fackrell was referencing Yorkshire women’s ongoing tour to Abu Dhabi, which started on Monday and lasts until late next week. Eighteen players have travelled to the Arabian Desert – 12 contracted professionals and six Academy players.
It is the first time they have been together as a full group, with the likes of Winfield-Hill, Rebecca Duckworth and Sterre Kalis wintering in Australia. Fackrell and Ward spent the aforementioned week in Malaga just before Christmas, while Erin Thomas was at the Under 19s T20 World Cup in Malaysia earlier this year.
Coventry-born Fackrell arrives at Yorkshire with 84 senior appearances to her name for the likes of the Sparks, Warwickshire Women and Birmingham Phoenix.
Pictiure by Diana Oros. Ria Fackrell, far left, and Maddie Ward, second from right, were champions with England’s NCCA XI at December’s European T10 Championship in Malaga.
An off-spinner who can bat in the middle or top order, she has taken 40 wickets and scored almost 1,000 runs across all formats.
“It’s been a long few months – the winter always is – but I can say that I’ve enjoyed every second of it. I’ve loved it,” she said.
“I had that quick stint in Malaga with the European comp. I came back after Christmas, and since then training’s been really good.
“We have a good community around us here at the club. Team morale is top notch. I’ve not been in a squad like this before. It’s just a great atmosphere to be around. It doesn’t matter if you’re injured or having a bad day, everybody’s got your back.
“Everyone is supporting each other and is desperate for each other to do well.”
And looking ahead to 2025 from a personal point of view, she added: “My winter has gone really well. I feel my bowling has improved a hell of a lot, and I think my game is in a completely different place to where it was last year.
Picture by Alex Davidson/Getty Images. Ria Fackrell in Birmingham Phoenix colours.
“Batting wise, the skill’s been there but not the confidence. I think the confidence has definitely increased a lot this winter.
“Rich Pyrah is a great coach, and Chris Brice as well. The communication has been great with them. They are so easy to work with.”
Yorkshire’s opening game on tour is on Friday, an Abu Dhabi Women’s T20 clash with Tasmania Tigers at 6am UK. It is the first of five matches through to next Wednesday – three T20s and two 50-over contests.
