Hollie Armitage is relishing the prospect of leading the Northern Superchargers for the second women’s Hundred campaign running.
The Northern Diamonds batting all-rounder is bidding to ensure the Superchargers qualify for their first knockout stage in three years of the competition, which starts next week.
If Armitage can do that and go a couple of steps further, she will have claimed two trophies as captain in as many years having won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in regional cricket.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for me, and I’m thrilled to bits to be leading the side again,” said the Huddersfield star.
“The Hundred’s an amazing tournament, the buzz around it and the atmosphere at grounds.
“I’m really looking forward to that with some different overseas players and team-mates. Hopefully we can group together quickly and get some wins on the board.”
Armitage is one of a quartet of Diamonds players in the Superchargers; Leah Dobson, Grace Hall and Bess Heath the others.
Getty Images. Northern Superchargers captain Hollie Armitage.
They have three Australians as overseas players, with the returning Alyssa Healy joined by all-rounder Heather Graham and leg-spinner Georgia Wareham.
England seamer Kate Cross has also made the move across the Pennines having captained the Manchester Originals for the first two seasons.
For Armitage, she has enjoyed a mixed summer. She hasn’t quite hit the heights with bat or ball that she did last year, but she has progressed through to play for England A and hit 70 in an ODI against Australia A last month.
Armitage, 26, will clearly have ambitions to move through to play senior cricket, and the Hundred is a chance for her to perform in front of the TV cameras. But that’s not her first priority.
“You can look at it in that respect, but I’m looking to perform for my team,” she added.
“Most importantly, if I can be seen as a captain who is helping my team win games of cricket, I think that’s more important for me and probably impresses those higher up than anything else anyway.”
The Superchargers play their opening game against Birmingham Phoenix at Headingley on Thursday at 3pm, the first part of a double header with the men.
