As 2025 Vitality Blast tickets go on sale today, Durham Cricket and England star Mady Villiers says the north east’s new Tier 1 women’s team can make an immediate impact.
“A trophy’s definitely achievable for us this year,” she says. “We’ve got a very strong squad and most of the girls have come from the Northern Diamonds, who’ve been very successful in the past.
“I’ve also got great faith in our coaching staff. They’ll help us in any way, shape, or form to win trophies. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.”
Villiers signed a three-year deal with her new club, taking her through to the end of the 2027 campaign.
“It’s massively exciting to be part of a new Tier 1 women’s team,” she says. “The bid Durham put together had to be quite a substantial one, and from what I’ve seen so far everything’s been great. I’ve got no doubt this is the best place for this team, and I just can’t wait to for the season to get started.”
For now, the off-spinning all-rounder is busy settling into a new life away from Essex. She says: “I’ve loved it so far. It’s been a big change, obviously – not just in the cricket, but also in living in a completely new part of the country. But everything is going great, and the club and community is so welcoming.”
However, her attention will soon turn to competitive cricket. Durham Women’s Vitality Blast campaign starts away at Birmingham Bears on 31 May before a home fixture, which will be part of a double header with Durham’s Men’s team, against Lancashire Thunder the following day.
“Lancashire are our local rivals and double headers are always exciting,” says Mady. “It should be a great event and hopefully we can pull in some big crowds to come and cheer us on.”
She adds: “The Blast is just an exciting competition all round. We’ve seen with The Hundred how successful it is to have men’s and women’s cricket under the same banner. And then you just look at the actual cricket: whenever I watch the Blast, the games are always great, and the crowds are brilliant.
“But the game has developed so much that you can’t expect to win against any team you face: you’ve got to fight for every victory. In T20 in particular, anyone can win. It’s an open, open competition and every team we’ll play is already looking really strong. It’s going to be incredibly exciting.”
Villiers brings a wealth of experience to her new surroundings, having played for England 20 times, taken 221 white-ball wickets, scored more than 2,000 career runs, and helped Oval Invincibles win the Women’s Hundred competition in 2021 and 2022.
She says: “I’ve played under Hollie (Armitage) for a few years with England A. She’s one of the best, if not the best, captains in domestic cricket. Playing under Danielle Hazell as well, I feel like we work well together. That familiarity with the coaching staff and Hollie, it was a big attraction.”
Can Mady and her team-mates achieve their ambitions? Find out in person: tickets for the 2025 Vitality Blast are now on sale!
Vitality Blast is back for 2025 and bigger than ever thanks to women’s teams participating for the 1st time. Tickets are now on general sale and are available here, with the tournament blasting off from 29th May. The group stages run until 20th July, with the 1st ever Vitality Blast women’s finals day taking place on 27th July at the Kia Oval, while men’s finals day is at Edgbaston on 13th September.