Wiltshire Women’s 1st XI Squad Announced for the 2024 Season!

Wiltshire Women’s 1st XI Squad Announced for the 2024 Season!

Wiltshire Cricket are delighted to announce the 13 players selected for the Women’s 1st XI squad for the 2024 season. This squad has been selected following an extensive winter training programme, consisting of 6-week block of 1-2-2 skill-set sessions, a 10-week squad training programme, with Strength & Conditioning, and an Under 18 pre-season tour to Sri Lanka.

The 13-player strong squad is made up from players from across the county, with further available playing spots available for talented age-group players who show exciting skills during their age-group fixtures early in the season, enhancing the player-pathway in Wiltshire.

The squad also welcome 3 additional support staff, to accompany coaches Sam Dent & Aled Evans. This year, Wiltshire welcomes Luke Walker, James Shadwell & Malcolm Chivers to the support staff team.

Luke Walker – Pitch-side Physiotherapist & Sports Medic
James Shadwell – Women’s 1st XI Scorer
Malcolm Chivers – Women’s 1st XI Scorer & U18 Girls Scorer

The Wiltshire Women’s 1st XI were due to play their first 50-Over fixture on Sunday 21st April, in the ECB Women’s County Championship, but this fixture has now been postponed due to the wet pre-season weather conditions. The team will therefore have this rescheduled fixture against Oxfordshire Women later in the season. In the meantime, the squad will be meeting on Sunday for a squad meeting, pre-season promotion & marketing preparation and team-building session.

Within the squad, Wiltshire Women have some exceptionally talented cricketers, many of whom are currently representing the Western Storm Emerging Player Programme or Western Storm Academy too. Wiltshire is incredibly proud of the 2024 squad and look forward to the team stepping out onto the field.

  • Emily Bogg (Wicket-Keeper Batter, Devizes CC)
  • Katy Cobb (Spin Bowler, Corsham CC & Devizes CC, Western Storm Academy)
  • Sophie Gaiger (Seam Bowler, Potterne CC)
  • Jenny Heppell (Seam Bowler, Devizes CC)
  • Daisy Hunt (Wicket-Keeper Batter, Winsley CC)
  • Holly Presswell (Batter, Winsley CC)
  • Carys Shah (All-Rounder (seam), Malmesbury CC & Royal Wootton Bassett CC, Western Storm EPP)
  • Florence Sharman (Batter, South Wilts CC & Devizes CC, Western Storm EPP)
  • Anna-Mae Shearn (All-Rounder, Trowbridge CC & Devizes CC, Western Storm Academy)
  • Emily Smith (All-Rounder (spin), Chippenham CC & Bath CC)
  • Isla Thomson (Captain, All-Rounder, Malmesbury CC & Bath CC, Western Storm Academy)
  • Poppy Walker (All-Rounder (spin), South Wilts CC & Devizes CC, Western Storm EPP)
  • Lois Wright (Seam Bowler, Devizes CC & Sutton Benger CC)

The 2024 season is a particularly exciting season for the Wiltshire Women’s Squad, as they prepare for 50-Over fixtures against Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Devon and Cornwall. This competition complements the National T20 competition, where the 5 teams in the aforementioned competition are joined by Somerset, Wales, Dorset & Hampshire in a T20 group – all competing for a spot at the National Finals against the winners from the other regional groups.

Future Women's Domestic Structure

The 2024 season also brings further excitement as the England & Wales Cricket Board announce the new Women’s Domestic Structure for 2025, where 8 First-Class Counties have been chosen to host their respective regional professional Women’s Team (currently Western Storm). Wiltshire Cricket wishes congratulations to Somerset, who have been awarded the Tier 1 status, along with Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Surrey & Warwickshire. Wiltshire are looking forward to working alongside Somerset CCC, as we collaboratively aim to grow Women’s Cricket further across the county and wider region. Wiltshire Cricket are looking forward to working through the next phases of the Women's Domestic Competition restructure, as ECB will soon be providing details of the Tier 2 application process, which will be made available to the remaining First-Class Counties and National Counties. 

To read more about the ECB announcement, please visit:

Somerset CCC Statement - https://somersetcountycc.co.uk/news/club-news/somerset-awarded-tier-1-womens-team-status/

England & Wales Cricket Board - https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/3971000/eight-tier-1-counties-confirmed-for-2025-and-plans-unveiled-for-four-more-womens-professional-domestic-teams-by-2029

The Wiltshire Women welcome spectators and supporters in the 2024 season and look forward to starting our season on Monday 6th May, in a South-West derby clash, against Gloucestershire at Brislington CC.