Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Highly-rated Ines Blackwell bowls for Yorkshire.
Talented teenager Ines Blackwell has paid tribute to her team-mates and coaches for helping her to settle into first-team cricket at Yorkshire.
The Academy all-rounder, 17-years-old, has been a regular in the White Rose’s first team this summer, impressing with bat and ball.
Blackwell played four matches in Tier 2 last August and has already played 15 times across the competitions this summer, though neither of the county’s last two games, including yesterday’s Vitality Blast win over Somerset at Headingley.
Blackwell has taken 13 wickets with seam, often taking the new ball, and has a 50-over best of 4-61 to her name. With the bat in the middle order, she has a top-score of 33 under her belt – also in the longer format.
Blackwell is a product of Marton Cricket Club, up near Middlesbrough, and she said: “I feel like I’ve settled in quite nicely with the girls here, and they’ve supported me the whole time.
“They’ve definitely helped me with the little bits that help you step up towards professional cricket, like field settings and angles.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ines Blackwell has been a regular for Yorkshire in both 50-over and T20 cricket this summer.
“They’ve been great, and I’ve absolutely loved it.”
For such a younger player – one Yorkshire rate incredibly highly – to be around the likes of captain Lauren Winfield-Hill, England
star Sarah Glenn and Australian overseas Jess Jonassen to name just three will surely do wonders for her development.
Blackwell agrees, continuing: “They’re all top professionals, really experienced in the game. Being around them can only help. I just want to learn as much as I can from them.”
Blackwell, who comes from a cricketing family – “Both my brothers play,” she said, has been speaking about her summer ahead of Yorkshire’s latest fixture.
They face Warwickshire Bears in the Vitality Blast at Edgbaston tomorrow morning, starting at 11.30am. It’s part of a T20 double header day with Warwickshire’s men.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Sterre Kalis and Lauren Winfield-Hill were exceptional against Somerset at Headingley yesterday.
Blackwell believes her bowling has been her strongest suit so far this season: “I’m happy with the way it’s gone with the ball,” she said. “With the bat, I’ve got quite a few starts, but I’d like to push on and make a bigger score.”
Blackwell’s promise with ball and bat was perhaps best showcased during the early-season Metro Bank One-Day Cup tie against Durham at Scarborough when both teams finished on 290.
She claimed her four wickets in that game and also pulled England fast bowler Lauren Filer for six.
Not only has Blackwell praised her team-mates, but she has also given a nod to the influence of coaches such as Rich Pyrah, Jared Warner, Chris Brice and Kevin Sharp for helping to push her game forwards.
The A-Level student added: “They’ve been amazing, so helpful. They’re all really experienced in all aspects, so that’s been really good.”
Yorkshire, with one win from nine games, face a Bears’ side who have won three of nine and have an outside chance of Finals Day qualification. They simply have to win their last three matches and hope for favours from elsewhere in order to reach the top four. Captained by off-spinner Georgia Davis, they are coached by ex-Yorkshire men’s assistant Ali Maiden. Australian batter Georgia Redmayne is their overseas player.
