Alvanley so proud as Sophie stars in Ashes
THERE have been justifiable celebrations at Alvanley Cricket Club this week following the great success of one of their first-team players.
Spin bowling specialist Sophie Ecclestone, who only made her first-team debut for the club one summer ago, was one of the stars for the England Women’s cricket side in their drawn Ashes Test match with Australia this past week.
“The excitement of the Women’s Ashes tour has really gripped Alvanley Cricket Club,” first-team player and junior coordinator at the Cheshire club, Andy Bennion, told the Weekly News.
“In the club’s 133 years since it formed Sophie is the first player to go on to play Test cricket and the enormity of this is not lost on everyone involved at Alvanley. The Facebook groups have been buzzing with players, family and most powerfully parents of our young boys and girls from the junior teams that Sophie helps to coach.
“Sophie seems to be the ‘go to’ player for back stories.
“The Daily Telegraph published a highly-complimentary article last week, in which her action was compared favorably to the one of cricket’s all-time great left armers – Daniel Vettori.
“Also last week, The Guardian’s match report focused on Sophie’s parents, Paul and Elaine.
“Paul’s recent elevation to Alvanley Life Member was mentioned as well as their penchant for walking around the ground during the game – a superstition that all cricketers know can bring runs or wickets, depending on the direction walked.”
Ecclestone, who only turned 18 this year, is a slow left-arm orthodox spin bowler who has shown she can deliver with both accuracy and economy.
She made her debut for Cheshire in 2013 and joined Lancashire two years ago after being spotted by Red Rose scouts.
The highly-talented teenager made ● her top-level debut that year against Nottinghamshire in Division One of the Women’s County Championship.
Having been fast-tracked through England’s age-group programmes into the Academy squad, last year she impressed for the Academy in the triseries with Sri Lanka A and Australia’s Shooting Stars in Sri Lanka, taking 16 wickets on that tour, including a four-for versus Sri Lanka A in Panagoda.
Ecclestone was subsequently called up by new coach Mark Robinson into the England squad to face Pakistan in the T20 series in July 2016 and made her England debut aged just 17 in the first game of the series, in a tidy performance that saw her finish with figures of 1-21 across her four overs of work.
Added Bennion: “The sense of pride from everyone involved at Alvanley was immense, particularly as she has not just been selected to play, but has performed as brilliantly as we all know she could.
“In a highly-testing game in Sydney, where bat dominated ball, she bowled with great control and secured the economical figures of 3-107 off 37 marathon overs.
“She even made an important eight not out as the tailenders tried their best to eke out precious first innings runs.
“This is not a one-off. Sophie’s fabulous bowling action, tenacious fielding and potential as a hard-hitting batter spell out a long England career ahead and many more years of inspiring the next generation of boys and girls at her beloved Alvanley.”