Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Jess Woolston celebrates the wicket of Harriett Parkin against Derbyshire on Sunday, her first after injury.
Fit-again fast bowler Jess Woolston has hailed the support of her team-mates and coaches at Yorkshire for helping her through a difficult first half of 2025 following a stress fracture of her right foot.
Woolston, one of the county’s 12 contracted professionals, has been sidelined since February having suffered the injury whilst bowling indoors.
But the 22-year-old has been a regular presence around the team, be it on pre-season tour in Abu Dhabi in March and also at matches during the last two months, where she has carried the drinks.
Woolston returned to action in Sunday’s Vitality Blast 2 win over Derbyshire Falcons at Headingley, returning an excellent 1-14 from her four overs.
And she will likely line up against Leicestershire Foxes at the same venue this coming Sunday (11am).
“Obviously not the ideal timing, just after Christmas,” she said of her injury. “But I had full support from the group, and they’ve been great throughout the rehab process.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Jess Woolston, number 16, has hailed the support of her team-mates and coaches having had the first half of 2025 wrecked by injury.
“They kept me around, which I think was really important so that I didn’t feel separate from everyone.
“I went to Abu Dhabi and continued my rehab over there. And, obviously, coming back into the games, I feel like everyone’s been behind me, which has been great.”
Woolston returned to the field in Academy cricket late last month before facing the Falcons in a senior competitive fixture at the weekend, the timing of her return particularly useful given senior fast-bowling colleagues Grace Hall, Beth Langston and Rachel Slater all missed the game.
“I’m feeling good,” she said. “It’s about trusting the work I’ve done with the physio and the strength and conditioning coach, playing the cricket I know I can play and just enjoying it at the end of the day.”
Woolston is set to be a part of an historic double header T20 day on Sunday, the first time Yorkshire’s men and women have played on the same day at the same venue.
The White Rose men also face Leicestershire Foxes in their Blast from 3pm.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Jess Woolston gets another chance to bowl at Headingley on Sunday.
“It’s so good – amazing,” she said. “We had the Roses and Dynamos sessions on before the game (Derbyshire), so they brought a nice little crowd for us and were cheering us on. I’m sure we’ll get another good crowd this time.
“I made my debut here with the Northern Diamonds in 2022, so Headingley holds a special place in my heart. It’s such a good environment and iconic ground.”
Woolston has returned to a Yorkshire side who are flying this season. Across all competitions – 50-over and T20 cricket – they have won seven of nine matches.
She said: “We’ve got loads of momentum.
“I said to the group that I think everyone’s stepping up at different times and just putting their hand up and being like, ‘I’m going to change the game with one moment or I’m going to have that innings which wins us the game’.
“People are coming through and playing the cricket we want them to play. So I think it’s a really exciting year for the group to be able to prove what we can do.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Amelia Oliver hit an excellent 39 not out on professional debut against Derbyshire Falcons.
“And the club have been great to enable us to have this platform.”
Yorkshire beat Derbyshire by eight wickets with 7.2 overs to spare as they chased a 105-target with comfort.
Leicestershire, meanwhile, lost their opening game against Northamptonshire Steelbacks on Sunday by eight runs. The Foxes, chasing 124, were limited to 115-5.
All-rounder Francesca Sweet impressed in defeat with three wickets and 37 opening the batting.
Last month, Sweet top-scored with a middle order 52 for the Foxes as they were beaten by Yorkshire at York in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
The return fixtures between the four sides also form part of a double header day at the Uptonsteel County Ground, Grace Road on July 18.
