Central Sparks have today named Hannah Baker, Georgia Davis and Grace Potts as their professional players joining them for the 2023 season. Baker, Davis, and Potts join seven existing Central Sparks professional players, bringing the total number of professional contracts within the region to ten.
Off spinner Georgia Davis has been a mainstay of the Sparks’ XI since 2020. Davis proved herself to be a genuine all-rounder last year after scoring an unbeaten half century against South East Stars in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. She was Central Sparks’ top wicket-taker in the 2021 Charlotte Edwards Cup, and has picked up key wickets for Trent Rockets in both 2021 and 2022.
Right arm seamer Grace Potts had an explosive season with Central Sparks in 2022, becoming the side’s top wicket-taker across the season. Potts is a graduate of the Central Sparks Academy and has previously been selected for England A and Manchester Originals. She was voted ‘Most Improved’ and ‘Player’s Player’ at the end of the 2022 season, and will no doubt continue to spearhead the Sparks bowling attack in 2023 and beyond.
Fresh from being named in the U19 Women's T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament, leg spinner Hannah Baker signs for Sparks having made her debut for Central Sparks aged just sixteen years old. Another graduate of the Central Sparks Academy, Baker was one of the frontline spinners of the Sparks’ 2022 season and offers brilliant control throughout the middle overs. She has played in The Hundred for two seasons with Welsh Fire.
Laura Macleod, Regional Director of Women's Cricket, said: “We’re delighted to be offering contracts to Georgia, Grace and Hannah. All have prosperous futures and a contract means they can really focus on developing themselves on a full time basis."
Central Sparks is formed of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire and is one of eight regional hubs developed by the ECB as part of a new structure for elite women’s domestic cricket. Sparks compete in the 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the 20-over Charlotte Edwards Cup.