Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy: All you need to know for the third edition

The third edition of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy is all set to commence from July 2 (Saturday). The tournament will be played in two halves, with the first part of the fixtures held in July. 

The latter half of the season will be played in September, with the final taking place on September 25, 2022. The setting for the Final is a mouth-watering prospect as it will be held in the Mecca of Cricket, Lord’s.

The eight-team tournament is an English women’s domestic cricket competition, with the inaugural edition held in 2020. The rationale behind the inception of the tournament was to keep England’s women's cricket alive amidst the covid-19 pandemic. The first season was conducted behind closed doors, and the success of the event encouraged the England Cricket Board to continue with an additional domestic tournament.

The tournament is named after former England captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint, who passed away in 2017. She represented her national side for over two decades, playing 22 Test matches and 23 ODIs. 

The Southern Vipers won the first edition of the tournament. They successfully defended their title in 2021 and will look to make it a hat-trick of wins in 2022. Sophie Luff was the top run-getter of the tournament last year, scoring 417 runs. Kirstie Gordon was the highest wicket-taker with 16 scalps to her name.

Reigning champions, Southern Vipers, get us started in the third edition of the tournament, as they lock horns against Central Sparks on Saturday. Interestingly, the 50-over domestic event will run side-by-side with the Charlotte Edwards Cup, which is a 20-over domestic event.

The event will feature some of the finest names in English cricket. England skipper Heather Knight, and Natalie Sciver are among the big names to participate in the tournament. The significance of this 50-over event is that it will allow out-of-favour players to make a strong claim for their inclusion in the national side.

Squads:

Central Sparks - Eve Jones (c), Emily Arlott, Hannah Baker, Clare Boycott, Thea Brookes, Gwen Davies, Poppy Davies, Georgia Davis, Ria Fackrell, Sarah Glenn, Milly Home, Amy Jones, Anisha Patel, Davina Perrin, Grace Potts, Liz Russell, Issy Wong, Ami Campbell, Abbey Freeborn, Steph Butler

Lightning - Kathryn Bryce (c), Kirstie Gordon, Grace Ballinger, Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Bryce, Ella Claridge, Piepa Cleary, Bethan Ellis, Teresa Graves, Marie Kelly, Michaela Kirk, Beth Harmer, Lucy Higham, Katie Midwood, Sophie Munro, Alicia Presland, Josie Groves, Lenny Sims

Northern Diamonds - Hollie Armitage (c), Katherine Brunt, Abi Glen, Leah Dobson, Jenny Gunn, Bess Heath, Rachel Hopkins, Sterre Kalis, Beth Langston, Katie Levick, Emma Marlow, Nat Sciver, Rachel Slater, Linsey Smith, Phoebe Turner, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Leigh Kasperek, Yvonne Graves

South East Stars - Bryony Smith (c), Tash Farrant, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Aylish Cranstone, Alice Davidson-Richards, Dani Gregory, Alexa Stonehouse, Chloe Brewer, Claudie Cooper, Emma Jones, Eva Gray, Grace Gibbs, Kalea Moore, Kira Chathli, Kirstie White, Phoebe Franklin, Rhianna Southby, Ryana MacDonald-Gay

Southern Vipers - Georgia Adams (c), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean, Georgia Elwiss, Nancy Harman, Chloe Hill (Charlotte Edwards Cup only), Freya Kemp, Ella McCaughan, Alice Monaghan, Tara Norris, Carla Rudd, Page Scholfield, Anya Shrubsole, Charlotte Taylor, Emily Windsor, Danni Wyatt.

Southern Vipers - Georgia Adams (c), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean, Georgia Elwiss, Nancy Harman, Chloe Hill (Charlotte Edwards Cup only), Freya Kemp, Ella McCaughan, Alice Monaghan, Tara Norris, Carla Rudd, Paige Scholfield, Anya Shrubsole, Charlotte Taylor, Emily Windsor, Danni Wyatt

Sunrisers - Amara Carr, Kelly Castle, Naomi Dattani, Jo Gardner, Cordelia Griffith, Grace Scrivens, Kate Coppack, Gaya Gole, Lissy MacLeod, Sonali Patel, Mia Rogers, Katherine Speed, Mady Villiers, Abtaha Maqsood

Thunder - Ellie Threlkeld (c), Georgie Boyce, Nat Brown, Alice Clarke, Danielle Collins, Kate Cross, Rebecca Duckworth, Alice Dyson, Sophie Ecclestone, Alex Hartley, Liberty Heap, Laura Jackson, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Daisy Mullan, Shachi Pai, Sophia Turner, Laura Marshall, Seren Smale, Phoebe Graham

Western Storm - Sophie Luff (c), Fran Wilson, Lauren Filer, Nicole Harvey, Claire Nicholas, Bethan Gammon, Georgia Hennessy, Lauren Parfitt, Katie George, Niamh Holland, Mollie Robbins, Dani Gibson, Heather Knight, Sophia Smale, Alex Griffiths, Fi Morris, Nat Wraith

Fixtures

Saturday, July 2

South East Stars vs Sunrisers

Loughborough Lightning vs Western Storm

Central Sparks vs Southern Vipers

Sunday, July 3

Thunder vs Northern Diamonds

Saturday, July 9

Western Storm vs Central Sparks

Northern Diamonds vs Sunrisers

Loughborough Lightning vs Thunder

Southern Vipers vs South East Stars

Saturday, July 16

Central Sparks vs Northern Diamonds

Thunder vs South East Stars

Sunrisers vs Western Storm

Loughborough Lightning vs Southern Vipers

Saturday, July 23

Southern Vipers vs Sunrisers

Western Storm vs South East Stars

Thunder vs Central Sparks

Northern Diamonds vs Loughborough Lightning

Friday, September 9

South East Stars vs Northern Diamonds

Central Sparks vs Loughborough Lightning

Southern Vipers vs Western Storm

Sunrisers vs Thunder

Sunday, September 11

Southern Vipers vs Thunder

South East Stars vs Central Sparks

Sunrisers vs Loughborough Lightning

Western Storm vs Northern Diamonds

Saturday, September 17

Thunder vs Western Storm

Northern Diamonds vs Southern Vipers

Central Sparks vs Sunrisers

Loughborough Lightning vs South East Stars

Wednesday, September 21: Play-off

Sunday, September 25: Final