If the idea is to bring the women’s domestic game in line with the men’s county setup, with each county having its own identity under the “two teams, one club” motto, then Surrey are already at the forefront. They have one of the biggest squads in women’s county cricket, and the signing of Danni Wyatt-Hodge, to augment a side already bulging with talent, feels like a mission accomplished.
In the development of South East Stars, it is worth remembering they spent the Kia Super League era as Surrey Stars and it is that identity the current squad feels closest to. Not all are the brightest stars, but they should shine nonetheless.
Wyatt-Hodge brings undoubted pedigree, but there is England experience running through the core of the squad and Surrey fans are in for a treat with Grace Harris joining for the Vitality Blast. During the regional era, South East Stars were often hit harder than most when international fixtures came around. The mandate for more England player availability in county matches will be welcomed at the Oval.
Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley and Wyatt-Hodge are on full England contracts, while Ryana MacDonald-Gay is on a development contract, which means England may dictate the amount of cricket she plays. They all offer Surrey something different.
Capsey, an all-rounder and shot player that moves the game forward, having a T20I strike rate of 119.42, shows she can put international teams to the sword. However, she has been through a recent spell of being found out and a chance to regain her confidence at the expense of county attacks could be just what she needs. Having made her way into the England team at an early age she probably has not played the same amount of cricket as her contemporaries.
While Capsey’s ability to dominate with the bat offers Surrey a dynamic presence, Dunkley provides a more nuanced challenge. Caught between her undeniable quality on the domestic scene and the struggle to convert that form internationally, Dunkley’s consistency for Surrey is crucial as she seeks to find her place in the England setup. For Surrey, Dunkley will have a regular role where she knows what is expected of her and can score runs confidently. With England, Dunkley moves around in the order and has not found her place yet. Whether she is given regular games for England will depend on her form for Surrey and whether she shows Charlotte Edwards that she is a smart cricketer.
While Dunkley’s role at Surrey remains a cornerstone for her, Wyatt-Hodge provides the finishing power the team needs. A player with pedigree, she brings substance and stability, ensuring Surrey’s middle and lower order can push for big totals or hold firm when needed.
Bubbling behind those contracted players is a core with international experience who may still aspire to represent their nation again. Bryony Smith will captain, and the all-rounder is pivotal at the top of the order. She averaged 34.41 in last season’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, showing that her side’s fortunes usually rested on her.
Alice Davidson-Richards has been on the fringes of the England squad without quite making the grade. As with Smith, England have never really been sure where she fits. A middle-order batter who has developed an ability to read a game and bat accordingly, she can hit big, but sometimes does not need to and relies on timing.
As captain, Bryony Smith provides the backbone of Surrey’s top order, but is not alone in shouldering responsibility. Davidson-Richards, with her ability to read a game and adapt to situations, offers that middle-order stability, often the difference between a solid foundation and a dramatic collapse.
Tash Farrant, the left-arm seamer, hit a purple patch with the bat last season, averaging 46.66 and scoring three fifties; the only three of her career. A player whose injuries have frustrated, she is a bowler who should have played more for England long before Jon Lewis made “a point of difference” fashionable.
Alongside Smith and Davidson-Richards, Farrant’s all-round abilities provide Surrey with added depth, but the addition of Paige Scholfield to the mix offers a dynamic boost. Her injury setbacks aside, Scholfield’s debut last season highlighted the potential that has been bubbling under for a while and under the guidance of Charlotte Edwards, she is primed to develop further.
While she continues to develop, Phoebe Franklin falls into that category of underrated pros. She has got a good selection of shots in the middle order and offers enough with the ball. She will play her part without ever letting anyone down. Much like Aylish Cranstone, consistent and when given more responsibility she has taken to it well. Also rare in women’s cricket, she is a left-hander and with that comes the usual flashes of style. With the ball, Danielle Gregory’s leg-spin is consistent and she bowls good lines that get batters out, but she often seems to be brought into games too late.
Kalea Moore and Alexa Stonehouse are now at the stage where potential needs to turn into consistency and both have looked like they belong on the bigger stage of The Hundred. Moore is an off-spinner who also has the makings of a steady lower middle-order batter, having a fifty in both List A and T20 formats. With off-spin often used against left-handers, there is value in what she offers.
Stonehouse, a tall left-arm seamer, gets bounce and a bit of pace. There is still plenty to learn, but with support from Farrant, her promise could be shaped into something more. Her recent England A appearance shows she is firmly on the radar. For a young player, she is economical and like Moore, you feel there is more to come with the bat. They are two players who could form the backbone of Surrey’s future.
Another name worth noting is Tilly Corteen-Coleman, who has excelled in her early career and looks like one Surrey will want to keep an eye on.
Key Player
It is difficult to pick out one player, as they have performers throughout the team, and there have been occasions when they have all had a collective off day. Bryony Smith still feels like the safe bet. She leads from the front and is a quiet figure who lets her skills do the talking. With the bat, she has the potential to put Surrey in a strong position and with the ball, she is the one who breaks stubborn partnerships and makes things happen when momentum is slipping.
Player to watch
There was a spell in the Charlotte Edwards Cup last season where Tilly Corteen-Coleman was taking wickets in the first over of her introduction into the game. Still only 17 years old, Corteen-Coleman took the T20 format by storm and 16 wickets followed at an average of 13.31. This came after being drafted into The Hundred by Charlotte Edwards at Southern Brave. A left-arm spinner entering her second season, she will now face more batters who are ready for her and more comfortable with the lines and lengths she bowls. If she can continue to adapt her game, she could become a key part of a successful Surrey team.
How Will They Fare?
South East Stars were runners-up in both the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup in 2024. That core will represent Surrey Women this year and there will be a feeling that they can go one better. There is no reason why they shouldn’t. While the younger players are starting to find their feet and with their England internationals due to start the season, it could provide the momentum to iron out the wrinkles they have suffered in the past. Linked with the men, it could be “one club, loads of trophies.”
Opening Fixture: Metro Bank One Day Cup: 23 April 2024 v Somerset Women at Beckenham
