Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Yorkshire’s general manager of cricket Gavin Hamilton has been speaking about the first half of the summer for the county’s women’s side.
Gavin Hamilton has reflected on the first half of the season for Yorkshire’s women, describing it as “absolutely superb”.
The county’s general manager of cricket is delighted with the way the squad has bounced back from the disappointment of losing their opening game of the season to Worcestershire in April, the 50-over clash at Headingley.
Coach Rich Pyrah and his players are well placed in both Tier 2 competitions, the Metro Bank One-Day Cup and the Vitality Blast, the latter being played at present.
In all, they have won eight of 10 competitive matches in 2025, beating Tier 1 side Essex en-route to the quarter-finals of the knockout Vitality County T20 Cup.
“That first game of the year against Worcester was an eye-opener,” said Hamilton.
“It wasn’t the best performance. But we look back on that, and it was a big occasion – first game for Yorkshire as a professional side, nerves around – and there were two or three players who stood up in the game even in a loss.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Yorkshire Academy batter Amelia Oliver and vice captain Maddie Ward contributed significantly to a Blast victory over Derbyshire at Headingley earlier this month.
“From then on, we’ve gone from strength to strength. It’s been absolutely superb.”
Results aside, a huge positive has been the exposure to senior cricket for six Academy players to date.
Holly Garton, Amelia Love, Ellie Nightingale, Amelia Olivier, Elicia Pollard and Olivia Thomas have all played across the three competitions and impressed.
“If there was ever a year to do it then this was it,” said Hamilton, of that exposure. “There’s nothing to lose.
“We’re going up next year, and our thoughts obviously going forward are that if we can get four or five of these girls in that squad, then job done. I’ve said that on numerous occasions.
“We’re just lucky to be in this situation where it’s a free year to make that progression.”
Picture by John Heald. Academy leg-spinner Olivia Thomas has impressed over the last few months.
While the pre-season goal was always to expose some youngsters, it hasn’t been ideal that a squad including 12 full-time contracted professionals has been hit by significant injury issues.
Scotland international Rachel Slater has not played a game yet this summer because of a fractured wrist, for example, while fellow seamers Beth Langston, Grace Hall and Jess Woolston have also been sidelined at various stages. Captain Lauren Winfield-Hill and batter Sterre Kalis are also out on loan.
Results have been maintained, however.
Yorkshire won three of four matches in the knockout County Cup, they have won the same amount in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup and sit second in that table and on course for the semi-finals.
They have also won two from two in the Vitality Blast North Group and are on course for Finals Day.
Hamilton continued: “If I’m going to be honest, it’s exceeded my expectations in terms of the way we’ve won, the manner in which we’ve gone about our cricket, the real professional way that we’ve held ourselves in some really tricky situations.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Coach Rich Pyrah chats to his players.
“That’s a huge testament to Rich and his team, to actually bring the girls together from a standing start. But, obviously, the girls as well. They’ve been excellent.
“And I can only see them getting better.
“They have to keep going, though, and maintain this momentum because things are only going to get tougher when they come up against more and more Tier 1 teams.”
As much as results are not the be all and end all for Yorkshire this year, they can go hand in hand with the development of players, especially at the business end of a season.
Playing at Finals Days, semi-finals and finals surely has to be a huge learning experience for players?
“100 percent, yes, absolutely,” added Hamilton. “I’ve been through it myself in finals cricket, our coaching staff have, some of the senior players in our squad have as well. The pressure’s 10-fold. But it’s exciting.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Senior batter Rebecca Duckworth on the drive for Yorkshire’s women.
“We want to get there to win trophies but also to see who puts their hand up and takes a big game by the scruff of the neck.”
Table-topping Yorkshire continue their Vitality Blast campaign on Saturday against Derbyshire Falcons at The Central Co-op County Ground, Derby (2.30pm).
