Rich Pyrah’s plan to develop Yorkshire’s homegrown youngsters continued at pace in Abu Dhabi today as all six Academy players on tour faced Tier 1 side Surrey in an 40-over friendly.
Yorkshire were beaten by the Kia Oval outfit, who posted 253-8 and defended that total, limiting coach Pyrah’s side to 165-3.
However, there were many a positive to come from today, as there were from the weekend Abu Dhabi Women’s T20, which saw the county beaten in the final by The Blaze.
One of those was fledgling leg-spinner Holly Garton getting England senior batter Sophia Dunkley stumped for 53.
Garton was one of three 16-year-olds in Yorkshire’s team alongside experienced heads such as Ami Campbell, Sterre Kalis, Rebecca Duckworth and Ria Fackrell.
Fellow contracted pro Maddie Ward captained Yorkshire today, a player who was in the Northern Diamonds Academy last summer.
Garton was joined in Yorkshire’s team by Academy colleagues Fran Lonsdale, Amelia Love, Elicia Pollard, Lucy Randle-Bissell and Emma Wrightson.
Picture by YCCC. Maddie Ward keeps wicket as England star Sophia Dunkley bats. Ward helped Holly Garton (cover picture) remove Dunkley.
All through the winter, Pyrah and the rest of Yorkshire’s management have made no secret of the fact that this is a development year in which the county is laying the foundations for their elevation from Tier 2 to 1 in 2026.
Results are important, of course. In any elite environment, they are never not. But the primary target is progression over performance.
“It’s not a myth that there will be opportunities for them,” said Academy lead coach Chris Brice only last week, of the youngsters. “We need to find out about these players.”
Off-spinner Fackrell was the only pro used amongst Yorkshire’s six bowlers, and all struck.
Fackrell, Garton, Pollard and Randle-Bissell all struck once apiece, while the impressive pair of Wrightson and Love finished with 2-33 and 2-37 from respective six-over spells. They were excellent.
For Surrey, Dunkley’s 53 was supplemented by England fringe all-rounder Alice Davidson-Richards’ 52 and Phoebe Franklin’s 54. The latter two both retired not out.
Picture by YCCC. Yorkshire Women will conclude their tour with a 40-over friendly against Essex tomorrow at the Sheikh Zayed International Stadium complex.
Ward claimed two stumpings and a catch behind the wicket, though unfortunately missed out with the bat – 12, opening.
Duckworth top-scored with 34 from number four and Fackrell 23 from five in the order.
Spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman led the way for Surrey with 4-24 from seven overs, while Gen Jeer and Bethan Miles struck three times apiece.
Yorkshire complete their tour with a 40-over clash against Essex tomorrow.
