Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Yorkshire’s general manager of cricket Gavin Hamilton.
“We’re sort of in a four-year cycle now, we’re halfway through it, and I think we’re tracking in the right direction.” Gavin Hamilton has been speaking about the progression of Yorkshire’s women’s side at the culmination of the 2026 summer.
A first year in Tier 1 for the White Rose was a rollercoaster ride. It was always expected to be.
There were some highs and some lows. Victories over treble winners The Blaze and arch-rivals Lancashire fall into the first category, defeats such as the late-season one against Somerset at Headingley fall into the latter.
Yorkshire won six matches through the summer, three in each of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup and the Vitality Blast T20.
They finished second-from-bottom in the One-Day Cup and third-from-bottom in the Blast.
Yorkshire’s outstanding player through the summer was Jess Jonassen, their Australian overseas player, who played 26 matches across all cricket and scored 810 runs with three centuries and took 39 wickets with her left-arm spin.
Jonassen will return to Headingley for 2027 when it is widely accepted that gaining results will take on more significance than this year.
Picture by Bruce Rollinson/SWPix.com. An outstanding first year at Headingley for Australian overseas star Jess Jonassen.
Whether it be Hamilton as general manager of cricket, coach Rich Pyrah or captain Lauren Winfield-Hill, they have regularly spoken about progression being the main aim.
Hamilton said: “It was certainly a learning curve, wasn’t it.
“I think the girls have put in some really good performances, let’s be honest. They could have probably won eight or nine games more than they actually have done.
“But, yeah, it was always going to be a learning season, getting to understand the level they had to be at.
“Next year, they just need to step up a gear.”
Hamilton continued: “I think there’s a lot of on-the-field decisions they probably didn’t quite get right. I think that’s probably across the board in all women’s games, to be honest, though.
“When there are collapses, there are real collapses.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Yorkshire coach Rich Pyrah present Hannah Rainey with her T20 cap earlier this summer.
“And I think that on-field decision-making, in batting and bowling, is going to make a massive difference next year.
“I know Rich and his coaching staff are addressing that.”
Hamilton has picked out a couple of highlights from 2026. But let’s get the toughest one out of the way first.
The defeat against Somerset at Headingley in the One-Day Cup at the start of this month was a real gut-wrencher for everyone involved.
Yorkshire reduced Somerset to 9-4 and 94-8 before they were bowled out for 130. The White Rose were then 121-5 in reply and cruising, only to be bowled out for 125.
“You’ve got to get over the line,” said Hamilton. “That was the first time we’ve addressed the losing situation after that game.
“I don’t mind losing, I have no issues at all, and I know where we are in this journey is in the women’s game. But you can’t lose them.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Yorkshire off-spinner Claudie Cooper.
“As a group, they know it was a really bad day, and I think that was a real good learning curve for them. Hopefully that was the lightbulb moment of going, ‘Wait a second, this can’t happen again’.
“We need to push harder, and we need to take control of game situations.”
In terms of Hamilton’s highlights, he said: “I think winning away at Lancashire in the Blast was superb. It was a real test of character. And, also, beating Durham at the Riverside in the 50-overs.
“I always reflect on this game because we bowled them out cheaply, for 193, and then they just worked their way to the target to win by six wickets.
“There was no rush, and they just won properly and with authority.”
Hamilton believes a core of six experienced, hardened Tier 1 cricketers are needed to build a squad around and says: “With Em Arlott coming in, I don’t think we’re far away.
“Probably one away maybe, but we’ll look at that for next year depending on how things work out.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Somerset’s Sophie Luff with Yorkshire’s Lauren Winfield-Hill at the toss ahead of July’s Vitality Blast fixture at Headingley, which Yorkshire won – one of six successes this summer.
“And we’ll just continue to work with the pathway because I think what’s coming through, certainly from a sort of Under 14s to Under 15s level, is really exciting.
“We just need to make sure we’ve got the right platform in the professional squad to allow these girls to come through in the next few years.
“We’ve had four players picked by the England Under 19s in the last few days (Amelia Olivier, Holly Garton, Lucy Randle-Bissell and Libby Fellows).
“That next crop is really, really exciting.”
And on Jonassen, Hamilton added: “I don’t know where we would have been without her this year, to be honest.
“But, having been in and around the dressing room with her off the field, her input is superb, her honesty, and the way she goes about her cricket.
“It’s just perfect for her to come back again next year.
Picture by Jan Kruger/Getty Images. England Under 19s selection for Holly Garton.
“We need her again next year just to continue the momentum that she’s brought in this year.
“Her 50-over stats are as fantastic as you’ll probably see.
“She’s everything that we want in an overseas player.”
