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Maia Bouchier Awarded First ECB Central Contract With A Further Four Vipers Retained
Maia Bouchier Awarded First ECB Central Contract With A Further Four Vipers Retained
Batter Maia Bouchier has been awarded her first ECB central contract whilst Lauren Bell, Charlie Dean, Freya Kemp, and Danni Wyatt all renew contracts
Southern Vipers batter Maia Bouchier has been awarded her first ECB central contract.
The 24-year-old has featured 25 times for England since making her international debut against New Zealand in 2021, and has scored 317 runs in 17 innings on the international stage, with a career-best of 95 coming in her second ODI innings.
In 2023, Bouchier was part of the Vipers XI that defeated The Blaze in both Charlotte Edwards Cup and Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy finals, and finished her season for the Vipers with 518 runs and five fifties to her name, including a Vipers-best of 71.
She made her debut for the Vipers in 2018, aged just 19 years old, and recorded her first half-century in the 2020 RHFT against Western Storm.
We have always seen an international pedigree in Maia’s game and following what has been a fantastic season in numbers with the bat across three formats in 2023, I am delighted that she has received her just reward. She’s a great person with an outstanding work-ethic. I am sure she’ll be a pivotal player for England for many years to come. The Vipers are very proud of the players who have performed so admirably in orange and black, who have gone on to make their international bow in recent years and we are delighted that all concerned have been retained for 2024. We look forward to supporting them as they continue do great things for both country and we very much hope, club, in 2024.
Adam Carty, Regional Director of Women’s Cricket
Fellow Vipers Danni Wyatt, Lauren Bell, Charlie Dean, and Freya Kemp, all remain centrally contracted by the ECB, and all five players are involved in England’s current tour of India.
Danni Wyatt is the second-leading run scorer for the Vipers, and is the only England player, male or female, to record two IT20 centuries.
Lauren Bell and Freya Kemp both made their international debuts in 2022, with Kemp becoming the youngest England Women’s player to score an IT20 half-century, whilst Bell claimed best figures of 4-12 against the West Indies last winter.
Spinner Charlie Dean recorded her first international five-for against Sri Lanka in 2023, when she took 5-31 having previously recorded four-wicket hauls against India, West Indies, South Africa, and New Zealand.
Full England Women Central Contract Allocation:
Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze)
Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)
Freya Kemp (Southern Vipers)
Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers)
Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder)
Heather Knight (Western Storm)
Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers)
Tash Farrant (South East Stars)
Emma Lamb (Thunder)
Alice Capsey (South East Stars)
Danielle Gibson (Western Storm)
Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze)
Kate Cross (Thunder)
Sarah Glenn (The Blaze)
Issy Wong (Central Sparks)
Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers)
Amy Jones (Central Sparks)
Danni Wyatt (Southern Vipers)
In addition to the 18 central contracts, Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds), Lauren Filer (Western Storm), and Mahika Gaur (Thunder) have all been awarded development contracts.
The Central Contracts are awarded to the players we feel will play a significant role over the next 12 months and beyond. We are at the start of an unprecedented busy period of international cricket and the group reflects the requirements of the multi-format schedule we face.
Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson have been part of our group over the summer, have performed well and will be important players for England moving forward.
The introduction of development contracts is a key step for us and allows us to support a wider group of players in their ongoing development and we will work closely with the regions to manage the players’ development and workloads.
After a record-breaking Ashes summer, we have a really exciting 12 months of cricket ahead and we feel this group of players will form the foundations of our side that will take us through various bilateral series, and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Our thanks as ever go to the England Women’s Player Partnership and the PCA who continue to play an important role.
Jonathan Finch, Director of England Women's Cricket
Southern Vipers fixtures for 2024 have been announced.
The double champions kick off their Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup campaigns on 20 April and 18 May respectively, with two T20 double headers at The Ageas Bowl with Hampshire Hawks.
To view Southern Vipers’ full 2024 fixtures, please visit the link below.
Tickets for next summer’s Vipers action go on sale next year, while a Hampshire Cricket Membership entitles free admission to all Southern Vipers matches hosted at The Ageas Bowl.
By registering your interest, you will be able to access tickets as soon as they go on sale. Register your interest for Southern Vipers tickets via the link below.
Memberships for 2024 are now on sale, from the discounted Early Bird price of £190 for a standard membership, whilst junior and young adult memberships start at only £25.
A Hampshire Cricket Membership provides the chance to be part of the Hampshire Cricket family and incorporates a whole host of exciting benefits for 2024.
To see more about Hampshire Cricket’s membership offerings, please visit the link below.
