Yorkshire Diamonds Preview: Diamonds look to shine

Yorkshire Diamonds have found things difficult during the first two Kia Super Leagues. They have finished fifth on both occasions.



The return of Beth Mooney will be a welcome boost at the top of the order. Yorkshire Diamonds have looked to recruit well. They have done this with a good balance of youth and experience.



Beth Langston who plays her county cricket for Yorkshire moves from Loughborough Lightning as Jenny Gunn moves in the opposite direction.



 



The Captain



It has been a difficult year for Lauren Winfield, after winning the World Cup she found that she was replaced at the top of the order for England. She didn’t have a great WBBL. Winfield has worked hard to put things right.



The work on her technique started to reap rewards and appears to be the next player in line to fill in for a slot in the batting line-up.



As captain, she will look to lead from the front, on her day she can get her side off to a flyer in the powerplay overs.



 



The Overseas Players



Mooney is a great capture for Yorkshire Diamonds. With an exceptional record that only got better in the WBBL. If Yorkshire are to make their first finals day much will rest on their opening partnership.



To have Chamari Atapattu come in at three for Yorkshire Diamonds, they have an attacking top order that if they fire from day one. Atapattu burst onto the scene for many during last year ICC World Cup and she should have the crowds drawn in again this year.



Delissa Kimmince is another great signing for Yorkshire Diamonds. The bowler has an impressive record for Brisbane Heat and is an important part of the Australia T-20 side. If her batters give her something to bowl at she will cause players all sorts of problem.



 



The England Internationals



There is little need to introduce Katherine Brunt the England player has become a genuine all-rounder of late. Along with Kimmince, they will make a potent opening bowling pair.



Beth Langston is a bowler who gets the ball to swing, sometimes it can be difficult to control when she is in-form Langston can be difficult to bat against. When you add in Sophie Munro the young Nottinghamshire bowler Yorkshire Diamonds are not lacking in the seam bowling department.



Alice Davidson-Richards made her England debut this year and is a more than handy batter who down the order can help get the scoring going. Her medium pace bowling has been known to take many a useful wicket.



 



Best of the rest



Katie Levick became the leading wicket-taker in Women’s County cricket earlier this season, a leg-spinner who has a great deal of control and is economical.



Thea Brookes joins from Loughborough Lightning, she probably batted too low for the Midlands-based side but has shown that she can hit the ball cleanly and nearly helped her side to an unlikely win during the inaugural competition in a home game against Lancashire Thunder.



 



Prediction



If the international players play as well as they are capable then Yorkshire Diamonds may just cause a few shocks. A top order that has runs in it is backed up by some international quality bowlers in Kimmince and Brunt. Where things may hinge on is just how well some of the younger players step up.



 



Squad



Lauren Winfield (c), Katherine Brunt, Beth Langston, Alice Davidson-Richards, Chamari Atapattu, Beth Mooney, Delissa Kimmince, Helen Fenby, Sophie Munro, Bess Heath, Thea Brookes, Alice Monaghan, Gwen Davies, Katie Levick, Katie Thompson