Women and girls urged to try their hand at cricket

That’s the message from former England international Bev Nicholson to the town’s sportswomen as Doncaster Town Ladies Cricket Club prepare to embark on only their third ever season.

Nicholson, who played six ODIs for her country in the late 1990s, will captain the side when they start their Yorkshire Women’s Regional League Division Two campaign at home to Chesterfield Ladies on Sunday, April 10th.

Before then the club will open its doors to prospective new players with an open day this Sunday at their Town Fields home from 11am - and Nicholson is keen to spread the word.

“Cricket’s a great game and through cricket I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world and make some great friends,” said the 40-year-old.

“I started playing when I was eight. I used to watch my brother play and think to myself ‘why am I watching when I could be playing?’

“I played for Doncaster when I was younger and it’s been great to come back to the area and be part of the only women’s cricket team in Doncaster. We’ve got a great set of girls here - and it’d be fantastic to get even more women involved.

“There’s a few girls out there playing for men’s teams in the area and it’d be nice to get them here playing women’s cricket too,” she added.

“But a lot of our girls play other sports and the majority of them were completely new to cricket 18 months ago.

“You don’t need any gear, just come along and give it a go.”

Coach Nick Johnson said: “The girls are a credit to themselves and the club. They are so eager to learn, they are superbly led by Bev and, importantly, they play as a team.

“I am very proud of the way they support each other whether it’s going well or not, and that is something they do naturally and is not necessarily coached.”

The club also hold practice sessions on Tuesday evenings. For more information contact Nick on 07968 890756.