This Bank Holiday weekend will see the opening fixtures of the 22nd edition of the Royal London Women’s One-Day Cup with holders Lancashire keen to repeat their successes of 2017.
They won both the Royal London One-Day Cup and the Women’s County T20 last season to secure the double but the 2018 season could be a different story for every county.
This campaign is short and sharp with seven matches each running from 5 May to 3 June and the availability of international players is a different question.
It’s possible that more England players will be available – given there’s no World Cup – but at the same time the lack of a global tournament reduces the number of overseas players able to take part.
For Dan Atkinson, coach of last year’s champions Lancashire, that throws up a tournament in which every team has a chance of finishing as champions.
“The format this year throws it open to a certain extent. Last year the tournament ran until August but it’s a different story this time round.
“Hopefully we can get a bit of rhythm and confidence and keep ourselves in the habit of winning. We’ll try and compete as we always do – we want to challenge for silverware every season – but most teams in the league will fancy their chances.”
Hampshire
First two fixtures - Nottinghamshire (home); Warwickshire (home)
Newly-promoted Hampshire have a nice mix of youth and experience – and the rare luxury of two of the best players to ever play the women’s game.
In New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and England great Charlotte Edwards they possess two special cricketers, but they’re far from their only stars with an array of exciting youngsters to call upon.
Their first year in Division One will be a big test, but the combination of proven ability and potential could see them become genuine challengers.
Kent
First two fixtures - Yorkshire (home); Lancashire (home)
Double-winners in 2016, Kent need to come back strongly this season after a campaign that saw them at the wrong end of the table.
As ever the extent to which England players are available will be a factor, but the calendar – and England’s increased strength in depth – means there’s a chance that at least some of their four internationals will feature semi-regularly.
A big opening weekend sees them play host to Yorkshire and Lancashire, and in a competition that’s often decided by the odd point here or there (or even run-rate) a strong start could define the Horses’ season.
Lancashire
First two fixtures - Middlesex (away); Kent (away)
The holders have a new skipper in Eve Jones (who scored a century for Whitchurch CC in club cricket last weekend) but they won’t have the element of surprise on their side after such a sterling 2017.
They also don’t have Amy Satterthwaite’s runs, so Atkinson is hopeful that one or two of his local players can step up and take their opportunity.
You would expect that Sophie Ecclestone – who took 27 wickets last year – would be less available given her growth in the England set-up but she will feature this weekend (alongside Alex Hartley and Kate Cross), getting a crack at Middlesex on the day of her 19th birthday.
Middlesex
First two fixtures - Lancashire (home); Yorkshire (home)
It’s certainly been a positive start to the 2018 season for Middlesex. In action at Lord’s for the first time – in front of a big crowd – Maia Bouchier inspired them to an impressive victory over the MCC.
The chase had seemed unlikely at the half-way stage of their innings but Bouchier combined with Aussie import Hayleigh Brennan to get their side the win.
There’s no shortage of talent in the Middlesex side – this year captained by Tash Miles in the 50-over game and Naomi Dattani in the Vitality Women’s County T20 – and like many other sides they’ll fancy their chances of competing for the title.
They could miss the wickets of Izzy Westbury. The former captain was their joint-leading wicket-taker last year (11 scalps) but level with her was Sophia Dunkley – who had a promising tour of South Africa for the ESWA and could be on the verge of breaking through.
Nottinghamshire
First two fixtures - Hampshire (away); Somerset (away)
Perhaps boasting the fewest big names, Nottinghamshire are a side that shouldn’t be underestimated.
With Hampshire’s Katie George having made her international debut they are now the only county in the top flight without a current England player in their ranks but they’re the kind of team that can be better than the sum of its parts.
Sonia Odedra – who has international experience and was last season’s top-scorer - has for a long time been one of county cricket’s stand-out players and the spin trio of Kirstie Gordon, Jodie Dibble and Lucy Higham can be both hard to get away and genuine wicket-taking threats.
Also, watch out for Sophie Munro – the 16-year-old took nine wickets over one Bank Holiday weekend last summer.
An opening weekend that sees them play the two sides promoted from Division Two could be momentum-building.
Somerset
First two fixtures - Warwickshire (home); Nottinghamshire (home)
Somerset will be pinning most of their hopes on two individuals – Anya Shrubsole and Sophie Luff.
Shrubsole’s pedigree is well-known but Luff – who shone in last year’s Kia Super League final - is one of the most consistent batters in the women’s game.
She dominated the batting charts in Division Two last year and she’ll be the cornerstone of her side’s batting efforts.
That said, the challenge of Division One cricket could be the making of some Somerset cricketers. Olivia Hamilton is a young and gifted batter with plenty of potential – not too much can be expected of her at this stage but she may relish the stage and the opposition.
Warwickshire
First two fixtures - Somerset (away); Hampshire (away)
A talented young side that have been there or thereabouts over the last two years, every year sees Warwickshire gain experience and perhaps move one step nearer to the title.
This year they’ve added two good young players in Gwenan Davies and Thea Brookes, while leg-spinner Anisha Patel was one of the leading wicket-takers in last year’s competition.
They’ll need to demonstrate an ability to maintain their good form across the campaign but a shorter season could suit them in that regard.
Yorkshire
First two fixtures - Kent (away), Middlesex (away)
Pipped to the post last season by their rivals from across the Pennines this could be a year of revenge for Yorkshire.
They’ve consistently been strong – having won the Royal London One-Day Cup on six occasions – and they boast a good mix of England internationals and county players.
Katie Levick was one of the leading wicket-takers in the competition in 2017 – with 21 wickets to her name only Sophie Ecclestone had more – and the unorthodox left-armer Katie Thompson also had success.
Hollie Armitage, who recently captained the EWSA on their tour of South Africa, would like to build on a promising 2017 campaign that saw her score three fifties.
For full fixtures and scorecards head to ecbwcountychampionship.play-cricket.com.
Fixtures
Sunday 6 May
Division One
Hampshire v Nottinghamshire
Kent v Yorkshire
Middlesex v Lancashire
Somerset v Warwickshire
Division Two
Berkshire v Wales
Essex v Northamptonshire
Surrey v Devon
Sussex v Derbyshire
Monday 7 May
Division One
Hampshire v Warwickshire
Kent v Lancashire
Middlesex v Yorkshire
Somerset v Nottinghamshire
Division Two
Berkshire v Devon
Essex v Derbyshire
Surrey v Wales
Sussex v Northamptonshire