Lancashire Thunder may have gone under a different name until recently, but they never let go of their county roots. Casually bringing back the Lancashire branding before it was cool, they’ve made the transition to the new domestic era look effortless. As the women’s game shifts to mirror the men’s county structure, Lancashire can justifiably say they were ahead of the curve.
While the superficial stuff seems to have fallen into place, the team is still searching for consistency on the pitch. There’s no doubting the talent in the squad, but results have yet to match expectations. Their appearance at the Charlotte Edwards Finals Day in 2023 was the standout moment in recent years, but performances in 2024 showed that, while the potential is abundant, Lancashire has yet to find its rhythm.
A player that could help kickstart their ambitions is Alan King, arguably the best leg-spin bowler in the game at the moment. Available for the Vitality Blast, she will be complemented by Katie Mack when King isn’t on the field. This demonstrates how the new county structure is benefiting teams in their pursuit of big-name overseas players. King is box office and will bring a new energy to the Lancashire side.
With one of the biggest squads at their disposal, how Lancashire manage that wealth of talent will be key to their success. The signings of Eve Jones—returning from a loan spell in the North-East last season—and Grace Potts, the tall pace bowler with serious England aspirations, both from Central Sparks, highlight the club’s genuine intent to strengthen their ranks.
Despite being unfortunate not to receive an England call-up, Eve Jones is a quality top-order left-hand batter who brings valuable experience and a calm head to the team. She will provide Lancashire with a solid foundation at the top of the order.
Potts, at just 22, is an exciting prospect. Standing tall, she can hurry batters with pace and bounce. Her recent inclusion in the England Test squad for the series against South Africa is a testament to her potential and could see her making a significant impact in 2025.
Potts adds to a strong pace attack that blends variation with experience. If Kate Cross stays fit, her expertise will benefit both Lancashire and England. Tara Norris, who has international experience with the USA, is a senior left-arm seamer who is difficult to score against. She could be the influence needed to help Mahika Gaur regain a place in the England setup.
Gaur’s 2024 season was curtailed by injuries and exams, but the combination of her height, pace and Potts could form a frightening opening partnership at Old Trafford. If fully fit, both bowlers have the potential to dominate and take the game away from opposition sides. Alongside Phoebe Graham and Hannah Rainey, Lancashire’s pace bowling stocks are full and bursting with talent. The biggest challenge could be managing the group’s workload.
The spinners offer just as much control as the seamers, with a variety of options available. Sophie Ecclestone’s England duties means her appearances may be limited, but Charlotte Edwards has made it clear she wants to pick players who have proven their form and fitness in county cricket.
Fi Morris is an off-spinner who gives batters little opportunity and gets wickets through control more than turn. If Lancashire can keep Hannah Jones and Olivia Bell fit, they will have all bases covered. Despite being a left-arm spinner like Ecclestone, Hannah Jones is a different type of bowler. She does not have the same height and relies more on attacking the stumps consistently.
Olivia Bell might be unavailable for at least the start of the season, having not been part of the recent Scotland squad that flew to Pakistan for World Cup qualifiers. Darcy Carter, who bowls off-spin, was one of two Lancashire players who did make the trip with Scotland. The other is the exciting Alisa Lister, who has shown brief glimpses of her attacking batting and should help make Lancashire a competitive team in the Vitality Blast.
Lancashire hope that the likes of Liberty Heap and Seren Smale will continue their development with the bat, especially alongside Eve Jones and Emma Lamb. Eve Jones and Lamb offer real leadership and will support Ellie Threlkeld, rated as one of the best wicketkeepers on the domestic circuit. With a coach like Chris Read—an outstanding wicketkeeper himself—it should be interesting to see how the two lead Lancashire into the coming season. Read went about his business quietly and without fuss as a player, and that seems to be how he coaches as well. He will have a good overview of what needs to be done, and hopefully, his players will respond.
Key Player
Emma Lamb is the glue that holds Lancashire together. She was a rising star during the old county championship era and earned a spot on the fringes of the England setup in the regional era. Despite an ODI century and two fifties, her breakthrough never fully materialised—more a case of England having too many players for similar roles than any lack of ability. She does not bowl as much anymore, but with a raft of bowling options available, that’s not a bad thing. If Lamb bats well, Lancashire usually perform well.
Player to Watch
Seren Smale earned her first England cap in two T20 internationals against Ireland in Dublin last September. She was part of England A’s recent tour of Australia, showing she’s firmly on the radar. In 2025, Smale will need to start building the scores that will get her taken seriously. She has an excellent strike rate in T20s, and if she can maintain that while batting for longer periods, it could be a breakout year for the youngster.
How will they fare?
Keep building on what Thunder was doing. Lancashire have retained a similar squad while other teams are transitioning as counties take over from the regional sides. They will need to find consistency, but have the players capable of beating any team, although sometimes struggle to be ruthless when it matters.
Opening fixture: Metro Bank One Day Cup: 23 April 2024 v The Blaze at Trent Bridge
