Simply the Bess
Bess Alice May Heath, nicknamed Bam by her team-mates. Some sporting nicknames are bonkers, others unfathomable. This one, however, works perfectly given it sums up her aggressive style of play.
With the bat, the Chesterfield-born all-rounder, 21, loves to give it a whack in the middle order. Behind the stumps or even in the outfield, she’s all action.
Heath, one of the Northern Diamonds’ 10 contracted professionals, could have gone down the rugby union route having been offered a trial by Worcester Warriors before committing her future to cricket.
Her decision to prioritise bat and ball has been the right one. In 2022, not only did she help the Diamonds to Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy glory, she also impressed in England A colours.
Heath came through the Derbyshire age-group system and first played senior county cricket for them in 2014 – just weeks before her 13th birthday.
She played Kia Super League cricket for the Yorkshire Diamonds in 2019 and has since worn the White Rose in senior county cricket.
Away from the game, Heath still works in the family Tree Surgery business and has a passion for renovating old cars and vans, etc.
On the field, in 2022, she hit an impressive 893 runs in all cricket, including a best of 84 not out in a T20 clash for England A against the senior New Zealand team at Somerset’s Millfield School.
She finished the year playing for Big Bash side Melbourne Stars as an overseas player.
