Western Storm

Western Storm were formed in 2016 to compete in the new Women's Cricket Super League, representing the South West.[6] In their inaugural season, they came second in the group stage, meaning they progressed to the semi-final, which they won against Loughborough Lightning.[7] However, they lost in the final by seven wickets to the Southern Vipers.[8] One of Western Storm's overseas players, Stafanie Taylor, was both the leading run-scorer and leading wicket-taker, and was subsequently named player of the tournament.[9]

In 2017, Western Storm finished third in the group stage, again progressing to the semi-final, which they won against the Surrey Stars.[10] In a rematch against the Southern Vipers, this time the Storm emerged victorious, winning by seven wickets and claiming their first WCSL title. Western Storm overseas player Rachel Priest scored 72 in the final, and was the tournament's leading run-scorer.[11] In 2018, Western Storm again reached finals day, finishing third in the group stage,[12] but were defeated by the Surrey Stars in the semi-final.[13] Storm's Smriti Mandhana was the leading run-scorer and player of the tournament.[14]

In the final season of the WCSL, 2019, Western Storm won 9 out of their 10 group stage games, topping the group and progressing straight to the final for the first time.[15] There, they faced Southern Vipers in a repeat of the first ever WCSL final. Chasing 173 to win, Storm captain Heather Knight scored 78* as her side were victorious with an over to spare.[16] Western Storm therefore ended the WCSL as the most successful team, with two title wins. Bowler Freya Davies was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.[17][18]

In 2020, women's cricket in England was restructured, creating eight new 'regional hub' teams, with the intention of playing both 50-over and 20-over cricket.[19] The Western Storm brand was retained after this restructuring, with some differences to the squad and coaching staff. Sophie Luff was named as captain of the side, whilst Mark O'Leary became the coach.[20] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was truncated, and only 50-over cricket was played, in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.[21] Western Storm won 4 of their 6 games, finishing second in the South Group and therefore failing to progress to the final.[22] At the end of the season, six Storm players were given full-time domestic contracts, the first of their kind in England: Sophie Luff, Danielle Gibson, Fi Morris, Georgia Hennessy, Nat Wraith and Alex Griffiths.[23]

The following season, 2021, Western Storm competed in both the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the newly-formed Twenty20 competition, the Charlotte Edwards Cup. In the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy the side finished sixth out of eight teams, winning three of their seven matches, including a one-wicket victory in their opening match against North West Thunder.[24][25] Storm captain Sophie Luff was the leading run-scorer across the whole tournament with 417 runs, including 157* made in the final match against Sunrisers.[26][27] In the Charlotte Edwards Cup, Storm narrowly missed out on qualifying for Finals Day on Net Run Rate, finishing second in Group B with four wins from their six matches.[28] Storm bowler Nicole Harvey was the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 12 wickets at an average of 9.41.[29]

Ahead of the 2022 season, it was announced that O'Leary was stepping down from his role as Head Coach.[30]

As per 2021 season.[31]

• No. denotes the player's squad number, as worn on the back of their shirt.
• denotes players with international caps.

No.	Name	Nationality	Birth date	Batting style	Bowling style	Notes
Batters
3	Chloe Skelton	England	(2001-06-20) 20 June 2001	Right-handed	Right-arm off break
22	Lauren Parfitt	Wales	(1994-04-01) 1 April 1994	Right-handed	Slow left-arm orthodox
35	Fran Wilson	England	(1991-11-07) 7 November 1991	Right-handed	Right-arm off break
63	Sophie Luff	England	(1993-12-06) 6 December 1993	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Club captain
All-rounders
5	Heather Knight	England	(1990-12-26) 26 December 1990	Right-handed	Right-arm off break
25	Alex Griffiths	Wales	(2002-06-12) 12 June 2002	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
27	Niamh Holland	England	(2005-03-03) 3 March 2005	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
28	Danielle Gibson	England	(2001-04-30) 30 April 2001	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
31	Fi Morris	England	(1994-01-31) 31 January 1994	Right-handed	Right-arm off break
64	Georgia Hennessy	England	(1996-11-04) 4 November 1996	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
74	Emma Corney	England	(2004-04-28) 28 April 2004	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
99	Katie George	England	(1999-04-07) 7 April 1999	Right-handed	Left-arm medium
Wicket-keepers
37	Nat Wraith	England	(2001-10-03) 3 October 2001	Right-handed	—
53	Bethan Gammon	Wales	(2001-03-10) 10 March 2001	Right-handed	—
Bowlers
2	Nicole Harvey	England	(1992-09-18) 18 September 1992	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break
4	Joleigh Roberts	England	Unknown	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
8	Claire Nicholas	Wales	(1986-09-08) 8 September 1986	Right-handed	Right-arm off break
12	Emily Edgcombe	England	(1999-06-25) 25 June 1999	Right-handed	Left-arm medium
14	Mollie Robbins	England	(1998-10-04) 4 October 1998	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
17	Steph Hutchins	England	(1998-10-06) 6 October 1998	Right-handed	Right-arm off break
24	Lauren Filer	England	(2000-12-22) 22 December 2000	Right-handed	Right-arm medium

The Western Storm Academy team plays against other regional academies in friendly and festival matches across various formats. The Academy selects players from across the South West and Wales regions, and includes some players who are also in the first team squad. Players in the 2022 Academy are listed below:[32]

• Lizelle Lee – South Africa (2016)
• Stafanie Taylor – West Indies (2016–2018)
• Rachel Priest – New Zealand (2016–2019)
• Holly Huddleston – New Zealand (2017)
• Smriti Mandhana – India (2018–2019)
• Deepti Sharma – India (2019)

• Abandoned matches are counted as NR (no result)
• Win or loss by super over or boundary count are counted as tied.

• Abandoned matches are counted as NR (no result)
• Win or loss by super over or boundary count are counted as tied.

• Abandoned matches are counted as NR (no result)
• Win or loss by super over or boundary count are counted as tied.

• Highest team total: 185/4, v Lancashire Thunder on 9 August 2018.[37]
• Lowest team total: 70, v Southern Vipers on 10 August 2017.[38]
• Highest individual score: 106*, Rachel Priest v Yorkshire Diamonds on 20 August 2017.[39]
• Best individual bowling analysis: 5/23, Anya Shrubsole v Yorkshire Diamonds on 14 August 2016.[40]
• Most runs: 1062 in 36 matches, Heather Knight.[41]
• Most wickets: 37 wickets in 36 matches, Freya Davies.[42]

• Highest team total: 313/4, v Sunrisers on 18 September 2021.[43][44]
• Lowest (completed) team total: 177 v Southern Vipers on 12 June 2021.[43][44]
• Highest individual score: 157*, Sophie Luff v Sunrisers on 18 September 2021.[45][46]
• Best individual bowling analysis: 5/26, Fi Morris v Sunrisers on 5 September 2020.[47][48]
• Most runs: 756 runs in 13 matches, Sophie Luff.[49][50]
• Most wickets: 20 wickets in 13 matches, Georgia Hennessy.[51][52]

• Highest team total: 147/5, v Sunrisers on 30 August 2021.[53]
• Lowest (completed) team total: 106/9 v Northern Diamonds on 10 July 2021.[53]
• Highest individual score: 62, Georgia Hennessy v Sunrisers on 30 August 2021.[54]
• Best individual bowling analysis: 3/13, Nicole Harvey v North West Thunder on 25 August 2021.[55]
• Most runs: 127 runs in 6 matches, Sophie Luff.[56]
• Most wickets: 12 wickets in 6 matches, Nicole Harvey.[57]