Former skipper-turned commentator Michael Vaughan once said that the best way to get noticed by England’s selectors was to ‘make three figures.’ A key concern for England’s Women selectors is who’s capable of making centuries in any format of regional contest; and as yet, remains uncapped?
As previously pointed out, the overarching aim of regional contests (i.e.: Charlotte Edwards T20 Cup; Rachael Heyhoe Flint 50 ov. Trophy or The Hundred) is to find fresh England talent. Strike rates for uncapped players can only improve their performance once capped players drop out when they’re called-up to play for the England team.
Emma Lamb is one such player who stands out as the first ‘Charlotte Edwards Cup Centurion’ with an unbeaten 111* from 61 balls, including 3 ‘sixes’ (in Thunder v Sunrisers.)
*Lamb also took three wickets from her off-break medium pace bowling during the same match.
*After the match, Emma Lamb told ECB reporters that she ‘did want to play for England one day’ and she’d ‘enjoyed working with Thunder’s new coaches.’
*At the time of writing, no other capped or uncapped players have ever passed ‘fifty’ (per single innings after three rounds of regional T20.)
Charlotte Edwards Cup – best averaged strike rates after first three rounds (2021)
Emma Lamb (Thunder) 190 runs off 123 balls (3 innings) s.r. 1.544
Natasha Wraith (Storm) 56 off 45 (2 innings) s.r. 1.244
Sarah Taylor (Diamonds & ex-England) 54 from 50 (2 innings) s.r. 1.080
Evelyn Jones (Sparks skipper) 78 off 84 (3 innings) s.r. 0.928
Comment: Emma Lamb’s top strike rate is better than 1.5 runs-per-ball
Previously, when looking at strike rates for the emerging top ten batters after four rounds of the 50-over format, Emma Lamb was ranked seventh (0.8979 runs-per-ball) – between England’s Sophia Dunkley and Lauren Winfield-Hill. *Playing 50 overs, Lamb is the only uncapped player to have hit a century (top score of 121 runs from 105 balls); at the time of writing.
*Highly likely that Emma Lamb will be among handful of uncapped players to score fifty (given her high strike rate) during The Hundred (100) inaugural year.
Emma Lamb https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/emma-lamb-749957
Domestic upcoming regional fixtures: <Source: https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/2032240>
– The Hundred (Women): from 21st July – 21st August (finals day)
– Charlotte Edwards Cup: restarts 25th August – 5th September (finals day)
– Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy: restarts 10th September – 25th September (finals day)
