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Newsroom
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsroom
Cricket legend Suzie Bates finds her second wind in a new home
It's 8:30am on a fresh Durham morning and Suzie Bates, by her own admission, isn't quite awake yet. It's not that it was a late night for the 37-year-old White Fern, but instead it was a long, long day. Bates and her teammates played a 50 over match away against Lancashire the day before, at the seaside town of Blackpool. On a good day it's a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Durham, situated in the north-west of England, and the best part of 200 kms. It was the fourth away fixture Bates has played in the Metro Bank One Day Cup since arriving in mid-April, so she's becoming familiar with the nation's motorways. 'It's been very busy. We've had two games a week and there's been a lot of travel. The girls said we've spent 53 hours on the bus so far. I did try and ask how many miles that was, but they hadn't worked that out,' Bates says. The side travel to fixtures the night before but then look to get home after the game has finished, so they can sleep in their own beds. It's meant Bates, who represented New Zealand in basketball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has had plenty of travel time to watch the NBA playoffs, play lots of cards, and get to know her teammates better. 2025 has seen the beginning of a new era in women's cricket in England, with the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) restructuring the game into a three-tiered domestic competition, calling it 'the next stage in the evolution of women's cricket' as they forecast that there could be an 80 percent increase in the number of professional women players in England and Wales by 2029. Durham were one of eight counties awarded the highest Tier 1 status, with Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey and Warwickshire and it's meant that not only have there been opportunities for domestic players, but also overseas talent like Bates. With a largely young side at his disposal, and needing an opening batter, the idea of having an experienced player like Bates appealed to Durham's director of cricket, former Australian international Marcus North. In their first season, they also wanted an overseas player who was available for most of the season and with a lack of White Ferns fixtures during their season, Bates was well positioned. 'His enthusiasm and how important he thought the women's programme was going to be to Durham for years to come, was a pretty good selling point and just to be a part of something for the first time is obviously special. They've got a great set-up with the ground, the resources and the training facilities,' Bates says. 'It sounded like a really good fit. They were really excited about having a women's team and I could tell they were going to invest a lot in the programme so that excited me.' The first stage of the 50-over competition is now at an end, with Durham winning three of their eight matches as Bates accumulated 292 runs at an average of 36.5, including three half-centuries. The competition has been of a high standard, with new England head coach Charlotte Edwards wanting all her top players to participate whenever possible. 'I knew as soon as she [Edwards] got the gig they'd all be playing. I think it's brilliant for that to come from the head coach. I know in New Zealand when you have all the White Ferns, all the contracted players, playing Supersmash or HBJ [Hallyburton Johnstone Shield], it just lifts the whole standard and it helps with everything. It helps with confidence knowing that you've scored runs against the best bowling attacks and selectors have a better gauge of where everyone's at, with everyone playing,' Bates says. 'I think in this era when we're professional cricketers, you get paid to play cricket and there's no real reason at the moment that they can't be involved. Some of the teams have some really strong line-ups and yesterday [against Lancashire] it felt like it was potentially good preparation for potentially facing England in India [at the World Cup] with the likes of Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross and Mahika Kaur who's just been selected, so for me it's been brilliant. Charlotte's drawn a line in the sand with that. She'll do a great job, she's been successful everywhere she's gone.' Just as Edwards and Bates played against each other for their countries, Bates has also played against, and with, her head coach at Durham, Danielle Hazell. 'I've played a lot of cricket against her, probably more one day than T20. She was a wily off-spinner and then in her last season we both played at the Adelaide Strikers, so I've had a bit to do with her and she's coached now for a number of years. She's one of the best woman cricketers that the Durham system has produced. She's been coaching Yorkshire but this is much closer to home for her,' Bates says. 'She's brilliant. She has a really good way about her. She's firm but fair and if you're a young player she keeps you in line but she's also really positive. We've managed to win three games, but with those losses it's about making sure that the younger players are learning and taking the positives so I think she's perfect for this type of group. She has a really good relationship with the captain and myself and the senior leadership group work well together so she's got some really good people around her.' One competition Bates, as an overseas player, cannot take part in, is the Vitality T20 Women's County Cup. Durham have won their only fixture in the competition to date, but this presents an opportunity for Bates, one that she was aware of before she signed on. 'Part of the conversation I had with Marcus [North] initially was just around my plans for the future. I talked about the 50-over World Cup this year, and the T20 World Cup next year. Obviously, I'm much closer to the end [of my career] than the start, and he talked about coaching and I said it's always been something that I've been interested in,' Bates says. ' I think it's actually quite nice when you're in the thick of it, playing and worried about preparing and performing, to then go to a game and I guess just be around the group to bring good energy and not have to worry about performing, and I'm at that end of my career where I'm thinking about the future, so to be able to dabble in bits of coaching and be on the sidelines has been really nice. It's a nice way when you're still playing to be able to experience some of those opportunities and think about what you would do as a coach. I've really enjoyed this group because they're so young and keen and they listen and they ask lots of questions and you feel like you can, not only with performances, but have impact off the field as well.' Bates will still see plenty of T20 action, with 14 matches lying in wait for Durham in the Vitality Blast, starting with a game against the Bears in Birmingham on May 31, and finishing against Essex on July 18. Then, she'll have two further 50-over games before finishing and heading home after her last game on July 30. 'It's just been really refreshing at this stage of my career to be in a completely new environment, and I think for such a long stint as well to be able to fully immerse yourself in it, whereas a lot of the franchise stuff, you're in and out and you can't really make much of an impact other than runs and wickets, so yeah, I've loved it and feel like it's just a place where I'll have lots of fond memories and hopefully come back at some point.' Bates says. Once she's back in New Zealand, she'll have a break in August, head to Abu Dhabi in mid-September for warm-up matches before the World Cup in India in October, as the White Ferns look to add the 50-over title to the T20 World Cup they famously won in 2024. As we finish our chat, I correctly guess that coffee is likely to be next on Bates' list for the day, and sure enough, she doesn't disappoint. After spending the first weekend looking for a quality establishment, her teammates sent her in the direction of 'Fuel Café', which splits the short drive from her home to Durham's ground perfectly. Their barista, Daryl, will provide the refreshments before Bates heads in for a physio session. With Bates away for a total of 15 weeks, you can't blame her for seeking the comforts of home. 'He went to Aussie for a bit and came back and had learnt how to make coffee properly so every day we're pretty much in there. I have managed to find a decent coffee.'
India Gazette
18-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
England seamer Lauren Filer to make comeback after knee injury against West Indies
New Delhi [India] May 18 (ANI): England seamer Lauren Filer will make her first appearance after the Women's Ashes Test against Australia in Sydney in January, when she takes on the touring West Indies in a T20 warm-up in Canterbury on Sunday, according to ESPNcricinfo. Filer, England's one of the fastest bowlers has been out of action since the Ashes whitewash with a knee injury. West Indies will remain in Canterbury after the contest, with the first T20I against England set to take place at the same venue on Wednesday. The selectors have chosen to prioritize the domestic games since the competition is near to the Vitality T20 Women's County Cup and Metro Bank One Day Cup matches, and have instead selected a young team with a number of players who competed in the Women's Under-19 World Cup in January. These include the captain Jones, a wicketkeeper who was selected in the ICC's team of the tournament after taking nine dismissals, including seven stumpings, during England's journey to the semi-finals, as well as Phoebe Brett, Olivia Brinsden, and Charlotte Stubbs. England will contest three Vitality IT20s and three One Day Internationals (ODIs), with the opening match getting under way on Wednesday May 21 in Canterbury. ECB Development XI: Katie Jones (C), Ellie Anderson ,Phoebe Brett , Olivia Brinsden ,Emma Corney , Lauren Filer , Liberty Heap Tilly Kesteven, Bethan Miles, Chloe Skelton , Charlotte Stubbs, Annie Williams, Genevieve Jeer. England Women squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (C), Emily Arlott , Tammy Beaumont , Lauren Bell , Alice Capsey , Charlie Dean , Sophia Dunkley , Sarah Glenn , Amy Jones , Heather Knight , Paige Scholfield , Linsey Smith , Issy Wong , Danni Wyatt-Hodge. West Indies Women's squad: Hayley Matthews (capt), Shemaine Campbelle (vice-capt), Aaliyah Alleyne, Jahzara Claxton, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grimmond, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
England seamer Lauren Filer to make comeback after knee injury against West Indies
New Delhi [India] May 18 : England seamer Lauren Filer will make her first appearance after the Women's Ashes Test against Australia in Sydney in January, when she takes on the touring West Indies in a T20 warm-up in Canterbury on Sunday, according to ESPNcricinfo. Filer, England's one of the fastest bowlers has been out of action since the Ashes whitewash with a knee injury. West Indies will remain in Canterbury after the contest, with the first T20I against England set to take place at the same venue on Wednesday. The selectors have chosen to prioritize the domestic games since the competition is near to the Vitality T20 Women's County Cup and Metro Bank One Day Cup matches, and have instead selected a young team with a number of players who competed in the Women's Under-19 World Cup in January. These include the captain Jones, a wicketkeeper who was selected in the ICC's team of the tournament after taking nine dismissals, including seven stumpings, during England's journey to the semi-finals, as well as Phoebe Brett, Olivia Brinsden, and Charlotte Stubbs. England will contest three Vitality IT20s and three One Day Internationals , with the opening match getting under way on Wednesday May 21 in Canterbury. ECB Development XI: Katie Jones , Ellie Anderson ,Phoebe Brett , Olivia Brinsden ,Emma Corney , Lauren Filer , Liberty Heap Tilly Kesteven, Bethan Miles, Chloe Skelton , Charlotte Stubbs, Annie Williams, Genevieve Jeer. England Women squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt , Emily Arlott , Tammy Beaumont , Lauren Bell , Alice Capsey , Charlie Dean , Sophia Dunkley , Sarah Glenn , Amy Jones , Heather Knight , Paige Scholfield , Linsey Smith , Issy Wong , Danni Wyatt-Hodge. West Indies Women's squad: Hayley Matthews , Shemaine Campbelle , Aaliyah Alleyne, Jahzara Claxton, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grimmond, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Somerset Women fall shot in mammoth run chase against Surrey
Metro Bank One Day Cup: Surrey 306-7 defeated Somerset 215 by 101 runs (DLS) Bryony Smith posted a superb hundred to steer Surrey to a convincing 101-run win over Somerset on the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern Method in the Metro Bank One Day Cup women's competition at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton, writes Andrew Stockhausen, ECB Reporters' Network. Leading by example, Surrey's captain scored 110 from 103 balls, struck 15 fours and dominated crucial stands of 100 and 134 with Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley for the first and third wickets respectively as the visitors made 306-7 in a contest reduced by rain to 44 overs a side. Dunkley raised an attractive 79 from 81 balls and Wyatt-Hodge contributed 44 with eight fours, while Australian spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington returned figures of 4-47. Chasing a revised target of 317, Somerset came up short in the face of accurate bowling and sharp fielding, Heather Knight and Wellington top-scoring with 36 and Alice Monaghan, Danielle Gregory and Alexa Stonehouse claiming two wickets apiece as the home side were dismissed for 215 in 40.5 overs. Somerset's seamers struggled with their lengths and Smith and Wyatt-Hodge took full advantage, raising 50 in just 6.3 overs amid a flurry of boundaries as Surrey got off to a flyer. Smith was especially severe on anything short and wide, accruing eight fours in a forthright 57-ball half century, as the opening partnership realised three figures in 13.4 overs. Wyatt-Hodge took on Somerset's spinners and was just six runs short of 50 when she finally came a cropper, attempting to carve Wellington through the covers and slicing high to backward point with the score on 100. Wellington then had Alice Capsey held at slip in the act of reverse sweeping to further reduce the visitors to 106-2. But there was no stopping Smith. Afforded a life on 80 when dropped in the deep by Laura Jackson off the bowling of Chloe Skelton, Surrey's skipper made good her escape to register a buccaneering hundred via 96 balls with 14 fours. She found a willing ally in Dunkley, who scored freely all around the wicket in compiling 50 from 57 deliveries, and these two threatened to take the game away from Somerset. READ MORE: Third successive victory for Somerset Women at Warwickshire Under intense pressure, the home side made too many errors in the field and the third wicket stand was already worth 112 when rain forced the players off with the score on 218-2 after 32.4 overs. Desperate to take wickets and bring the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern equation back into their favour, Somerset trusted in Wellington following the resumption. And the Australian did not disappoint, persuading Smith and Paige Scholfield to hole out to Knight at long-off in quick succession. Having done her utmost to ensure the visitors would post a total in excess of 300, the resourceful Dunkley stepped across her stumps and was bowled around her legs by Skelton as Somerset continued to fight back. Charlie Dean then accounted for Monaghan and Alice Davidson-Richards, but not before these two, together with Kira Chathli, had added valuable lower middle order runs. Chasing a revised total of 317 in 44 overs at a required rate of 7.2 runs an over, Somerset suffered an early setback, Emma Corney playing down the wrong line and being bowled by Rhianna Macdonald-Gay with 19 on the board. Adhering to the tenets of line and length, Surrey's seamers were able to create pressure and the required rate was above eight when Sophie Luff top-edged a pull shot and was brilliantly caught by Macdonald-Gay on the run at mid-wicket. Somerset's captain had scored 15 and the home side were 56-2 in the thirteenth over with much work still to do. Having failed to defend big totals in matches against Warwickshire and Lancashire, Surrey needed to remove former England captain Knight for their own peace of mind. This they managed to do in startling fashion, Monaghan deflecting a Fran Wilson drive onto the stumps with Knight, having scored 36 from 41 balls, hopelessly out of her ground. There appeared to be no way back for Somerset from 73-3 at the end of the fifteenth. Surrey were fully in charge by the time Fran Wilson was stumped by Chathli, pushing forward to Gregory and departing for 23, while Dean was held at backward point off the bowling of Stonehouse as the home side lurched to 117-5. The game was effectively up by the time Griffiths was bowled by Gregory for 14 with the score on 144, but nobody had told Wellington or Skelton, who staged a defiant alliance of 53 to hold up Surrey. Capsey ended Wellington's innings on 36, the Australian holing out to deep backward square with a notional 120 more runs needed from eight overs.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Somerset in Pictures: Sunshine and sporting success
Not everyone likes hot days, but for our coastal resorts and visitor attractions this sunny week has been a great time to welcome visitors. They have been getting their buckets and spades out from Weston down to Minehead. Team Bath's netball players have been celebrating, festival workers are getting ready for the summer and there has been plenty of cricket action down in Taunton. Ancient traditions: Early on Thursday, the first day of May, people gathered at the Chalice Well in Glastonbury to observe Beltane celebrations, harking back to ancient Celtic pagan fertility rites. Gorgeous: Despite it being hot work, they have been setting up the teepees on the edge of Chew Valley Lake for the Fire in Your Soul Festival which will run from 4 - 6 July. The new event will feature firepits, workshops, holistic therapies, dance and poetry. Thriller: Team Bath Netball edged a close contest against London Mavericks at the weekend, coming from behind to make it 53-53 with 20 seconds remaining before Charlotte Watts secured the win (below). Cooling off: As temperatures rose this week, spots like the River Avon became popular with those able to paddle in the sunshine. High hopes: Somerset's women took on Lancashire in Taunton this week in the Metro Bank One Day Cup competition, the visitors winning the contest by seven wickets. Beautiful: What a shot. What better way to see the Somerset countryside than from a hot air balloon on a sunny evening? Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Somerset in Pictures: Swan whisperer and the races Somerset in Pictures: Bobcats and foggy mornings Somerset in Pictures: Artistic rats and beach days Somerset in Pictures: Anyone for cricket? Somerset in Pictures: Races and a royal visit Somerset in Pictures: Derby delight for Bath Somerset in Pictures: Sunrises and a lunar eclipse Somerset in pictures: Darts delight and Mr Darcy Somerset in Pictures: Blue skies, cows and Crufts Somerset in pictures: Otters, owls and EastEnders pub Somerset in Pictures: The sweet taste of victory Somerset in Pictures: Wildlife and winter swimming Somerset in Pictures: Fog and Harry Redknapp Somerset in Pictures: Snow, flood and races Somerset in pics: Fog, fundraisers and fairytales Somerset in Pictures: Tractors, rainbows and a circus Somerset in Pictures: Panto and a 100th birthday Somerset in pictures: Santa and Christmas lights Somerset in Pictures: Santa, sunsets and Pinocchio Somerset in Pictures: Snow, carnival and racing Somerset in pictures: Santas on ice and bus DJs Somerset in pictures: Hedgehogs and carnival Somerset in pictures: Tor aurora and Willow Man Somerset in Pictures: Pumpkins and stolen cheese Somerset in pictures: World records and ponies Somerset in Pictures: Mullet wigs and a giant moon Somerset in pictures: Autumn arrives in the county Somerset in pictures: Caravan racing, motorbikes and street art Somerset in pictures: Swans, scarecrows and cricket Somerset in pictures: Summer, scarecrows and film sets Somerset in pictures: A retiring lollipop lady and bus strikes Somerset in pictures: Images from across the county
