Wonderful Woolly
Jess Woolston is an emerging fast bowler who has remained at Headingley with Yorkshire having encouraged in Northern Diamonds colours in recent seasons.
Woolston signed a two-year contract ahead of 2025, her maiden professional deal.
It was a mixed summer last year in that she missed the start due to injury – a foot stress fracture – before finishing it having played a significant part in Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2 title glory.
She claimed an excellent 5-45 in a defeat to Middlesex at Headingley in August and impressed against the same opponents in the semi-final at Radlett a month later, returning a miserly 0-29 from seven overs.
Born in Teesside, she has made Leeds her home having studied in the city. She graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a degree in Sports Coaching prior to signing her pro deal and is a former student of the Yorkshire Cricket College.
Woolston turns 23 ahead of the 2026 summer.
Woolston grew up in the Durham age-groups, from Under 13s to the Under 17s, and has played senior county cricket for both them and Yorkshire – the latter who she joined ahead of the 2019 summer.
Playing for Durham’s Under 17s in a 45-over victory against Oxfordshire in 2018, she took the new ball and claimed a stunning haul of 6-9 from eight overs, including five wickets bowled and the other lbw.
A skilful new ball bowler with a particularly effective in-swinger, Woolston progressed through the Northern Diamonds Academy to make her senior debut for the region towards the end of the 2022 season.
It came in the latter stages of the triumphant Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy campaign.
Early the following summer, in the same competition, she claimed a fabulous match-winning 5-37 against South East Stars at Scarborough in May.
She warmed up for 2026 with a winter of club cricket in Melbourne, playing for North Geelong’s women.
UPDATED: Feb 2026.
