Yorkshire women begin a schedule of friendly cricket this weekend with a pair of T20s away at Nottinghamshire, with batter Charlotte North expecting the county to strike the ideal balance between performance and development.
The Coronavirus pandemic means that this summer’s county programme will not see sides compete for silverware.
Instead, the focus is on getting back to playing the game and pushing for Northern Diamonds selection.
This weekend, both Yorkshire and the Diamonds are in action.
The White Rose travel to Welbeck, while the Diamonds face Central Sparks in a 40-over friendly at the Edgbaston Foundation Ground.
“All of our county games are friendlies this summer – we are playing a handful of double header T20s,” said North.
“Getting everyone playing cricket again is more the focus, I think, rather than having the competitive element to it.
“Because of the Diamonds stuff going on separately, we lose a few players to that. But we still have a good side out, and we’re confident of doing well.
“The England and contracted girls being away with the Diamonds gives us an opportunity to play some 18 or 19-year-old girls who maybe wouldn’t have been knocking on the door.
“It’s good exposure for them to come up against other county players and will serve them well.”
Yorkshire women: Hannah Buck c, Elise Good w, Charlotte North, Katie Thompson, Emilia Rossi, Jess Woolston, Lucy Lindley, Adrianna Darlow, Rachel Slater, Daisy Stokoe, Emma Marlow.
