Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Yorkshire Diamonds to start Kia Super League campaign
Picture: swpix.com
The Diamonds, coached by Richard Pyrah and captained by England’s Lauren Winfield, are one of six sides battling for the title after securing a place in the 20-over competition in partnership with Leeds Beckett University earlier this year.
The squad also includes internationals from Australia and South Africa and will be hoping to make the top three in the round-robin tournament to reach finals day at Chelmsford on August 21, where second and third-placed teams will square-off to face first.
As part of the partnership with Leeds Beckett, the Diamonds are staying at our Kirkstall Brewery accommodation for the duration of the campaign.
Meanwhile students and staff from our Carnegie and Health & Social Sciences Faculties will provide sports science and rehabilitation support to the team, gaining first-hand experience of working with female performance athletes.
What is the Kia Super League? It starts on Saturday. #showyourcolourshttps://t.co/SYl26npSRu
— ECB (@ECB_cricket) July 26, 2016
Our Research Staff are also undertaking three ground breaking research projects into physiological and nutritional changes and wellbeing during intense sporting competitions.
Head coach Richard Pyrah said: “It’s impossible to say who’s going to be the strongest team with six brand new teams but my aim is to go out and win every game.
“We have just got to play with a freedom and enjoy it so I’m not putting any expectations on us, I’m just going out there to play with freedom and enjoy the cricket.
“We’ve got a very good bowling attack. We’ve got three international seamers and an international spinner but we think we’ve got all bases covered. We’ve signed pretty well with the overseas players and hopefully we’ve got a nice balanced squad.”
Captain Lauren Winfield said: “It’s a huge honour. I’m a Yorkie through and through and I’ve grown up wanting to represent Yorkshire and be part of something special.
“There’s a lot of history, it’s a big club and successful club. It’s great for me to be part of that and lead an exciting group in an exciting tournament.”
Yorkshire Diamond fixtures:
Yorkshire Diamonds v Loughborough Lightning
Saturday July 30 2016
Headingley (2.30pm start)
Surrey Stars v Yorkshire Diamonds
Thursday August 4 2016
Kia Oval (6.30pm start)
Southern Vipers v Yorkshire Diamonds
Monday August 8 2016
Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground (2.00pm start)
Lancashire Thunder v Yorkshire Diamonds
Friday August 12 2016
Emirates Old Trafford (6.00pm start)
Yorkshire Diamonds v Western Storm
Sunday August 14 2016
Headingley (2.30pm start)
Women’s Super League Finals Day
Sunday August 21 2016
Essex County Ground, Chelmsford
Tickets now on sale for our #Headingley Kia Super League fixtures.
— Yorkshire Diamonds (@YorksDiamonds) April 21, 2016
🎫 : https://t.co/4DqI0BsKe3#ShineBright💎 #KSL pic.twitter.com/H407bkboUv
Yorkshire Diamonds 2016 squad
Hollie Armitage (Yorkshire & England Academy)
Alex Blackwell (New South Wales & Australia)
Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire & England)
Steph Butler (Staffordshire & England Academy)
Alice Davidson Richards (Kent)
Teresa Graves (Yorkshire)
Jenny Gunn (Warwickshire & England)
Danielle Hazell (Yorkshire & England)
Shabnim Ismail (Western Province & South Africa)
Katie Levick (Yorkshire)
Beth Mooney (Queensland & Australia)
Anna Nicholls (Middlesex)
Laura Spragg (Yorkshire)
Katie Thompson (Yorkshire)
Lauren Winfield – captain (Yorkshire and England)