Black Country stars aiming to shine in landmark summer for women's cricket
Black Country cricket stars Davina Perrin and Hannah Baker are ready to write their own chapter in history as Warwickshire’s first professional women’s team makes its competitive bow.
Bears Women host Hampshire at Edgbaston on Wednesday in their opening group match of the inaugural Metro Bank One Day Cup.
It is a landmark occasion for Warwickshire, which had its first amateur women’s team in 1999. The county is now one of eight now running a fully professional team from this summer, as part of the ECB’s new structure for the domestic women’s game.
For Kingswinford’s Baker and Wednesfield’s Perrin, two of the brightest young talents in the country, it is cause for big excitement.
“We are turning over a new leaf, writing our own book at the start of the journey for the Bears Women,” said 18-year-old Perrin, who has returned from playing for England A in Australia.
“I think it is really important we start to build on the legacy of the previous Warwickshire teams, figure out who we are going to tie ourselves the badge.
“We still appreciate everything that has happened before us. We wouldn’t be here without them. From our perspective it is building on those foundations.”
Both Baker and Perrin were part of Central Sparks, the professional side previously based at Edgbaston under the previous domestic structure.
The move to Bears Women is no mere name change. Warwickshire have invested more than £200,000 in new changing rooms and a state-of-the-art gym at the City End of the stadium. Former England assistant Ali Maiden is the team's first head coach.
“It feels like home now,” said 21-year-old Baker, who made her senior England bow last September.
“It is one big community here. All of the staff know us, we all know the staff. We feel more part of it, integrated definitely.”
In addition to the One Day Cup, Bears Women will play in next month’s Vitality County Cup, which also features amateur teams in a straight knockout competition.
There follows a T20 Blast tournament, running concurrently with the men’s, which will feature a series of double-headers at Edgbaston.
“It opens things up to a wider audience,” said Baker. “Before, because it was detached, it was maybe difficult to follow. Now we are under one club, so it is easier for people who follow the men’s game.”
“I think it is really good we have a new structure, particularly in the way it aligns with the men’s game,” added Perrin.
“There is a clear path for women and girls coming through the game. That is really exciting and promising.
“We have already seen what regional cricket can do within the structure and the growth of the game. This is adding to that. It is just going to extend the growth and that is great to see.”
