Sussex trio are delighted to be given new ECB regional deals
Georgia Adams, Tara Norris and Paige Scholfield have been named as the three recipients of ECB regional retainers for the south central region’s Southern Vipers squad.
The three Sussex players are among 25 elite women’s players across England and Wales who have received retainers.
The scheme has been put in place by the ECB to support the women’s game through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Adams, daughter of former Sussex captain Chris, has played more than 100 games for Sussex since her debut in 2009. The stylish batter was signed for Oval Invincibles in The Hundred and starred for Loughborough Lightning in the Kia Super League.
All-rounder Scholfield, 24, was signed for The Hundred, to represent Southern Brave having featured for the Southern Vipers in the KSL.
The 22-year-old left-arm seamer Tara Norris also represented Loughborough Lightning in the KSL, while studying sport science at the university, and has featured for the England Women’s Academy squad since 2019.
The 25 players on retainers, across eight regional hubs, represent the first tranche of professional women’s domestic cricketers, with the ECB planning to increase the number of full-time contracts to 40 later this year.
Those on retainers will adhere to strength and conditioning programmes and undertake online modules including anticorruption and anti-doping education. They will give time to “good of the game” activities and appearances.
Southern Vipers director of women’s cricket Adam Carty said: “I am delighted to be able to recognise and reward these three highlytalented young women with a retainer agreement.
“This marks a significant move toward fulfilling our objective of professionalising elite domestic women’s cricket.”