Bryce sisters aiming for a bigyear ahead
There were very few consistent things in 2020. But you can always rely on the Bryce sisters for consistency when it comes to cricket – and 2021 looks like being a big 12 months for them too.
The year will start with a bang, with youngster sibling Sarah turning 21 on January 8, and that celebration follows hot on the heels on Kathryn, 23, having been named ICC Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Decade between Christmas and New Year.
Those in cricketing circles north of the border have known about the Edinburgh duo’s talent for a long time, but it was the Scotland captain and vicecaptain’s respective performances in the summer’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy down south for the Loughboroughbased Lightning which saw them turn more heads.
That form helped to earn them both full-time domestic contracts with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) heading into 2021.
41 of those type of contracts below the full England squad have been handed out and all-rounder Kathryn said: “In terms of the full-time domestic contract going forward, I think it is great that the ECB have put such a big investment into the women’s game in the current climate.
“The contract will just allow me to focus that little bit more on my cricket, whilst also completing my final year of my degree at Loughborough University in sport & exercise science.
“It was also a real honour to receive the recent ICC award, I was very happy and it shows how far Scottish women’s cricket has come.”
After her big birthday celebrations are out of the way, Sarah is looking forward to what 2021 may bring backed up by the security of a full- time domestic contract.
“It just gives you a boost and also will help me manage my time as best I can between my cricket and my degree,” wicketkeeper/batter Sarah, who is in third year studying for a maths degree at Loughborough University, stated.
“I think opening the batting in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy showed me the levels I need to hit regularly, and I am working hard to keep improving.”
With events like the ECB- run ‘ The Hundred’ and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup European qualifiers set to take place over the next 12 months who knows just what this down- to- earth, talented duo can go on to achieve.