England calling for our trophy-winning captain marvel

Batting all-rounder Hollie Armitage could hardly have scripted a better year than 2022, one which saw her achieve both team and personal success with the Northern Diamonds. At the third time of asking, they secured the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title, and Armitage was the one who lifted the trophy at Lord’s.

It came at the end of her second full season in charge of the side, a role which the Huddersfield-born 26-year-old has taken on seamlessly.

Armitage scored 494 runs across the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup competitions combined in 2022, including one century and a fifty in the top order. She also claimed 15 wickets with her leg-spinners and took 10 catches.

It meant that at the end of season awards dinner, she scooped a trio of awards. She was named both players’ player and player of the year as well as fielder of the year for the second campaign running.

Her standout display came in a late season RHFT group win over Somerset at Taunton when she hit 131 not out with the bat before taking two wickets and two catches. Her ton was her first in senior domestic cricket, a tally she added to with another in 50-over cricket in September 2023 – a defeat against Southern Vipers.

Armitage learnt her trade at Meltham CC in Huddersfield, where she opened the batting alongside ex-Yorkshire men’s batter Will Fraine in junior cricket.

She has represented Yorkshire through the age-groups to senior cricket and also has England Academy and A team  experience. In 2023, she played for the A side at home and abroad, captaining them in India in December. In February 2024, she earned her first senior England call-up for a T20 series in New Zealand.

She is one of the Diamonds’ contracted professionals and also captain of the Northern Superchargers in the Hundred, helping them reach the final last summer. She also helped the Central Hinds reach the final of New Zealand’s Super Smash in early 2024.

UPDATED: Feb 2024.