Pro dream come true for Ellie

CRICKET

ELLIE Threlkeld says she’s living the dream after becoming one of the first women in the country to be given a full-time domestic contract.

Lancashire wicketkeeper Threlkeld was this week named among a group of 41 players to have been given deals, alongside the ECB’s 17 centrally contracted England players.

And while the news didn’t come as a surprise - the 22-yearold from St Helens is highly regarded and was one of 25 women across the country to have been put on a retainer contract earlier this year - it’s still been a relief to have some degree of certainty ahead of whatever 2021 may bring.

“It’s always been the dream to play professionally,” Threlkeld said.

“And now that we’ve got the opportunity to do that without having to be part of the England set-up.

“Welcoming 41 professional cricketers to the game is only going to make it better. It’s exciting.”

The launch of the Hundred, in which Threlkeld would have represented Manchester Originals, was supposed to make 2020 a massive year for women’s cricket. As it turned out, it could have proved apocalyptic.

But the ECB, despite having taken a financial hit from the Covid-19 pandemic, is still honouring its promise to look after the women’s game.

Threlkeld said: “In the past, it might have been the first thing they cut, so it’s really good that they’ve stuck with that decision and we’re getting that opportunity.”

Exactly what form the opportunity will take is still undecided, with 2021’s schedule dependent on so much else.

Threlkeld can now look forward to a busy summer, with a T20 competition, regional 50-over games with the north-west’s Thunder side and the delayed first season of the Hundred.