Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. After a 10-day break, Yorkshire are back in Metro Bank One-Day Cup action at York tomorrow. Captain Lauren Winfield-Hill and company are targeting their third win from seven games.
Assistant coach Kevin Sharp believes a fun, relaxed environment is key to the development of Yorkshire’s women’s team.
The White Rose are adjusting to life in Tier 1 and have made an encouraging start to the summer with two wins and a tie from their six Metro Bank One-Day Cup matches so far, including a victory over defending champions Lancashire over at Emirates Old Trafford.
They currently sit fifth place in the nine-team table on 12 points, just outside the top-four, semi-final qualifying places.
There remains a lot of cricket to be played, however, with the halfway-point in the campaign only being reached two games from now, on Saturday.
Next up for Yorkshire is a clash with last year’s finalists Hampshire at York on Wednesday – 10.30am start – a county who have started this season nicely as well with four wins from six.
Picture by John Heald. Yorkshire’s assistant coach Kevin Sharp has been speaking about the relaxed, fun environment created within the women’s set-up at Headingley.
“They’ve created an environment and a culture that’s enjoyable to play in.
“You know, as a player, you want to wake up every morning and look forward to coming. Yes it’s your job, yes you get paid for it. But I’ve seen plenty of kids who enjoy the game over the years and then when they become pro, it gets a lot harder.
“So, the key for me is always to build an environment and a culture that allows a bit of fun whilst also knowing when to switch and focus on the job that you’re doing. And, without doubt, that’s what is happening here.”
They sit second in the table behind leaders The Blaze, the other team which Yorkshire have beaten so far.
Sharp said: “You know, I’ve been blown away. I’m delighted to be back at Yorkshire and playing a small part in helping the cause.
“And I’ve been blown away with what Rich (Pyrah) and the rest of the backroom staff have done.
As much as there has been encouragement for head coach Rich Pyrah, his two assistants Sharp and Chris Brice and captain Lauren Winfield-Hill, there has also been frustration because some opportunities have slipped by.
You could make an argument to say that Yorkshire could have won every game so far. It’s certainly true to say that they should have won five of six.
They were on top in their opener at Somerset and lost last month, the same again last time out against Essex at Headingley at the start of this month. Sandwiched in between, the Durham game at Scarborough which finished in a tie saw them in a strong position at 207-3 in the 37th over chasing 291. They later failed to get one run off the last ball to win with one wicket remaining.
“It’s Tier 1 for the first time and nobody really knew what to expect,” said Sharp. “We obviously knew the standard was going to be higher and we’d be challenged all the time.
“But I would have thought that had we been able to see the table at this stage before a ball, you’d have said, ‘We’ve done ok’.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Off-spinner Claudie Cooper represented an ECB Development XI who faced the New Zealand senior team at Durham last Wednesday.
“There are always things to improve. We’ve dropped some catches, and we’ve had some run outs which haven’t helped us. But there have been some fine performances as well.
“It is a learning curve, but there are lots of positives.”
One key area Sharp has targeted for improvement is batting the full allocation of 50 overs.
That was something they failed to do in their opening defeats away at Somerset and Surrey before posting 280-9 from 50 in their home win against The Blaze at Headingley. They pretty much did the same in the win against Lancashire, 241 all out in the 50th.
The White Rose posted 290 all out in 50 against Durham, narrowly missing out on the win, before being bowled out for 257 in the 47th over against Essex at Headingley in their last game as they chased 271.
“That is definitely one thing we’ve been working very hard on,” added Sharp. “In the first game, we made 178 and were bowled out in 34 overs. We’re leaving 16 overs out there.
“It showed when we did it against The Blaze and Lancashire that it’s scoreboard pressure for the opposition.”
Hampshire have so far won four, lost one and had the other game rained off. Last time out, last Wednesday, they beat Somerset by five wickets chasing 282. Opener Maia Bouchier scored a brilliant 143 off 111 balls. She is now with England’s ODI squad for their ongoing series against New Zealand.
Picture by Gareth Copley/Getty Images. Hampshire’s Australian overseas leg-spinning all-rounder Amanda-Jade Wellington.
Coached by former Essex men’s captain Paul Prichard, their captain Georgia Adams has only played once so far this season with a quad injury. Fellow all-rounder Naomi Dattani has been leading the side in her absence.
They have Australian leg-spinning all-rounder Amanda-Jade Wellington as their overseas player.
