Nottingham Blaze cricketers say they are hopeful for more progress on the pitch and in the women’s game as their pre-season training begins under a new head coach.
November will mark three years since the team was renamed ‘The Blaze’ from Loughborough Lightning and moved home to the iconic Trent Bridge Cricket Ground.
Sarah Bryce, 25, best known as a batter for the Blaze, has been with the side for her entire cricketing career. She explained the rebranding has been ‘massive’ for the team, and having a ground as historic as Trent Bridge has aided recruitment.
“People want to come and play at a historic place like Trent Bridge”, she said.
For team-mate Josie Groves, 20, a bowler, the change from Loughborough to Nottingham felt like a game changer.
“We were under this umbrella of not being a good team,” said Groves. “So this fresh start allowed us to go out there without that baggage.”
The Blaze enjoyed immediate success finishing as runners-up in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Trophy in 2023, before going on to win the Charlotte Edwards Trophy in June 2024.
Bryce said: “That’s why you play a team sport, to be able to make another final and come away with the trophy is so special.”
Groves added: “To finally get over the line was a special moment for the team.”
Heading into 2025, the future of the Blaze seems bright with academy graduates Liv Baker and Prisha Thanawala signing their first professional contracts in October 2024.
They also have a new head coach, Craig Cumming, a former New Zealand test batter, taking charge of a campaign that begins in April.
Groves says the team has taken the change of head coach – Chris Guest left last year – in their stride and carrying on competing as a group will be their goal for the season.
Women’s cricket is rapidly growing with the ongoing Ashes seeing a 139 per cent increase in viewership in 2024, allowing for more funding in the women’s game.
This has been furthered by the restructuring of the league system with tier 1 having eight professional teams. The restructure’s aim was to increase the visibility of women’s cricket.
Bryce says she has seen more interest in women’s cricket, with more general fans attending games, rather than just crowds of families and friends.
But she specifically focused on the Hundred, which features double headers of women’s and then men’s cricket on the same day.
“The Hundred has been massive,” said Bryce, “especially the double headers, a lot of people came to watch the men’s game, came a little earlier and ended up enjoying the women’s game.”
Bryce feels the game has a way to go, but is getting there – while Groves believes there’s no better sport for women to get into.
Nottingham Blaze’s season gets under way against Lancashire Cricket on April 23 in the Metro Bank One Day cup.
