Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Claudie Cooper celebrates a Vitality Blast wicket with Lauren Winfield-Hill and Jess Jonassen.
Off-spinner Claudie Cooper is one of those who, amidst some mixed results for Yorkshire this summer, looks right at home in Tier 1 cricket.
Cooper, 24-years-old, struck three times in three of her first four games of the summer and has gone on to take 16 wickets in 13 appearances for the county across both the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, the Vitality County T20 Cup and the Vitality Blast.
Added to that, she was rewarded with a call-up to an ECB Development XI to face the touring New Zealand senior team in early May, a 50-over game at Durham’s Banks Homes Riverside ground.
She returned encouraging figures of 1-46 from 10 overs in a defeat.
“That was a great day,” she said. “It feels a long time ago now, but it was my first opportunity to be involved in anything like that. I was really happy with how I bowled that day, and it was nice to meet some of the girls who I hadn’t met before.
“New Zealand are a strong team, aren’t they, so it was good to get the wicket I did (Brooke Halliday). So, yeah, I was very happy.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Claudie Cooper played for an ECB Development XI against the touring New Zealanders at Durham in May.
Cooper has been speaking ahead of Yorkshire’s Blast game against Hampshire Hawks at the Utilita Bowl on Friday afternoon, 3pm.
It is Yorkshire’s seventh game of 12, and they are bidding for their first win. They have lost five of their previous six added to a rainy No Result.
Hampshire, meanwhile, have won three from six added to two ties and a defeat. The Hawks are one of those teams in contention for Finals Day.
Cooper continued: “This is a very good opportunity against a very, very decent side.
“I think we definitely have it in us. It’s just putting everything together and just making sure that we improve in the field as well. That’s going to be a big thing for us and can make a huge difference.
“As long as we can stay on top of that, we’ve got a very good chance. We know we can take on anybody.”
Cooper’s point is proven by the calibre of opposition Yorkshire have beaten this season.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Claudie Cooper is learning from international spin stars Jess Jonassen and Sarah Glenn.
Their first season in Tier 1 has seen them win three games across the competitions – all in the One-Day Cup.
And those wins have come against current leaders The Blaze at Headingley, last year’s champions Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford and an in-form Durham side at the Banks Homes Riverside.
This will actually be only Cooper’s third game in the Blast following a short spell on the sidelines with a back injury.
“I was quite excited for the T20 stuff, and then I had a stress response thing in my back, so I ended up missing the first couple,” she explained. “I’m just happy to be back, happy to be playing again.
“I was going really well, so it was a shame the injury had to come at the time it did.
“I’m just trying to get stronger to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I’m happy with how things are going.”
Cooper is loving being a part of a very strong spin department at Headingley, led by international pair Sarah Glenn and Jess Jonassen. The likes of leg-spinners Olivia Thomas and Holly Garton are also in there alongside Maddie Ward.
Picture by Gareth Copley/Getty Images. Maia Bouchier has enjoyed an excellent start to the Vitality Blast with Hampshire.
“We’ve always said that spin is what is going to win us games,” added Cooper. “It’s a real strength of ours.
“It’s been such a good experience being around Glenny and JJ.
“On the pitch, I’m constantly trying to talk to them, find out what they’re doing and how that can influence my game and help me out.
“I want to be the number one choice spinner at this club at some point, and that’s who I’m competing with. So I want to be as good as them.”
Hampshire are coached by former Essex men’s captain Paul Prichard and captained by all-rounder Georgia Adams. They have Australian all-rounder Amanda-Jade Wellington as their overseas player.
Adams, with her off-spin, has taken 11 wickets so far. She is the competition’s third leading wicket-taker. Fringe England opener Maia Bouchier is their leading run-scorer with 171 runs from only three appearances so far.
This forms part of a Blast double-header day in Southampton. Yorkshire’s men also tackle their Hampshire counterparts from 7pm.
