Kia Super League: Yorkshire fired up to perform in 2017 tournament
'Gritty' Yorkshire looking to shine in KSL, says Davidson-Richards
Saturday 12 August 2017 12:41, UK
New season, new start. That's the message coming out of Yorkshire Diamonds, a struggler of Kia Super League season winning just once but now ready to roll.
England Academy all-rounder Alice Davidson-Richards believes her side have a "point to prove" this time around, bolstered by new match-winning artillery with both bat and ball.
"Sometimes for teams it clicks like it did for the Southern Vipers and the Western Storm," she said of season one. "So I don't think we need to go 'oh no, last year was a disaster' and reflect on it that badly. We just need to move on. New squad, new beginnings."
Davidson-Richards played four games in that ill-fated campaign, defined by captain Lauren Winfield being brought to tears when they were eliminated by Surrey at The Oval.
The good news is that they have added to their list from Loughborough Lightning the biggest hitter in women's cricket, New Zealand star Sophie Devine.
Well versed in the art of destroying attacks, Devine struck a 48-ball century at last winter's Women's Big Bash League. Recently she was on track to better that mark in the World Cup, finishing with an unbeaten 93 off 41 balls against Pakistan, including nine sixes.
"I'm excited," Davidson-Richards said of the huge inclusion. "If she can do what she did for Loughborough for us this year that'd be fabulous."
North-bound also is 21-year-old South African leg-spinning all-rounder Suné Luus, who claimed crucial World Cup wickets including a five-wicket haul against Australia.
"We're going to have these big-name players who can take the game away from people," Davidson-Richards said. "So I think on our day Yorkshire Diamonds will be quite hard to contend with."
In other off-season changes, the white rose lost experienced England finger spinner Danielle Hazell, who has moved across the Pennines to captain Lancashire Thunder.
That alone will ensure when the teams face off in their season opener at Headingley - live on Sky Sports Cricket - it will be especially feisty.
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Rapid South Africa quick Shabnim Ismail also left the Diamonds, but Davidson-Richards doesn't believe this will detract too much from their aggressive brand of cricket.
"We're a little bit calmer this year having lost two very fiery characters," she said. "But I think naturally Yorkshire have this grit to them, they like the fight. We aren't going to lose that. We still have that fire in the belly. And we've got Katherine Brunt."
Davidson-Richards sees the KSL as the perfect opportunity to showcase her skills having been recalled to the England Academy this winter.
"It's definitely a platform to show that you can do it at a higher level," she said. "The step between county and England level and a chance to show what we can do. The Academy girls have all been working really hard to perform on this stage."
The Kent player at county level, who spent her university days at Leeds (her father also emanating from Yorkshire) had her hopes of international honours rekindled last winter, returning to the Academy after two years away from the set-up.
She took the opportunity during their pre-season tour of the United Arab Emirates, scoring a run-a-ball 77 and then 45 not out against Ireland in two defining hands.
"I wasn't expecting it whatsoever," she said of the call-up. "I was just focusing on enjoying cricket again and started playing well.
"I took the pressure off and it has allowed me to come back here a lot calmer thought processes and a lot less pressure on myself."
