The Northern Diamonds are delighted to announce the overseas signing of Australian all-rounder Erin Burns ahead of the 2024 regional summer.
Burns, a six-time international and a serial trophy winner domestically, will be available to coach Dani Hazell and captain Hollie Armitage through until the start of the Hundred at the end of July.
She is due to miss one match in that time because of a prior arrangement in Australia.
Erin Burns of the Governor-General’s XI bats during the women’s international tour match between the Governor-General’s XI and Pakistan at Allan Border Field on January 13, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images).
Burns said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Diamonds this summer.
“I’ve loved my time with the Sparks last summer and in the Hundred for the last few years, so heading back over to England was a pretty easy decision.
“Winning a trophy or two is something I’m desperate to do, and we definitely have the capability to do that.”
Burns is a middle order batter who bowls off-spin and is a live-wire in the field.
The Wollongong-born star played for the Central Sparks last summer, scoring 400 runs and taking 22 wickets in 17 matches across all cricket, including friendlies.
That number included back-to-back hauls of four and five wickets in early-season Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy matches, including a win over champions Southern Vipers. She also hit a best of 66 with the bat.
Burns pictured for the NSW Breakers. catching out Sophie Reid of Victoria during the WNCL match between Victoria and New South Wales at CitiPower Centre in January, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Burns, 35, has played 319 competitive career fixtures across List A and T20 cricket since debuting for Tasmania in 2009.
She has scored 5,860 runs across both formats with two hundreds and 25 half-centuries and has taken 184 wickets. Her aforementioned five-for – 5-36 for the Sparks against the Vipers last summer – was her career best return.
All of her international appearances came in 2019; five in T20 cricket and one in ODIs.
A physiotherapist alongside her cricket, she was part of the Australian squad which won the 2020 T20 World Cup on home soil but didn’t play a game.
Burns has won multiple Big Bash and state titles with the Sydney Sixers and New South Wales, while her Sparks spell last year was one of a number of overseas commitments she has fulfilled. She has played for Barbados Royals, Wellington and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
She has also played in the Hundred for the Birmingham Phoenix and Manchester Originals, playing alongside Sterre Kalis and Katie Levick at the former.
She has also played alongside Diamonds captain Armitage with Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash.
Fans wait to get autographs from Ellyse Perry, Erin Burns and Ashleigh Gardner of the Sixers following the WBBL match between Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers at North Sydney Oval, in November 2023, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)
“I’ve played with a number of the girls before, including Hollie Armitage.
“Hollie was a young and developing player when she came to the Sixers four or five years, so it’s been pretty special to see how she’s developed through to make her debut for England last month.
“I can’t wait to link up with the girls in a couple of weeks.”
Burns will arrive in time to face Lancashire Thunder in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy opener at Durham’s Riverside ground on Saturday April 20.
She could also feature in a friendly against the Blaze a few days earlier.
Diamonds captain Hollie Armitage said: “Erin is a brilliant signing for us.
“She brings a lot of experience on and off the field.
“I was lucky enough to play alongside her a few years ago, and she’s a brilliant character. She will add a lot of value to our squad, and we’re really looking forward to her joining us this year.
“With overseas signings, you want someone who can bat and bowl. We’re really pleased she can provide those two disciplines, but she’s also an outstanding fielder.”
