Kent Women cricket team
English cricket team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Kent Women cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English county of Kent. They play their home matches at St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury, as well as the County Cricket Ground, Beckenham.[1] They are captained by Megan Belt and are coached by former Kent County Cricket Club player James Hockley.[2][3] They are the most successful team in both the Women's County Championship and Women's Twenty20 Cup, with 8 and 3 titles respectively.[4][5] Until 2025, they were partnered with the regional team South East Stars.[6]
| |
| Personnel | |
|---|---|
| Captain | Megan Belt |
| Coach | James Hockley |
| Manager | Lucy Arman |
| Team information | |
| Founded | First recorded match: 1935 |
| Home ground | St Lawrence Ground |
| History | |
| WCC wins | 8 |
| T20 Cup wins | 3 |
| Official website | Kent Women |
History
1935–1996: Early History
Kent Women played their first recorded match in 1935, against Civil Service Women.[7] Over the following years, Kent were one of the most prolific women's teams, playing various one-off and tourist games, against surrounding counties and national teams such as Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands.[8] Kent joined the Women's Area Championship in 1980, and played in the competition until 1996 (including two title wins, in 1986 and 1987), after which they joined the Women's County Championship.[9][10][11]
1997–2019: Women's County Championship
In 1997, their first season in the County Championship, Kent finished 5th in Division One with just one win.[12] Over the next few seasons, Kent were a consistently mid-table team, plus one season in Division Two, in 2002.[13] A steady improvement after their promotion, however, eventually led them to their first Championship title, in 2006.[14] They retained their title in 2007, going unbeaten in both seasons. Key to their success was England captain Charlotte Edwards, who played for Kent from 2000 to 2016.[15] This started an extremely successful era for Kent Women, winning the most titles in Championship history, eight, and only finishing outside the top 3 of Division 1 once, in 2017: the further times they won the Championship were in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019.[16] In 2016, Kent bowlers Megan Belt, Tash Farrant and Charlotte Pape were the first, third and fourth leading wicket-takers respectively, whilst Tammy Beaumont was the leading run-scorer.[17] Kent batters Fran Wilson, Tammy Beaumont and Maxine Blythin were all in the top ten leading run-scorers in 2019.[18]
Kent Women have also been the most successful team in the history of the Women's Twenty20 Cup, winning the tournament three times, in 2011, 2013 and 2016.[19] They also reached the semi-finals of the competition in 2013 and 2012, losing to Berkshire both times.[20] In 2011, however, they beat Berkshire by 8 wickets after bowling them out for just 73.[21] In 2013, Kent beat Sussex in the final by 8 wickets,[22] whilst in 2016 they won the title by topping Division One, with five wins from seven games.[23]
2020–2024: Regional Twenty20 Cup
In 2021, they competed in the South East Group of the Twenty20 Cup, and won their region, going unbeaten with 6 wins and 2 matches abandoned due to rain.[24] In 2022, they finished second in their group in the Twenty20 Cup, going on to lose in the final against Sussex.[25] Kent have also competed in the Women's London Championship since its first edition in 2020, and won their first London Championship title in 2021.[26][27] In the 2023 Women's Twenty20 Cup, Kent finished second in their group and reached the group final, but the title was shared due to rain.[28] In 2024, the team finished 7th in their group in the Twenty20 Cup and 3rd in their group in the new ECB Women's County One-Day tournament.[29][30]
Players
Current squad
- As of 23 April 2025
Players listed below are named as Kent squad players on the team's website. Other players may play matches for the team.[31] ‡ denotes players with international caps.
| No. | Name | Nationality | Birth date | Batting Style | Bowling Style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batters | ||||||
| 11 | Jessica Bird |  England | 21 July 1999 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| 19 | Ella Darlington | England | 27 September 2006 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 14 | Jodie Hobson | England | 25 November 2000 | Right-handed | – | |
| 4 | Sophie Singer | England | 22 May 2006 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg spin | |
| 17 | Coco Streets | England | 17 February 2002 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Vice Captain |
| All-rounders | ||||||
| 55 | Elsa Barnfather | England | 23 July 2003 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 66 | Tilly Callaghan | England | 5 October 1998 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 21 | Amy Gordon | England | 3 October 2001 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| 25 | Isabella James | England | 4 February 2005 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg spin | |
| 3 | Genevieve Jeer | England | 16 July 2009 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 34 | Isobel Kirby | England | 6 February 2005 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 2 | Grace Poole | England | 2 September 2000 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | |
| 20 | Megan Sturge | England | 3 November 2004 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg spin | Loan Player |
| Wicket-keepers | ||||||
| 12 | Molly Davis | England | 12 March 2001 | Right-handed | – | |
| 92 | Emily Thompson | England | 12 December 1997 | Right-handed | – | |
| Bowlers | ||||||
| 23 | Laura Bailey | England | 3 June 1992 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg spin | |
| 95 | Olivia Barnes | England | 9 July 2006 | Right-handed | Left-arm orthodox spin | Loan Player |
| 6 | Megan Belt | England | 6 October 1997 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | Captain |
| 12 | Zeena Bilal | England | 12 October 2006 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 15 | Sydney Gorham | England | 19 October 2003 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | |
| 63 | Alice Grant | England | 29 June 2004 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
Notable players
Players who have played for Kent and played internationally are listed below, in order of first international appearance (given in brackets):[32]
Betty Archdale (1934)- Doris Turner (1934)
- Marjorie Richards (1935)
- Cecilia Robinson (1949)
- Audrey Disbury (1957)
- Ruth Westbrook (1957)
- Mollie Hunt (1960)
- Alison Ratcliffe (1960)
- Kathleen Smith (1960)
- Ann Jago (1960)
Liz Amos (1961)- Jacqueline Elledge (1963)
- Mary Pilling (1963)
- Jean Clark (1968)
- Chris Watmough (1968)
- Heather Dewdney (1969)
- Jill Cruwys (1969)
- Katherine Brown (1973)
- Susan Goatman (1973)
- Sue Hilliam (1973)
- Megan Lear (1973)
- Jill Powell (1979)
- June Edney (1984)
Mickey de Boer (1984)- Julie May (1986)
- Lisa Nye (1988)
- Caroline Barrs (1988)
- Marie Moralee (1991)
Emily Drumm (1992)- Olivia Magno (1995)
- Claire Whichcord (1995)
- Charlotte Edwards (1996)
- Paula Flannery (2000)
Cri-Zelda Brits (2002)- Sarah Burke (2003)
- Lydia Greenway (2003)
- Jo Watts (2005)
- Suzie Bates (2006)
- Lynsey Askew (2006)
- Laura Marsh (2006)
- Tammy Beaumont (2009)
- Erin Bermingham (2010)
- Lauren Griffiths (2010)
- Fran Wilson (2010)
- Susie Rowe (2010)
- Tash Farrant (2013)
- Alice Davidson-Richards (2018)
Sarah Bryce (2018)- Kirstie Gordon (2018)
Arlene Kelly (2022)
Elysa Hubbard (2022)- Darcey Carter (2023)
- Ryana MacDonald-Gay (2024)
Seasons
Women's County Championship
| Season | Division[33] | P | W | L | T | A/C | BP | Pts | Pos | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Division 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 31.5 | 43.5 | 5th | |
| 1998 | Division 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 36.5 | 60.5 | 3rd | |
| 1999 | Division 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 30.5 | 54.5 | 5th | |
| 2000 | Division 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 55 | 3rd | |
| 2001 | Division 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 24.5 | 24.5 | 6th | Relegated |
| 2002 | Division 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 28.5 | 86.5 | 1st | Promoted |
| 2003 | Division 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 32.5 | 68.5 | 3rd | |
| 2004 | Division 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43.5 | 91.5 | 2nd | |
| 2005 | Division 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 83 | 2nd | |
| 2006 | Division 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 106 | 1st | Champions |
| 2007 | Division 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 135 | 1st | Champions |
| 2008 | Division 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 91 | 2nd | |
| 2009 | Division 1 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 200 | 1st | Champions |
| 2010 | Division 1 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 132 | 2nd | |
| 2011 | Division 1 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 126 | 1st | Champions |
| 2012 | Division 1 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 24 | 54 | 1st | Champions |
| 2013 | Division 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 107 | 3rd | |
| 2014 | Division 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 48 | 108 | 1st | Champions |
| 2015 | Division 1 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 51 | 105 | 2nd | |
| 2016 | Division 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 133 | 1st | Champions |
| 2017 | Division 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 71 | 6th | |
| 2018 | Division 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 83 | 3rd | |
| 2019 | Division 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 106 | 1st | Champions |
Women's Twenty20 Cup
| Season | Division[34] | P | W | L | T | Ab | NRR | Pts | Pos | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Division 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +0.97 | 3 | 2nd | |
| 2010 | Division S1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2.87 | 6 | 1st | Semi-final |
| 2011 | Division S1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.17 | 6 | 1st | Champions |
| 2012 | Division S1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +2.23 | 5 | 2nd | Semi-final |
| 2013 | Division S1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.99 | 4 | 2nd | Champions |
| 2014 | Division 1B | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +2.28 | 12 | 3rd | |
| 2015 | Division 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | −0.10 | 24 | 3rd | |
| 2016 | Division 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +0.43 | 20 | 1st | Champions |
| 2017 | Division 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | −0.38 | 16 | 6th | |
| 2018 | Division 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +0.67 | 20 | 3rd | |
| 2019 | Division 1 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | +0.04 | 18 | 3rd | |
| 2021 | South East | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +1.30 | 26 | 1st | Group winners |
| 2022 | Group 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +1.19 | 16 | 2nd | Lost final |
| 2023 | Group 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +3.31 | 12 | 2nd | Shared group winners |
| 2024 | Group 3 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | −0.32 | 54 | 7th |