Four Hampshire Women On ECB Central Contracts For 2025-26
Hampshire's Linsey Smith has been awarded her first central contract whilst Maia Bouchier and Freya Kemp sign new deals
Four Hampshire stars have been awarded ECB (England & Wales Cricket Board) central contracts, with spin bowler Linsey Smith signing her first.
Batter Maia Bouchier and all-rounder Freya Kemp have both penned new one-year deals whilst pace bowler Lauren Bell enters the second year of her two-year contract.
Bell and Smith were part of the recent Cricket World Cup where England reached the semi-finals; it was both player’s first experience of a 50-over World Cup having previously featured in T20 World Cups.
Maia Bouchier was Hampshire’s leading run-scorer across 2025 whilst Freya Kemp impressed in the Vitality Blast and scored her first professional century against The Blaze in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at Utilita Bowl to help Hampshire reach the final at Utilita Bowl.

It’s an immensely exciting year ahead for England Women and the awarding of these contracts reflects our confidence in this group of players with our collective focus firmly on winning the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on home soil next summer. Linsey Smith, Emma Lamb and Em Arlott have all made important contributions for England across the last year and these contracts are both a reward for what they have achieved and an opportunity to develop their skills further.
Clare Connor, Managing Director of England Women
Kate Cross misses out on a Central Contract after years of extraordinary service to England Women’s cricket. The door to selection is never closed on any domestic cricketer. Consistency in scoring runs and taking wickets in county cricket will always put players in a strong position to be picked in England squads.
We’re all excited about what 2025/26 brings. Witnessing India win the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in their own country in front of their own fans is a powerful reminder of the impact that winning major events on home soil can have. The Red Roses too have provided that inspiration. So we know how huge an opportunity a home ICC Women's T20 World Cup is for us next summer. In addition, I know our players will all be striving to be involved in a historic women’s Test match at Lord’s against India.

Ten players have received new one-year contracts with seven players in the second year of their current terms, with four players awarded new Skills Contracts.
England Women’s Central Contracts
Existing Contracts (entering year two of two)
|
Lauren Bell (Hampshire) |
Amy Jones (The Blaze) |
|
Charlie Dean (Somerset) |
Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze) |
|
Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire) |
Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey) |
|
Heather Knight (Somerset) |
|

New One-Year Contracts
|
Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze) |
Mahika Gaur (Lancashire) |
|
Maia Bouchier (Hampshire) |
Danielle Gibson (Somerset) |
|
Alice Capsey (Surrey) |
Sarah Glenn (Yorkshire) |
|
Sophia Dunkley (Surrey) |
Freya Kemp (Hampshire) |
|
Lauren Filer (Durham) |
Linsey Smith (Hampshire) |

New Skills Contracts
|
Em Arlott (Warwickshire) |
Ryana Macdonald-Gay (Surrey) |
|
Emma Lamb (Lancashire) |
Issy Wong (Warwickshire) |
Watch Lauren, Linsey, Maia, and Freya in Hampshire colours with a Women’s Season Ticket.
Our Women’s Season Ticket grants access to every home Hampshire Women’s fixture across the Metro Bank One Day Cup and Vitality Blast, including five T20 double headers with Hampshire Hawks Men and any fixtures hosted at outgrounds.

Women’s Season Tickets are currently available at the Early Bird rate of £99, offering a £20 saving (£119 full price) – this offer ends 31st January 2026.
You can buy a Women's Season Ticket by visiting the link below.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup comes to Utilita Bowl next summer.
Utilita Bowl hosts six matches with England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, and Pakistan taking to the field.
Tickets for the Women’s T20 World Cup are on general sale, with matches at Utilita Bowl available from £15 for adults and just £5 for juniors.
For more information on how to watch the Women’s T20 World Cup at Utilita Bowl in 2026, please visit the link below.
Hampshire's Linsey Smith has been awarded her first central contract whilst Maia Bouchier and Freya Kemp sign new deals
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