If Ria Fackrell plays a central part in Yorkshire’s success over the next three years and hopefully beyond, you could say that a host of household names will have played a small part.
Most of credit would go to off-spinning all-rounder Fackrell for her development, though the likes of Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Erin Burns and Sophie Molineux will have had an impact.
For they are all players who the 25-year-old has played alongside for Birmingham Phoenix and Central Sparks in recent years. And the list goes on. Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone and India captain Harmanpreet Kaur were all team-mates when she played in the old Kia Super League for Lancashire Thunder.
“I’ve been so privileged in terms of the players I’ve both played with and against,” said Coventry-born Fackrell, whose preparations for 2025 are in full swing at Headingley.
“When I was with Pez at Phoenix, she was recovering from a back injury, and the way she went about it was so professional. She knew exactly what she needed to do with her rehab. She was the first to arrive and the last one to leave. She was also so open with her help and advice.
Picture by Laura Malkin. Ria Fackrell has signed for Yorkshire following her time in the Warwickshire and Central Sparks system.
“Sophie Devine as well, she’s someone who I definitely look up to. Unbelievable player and unbelievable attitude. She just loves the game.”
Given the fact veteran Australian all-rounder Burns – a former team-mate at the Sparks and Phoenix – was at Headingley during the summer just gone with the Northern Diamonds and is a direct comparison as an off-spinning all-rounder, it is interesting to hear Fackrell talk about her influence.
“Erin’s definitely a role model for me,” she continued. “Her knowledge of the game is incredible.
“She puts absolutely everything into it and is not afraid to share her knowledge.
“I remember when, unfortunately for her, she had a spell of dropping a few catches off her own bowling. So she worked for the next few training sessions, just her and a coach, bowling and catching. Practicing caught and bowleds like that is not something I’d seen before.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Former Northern Diamond Erin Burns is someone Ria Fackrell looks up to.
“A lot of it can be coach-led, but that was player-led. She was like, ‘I need to work on this’.”
Former Warwickshire player Fackrell continued: “She was willing to help me so much. I would ask what I thought might be silly questions, and she was like, ‘No question’s silly’.
“I’ve played with so many internationals over the years, but Burnsy definitely stands out amongst the best.
Yes, the influence of others should be noted when it comes to Fackrell’s development – and Yorkshire coaches will play their part too – but if she progresses how the county’s hierarchy hope then the majority of credit should go to the player herself.
Speaking to Fackrell, one things shines through – her desire to be the very best she can be.
Picture by Gareth Copley/Getty Images. Australian legend Ellyse Perry is a former team-mate of Ria Fackrell’s at Birmingham Phoenix.
She has taken herself out of her comfort zone in a number of ways, most notably opting to give up bowling seam up – “little dibbly dobblers” as she puts it – and go down the off-spin route.
She explained: “I started my career bowling these little away swingers, but I wasn’t the strongest with the ball or the bat so thought that I needed to change a few things up to get my name out there more for selection.
“When I first started, a quote from John Stanworth (now an ECB talent scout), ‘It’s like a grenade out of a bunker!’ Every time I see him, he brings it up!
“I think I’ve definitely improved since then.
“It’s only going to be my fifth season of bowling spin, and I’m still learning as I go.
Picture by Harry Trump/Getty Images. Ria Fackrell in action for Warwickshire.
“I haven’t really had the chance to work with spin bowling coaches before, so I’m really excited about working with Chris Brice and alongside Claudie Cooper at Yorkshire and developing my game.
“I feel like in the last 18 months to two years, I’ve seen a lot of improvement with my spin.”
Fackrell has also been willing to travel to advance her game, be it signing for Lancashire in 2019 or travelling to Perth during the winter of 2022/23. Signing for Yorkshire is another step on that path.
“I was in Perth for half a winter and was lucky enough to work with Rebecca Grundy, who is head coach of the WA state team,” she continued. She’s also a former England international from Warwickshire.
“That was a time when I felt like it clicked with my spin.
Picture by Steve Bardens/Getty Images. Claudie Cooper and Ria Fackrell are the two senior spinners in Yorkshire’s squad for 2025.
“They had some great facilities, and I was very lucky to be able to train with them.
“I’m very passionate about continuing my development, and I don’t think I’ve hit my peak at all.”
Fackrell has 84 senior 50-over and T20 appearances to her name since debuting for Shropshire in early 2017. She has scored just short of 1,000 runs with a best of 86 not out and has taken 40 wickets with a best of 5-11.
That five-for came for Warwickshire against Leicestershire in the County T20 Cup in late June just gone.
She played 10 senior regional matches for the Sparks in 2024.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com. Yorkshire head coach Richard Pyrah has high hopes for Ria Fackrell’s progression.
This three-year contract at Headingley sees her sign her maiden full-time professional deal, though she did hold a summer contract with the Edgbaston-based Sparks.
“Twelve months ago, I was applying for 9-5 jobs, and now I’m lucky enough to say that my dream job has become a reality,” beamed Fackrell. “I started playing cricket at 16, and it’s surreal to say that I’m a professional now.
“Because the Sparks only had 11 full-time contracts available, I unfortunately didn’t have one of them. I had a pay-to-play one, and it wasn’t enough to live off.
“I was working as a coach part-time and training full-time.
“I’d got to a point where I’d graduated from Loughborough University and needed to start a career. A full-time job looked like the most reachable target at that point, but I was still kind of holding back a bit because I knew it wasn’t really what I wanted.
Picture by Laura Malkin. Ria Fackrell’s batting will also be a vital asset for Yorkshire.
“One of the ones I got close to in terms of an interview was for a prison officer’s job.”
Fackrell has made the move up to Yorkshire and says she is “very happy with my decision to sign here”.
“I had a good conversation with Yorkshire and the set-up sounded really good. What they wanted out of me, I feel like I can provide it,” she went on.
“The support Yorkshire have given me so far, help with the move and access to facilities before we started training officially as a squad, it’s been outstanding. I can’t thank them enough.”
And of her hopes for Yorkshire success in 2025, she added: “I think we’ve got good things coming.
Picture by Justine Brunnschweiler/NCCA. Ria Fackrell and Maddie Ward were part of England’s success at last December’s T10 European Championship event in Malaga.
“Tier 2 is a good start for us, and it can really set us up because we’re a new team.
“We have some youth coming through. I played with Maddie (Ward) in Malaga this time last year at the European T10 Championship, and her skills are unmatched behind the stumps. She’s fantastic.
“Marry that to the experience of Langers, Loz, Sterre and Ami, it’s a great blend.
“With a good winter’s work behind us, I’m expecting a really good summer.”
Meanwhile, Fackrell and Yorkshire team-mate Maddie Ward will again be part of England’s squad for the European T10 Championship, which starts in Malaga on Sunday. The squad is selected by the National Counties Cricket Association.
