Young side can learn and grow better

September 19, 2024

SUFFOLK’S Women’s team can learn and grow better, according to coach Rob Southall.

The county’s young side finished eighth out of nine counties, which included five first-class counties, in a tough T20 group.

However, they won two of their four matches in the 50-over competition to secure a fifth-place finish in in the ten-team Group 2, ending level on points with Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.

Reflecting on the 2024 campaign, Southall (pictured above) said: “The season was fairly successful, beating teams we should beat on paper and putting up good fights against the stronger sides.

“With runs and wickets shared about, the success we had was definitely a team effort, and given the unique circumstance we found ourselves in at the start of the season, I think the way the side came together and performed was definitely a highlight.

Lara Neild was appointed as the new captain prior to the start of the season, but had to step aside for personal reasons.

Lauren Swinburne (pictured above) stepped in as skipper for the rest of the campaign, with Southall admitting the ‘massive blow’ of losing Nield as captain meant her successor faced ‘massive challenges’ in her new role.

He said: “When Lara came in, she came with new ideas and enthusiasm for the role, making a big impact on us with the direction she wanted the side to go in.

“With new ideas and plans it looked like an exciting time ahead. With that in mind losing her for the season was a massive blow, having made an impact on the first and only match she led.

“With the change to Lauren came massive challenges having to step into the role fairly swiftly, and having to hit the ground running, with less than a week to prepare for her first fixture in charge.

“The challenge for Lauren was huge, to not only develop her own style but implement that throughout the side, all on a very quick turnaround.

“With everybody involved, from Lauren taking over, the players shifting play styles and plans, Lara helping the transition and the coaching staff adapting to new requirements, everyone involved did a great job in making the change as smooth as it could have been.”

Southall said he felt players developed and grew into their roles as the season progressed, and picked out two players who he felt had a breakthrough season.

He said: “With being a very young side progression and development is our main goal and over the season players have developed and grown into their roles, developing greater understanding of what part they play and how they can help us succeed.

“Two players to have breakthrough seasons come to mind; the first is Izzy Sidhu after having gone away to university and trained with Surrey, her role in the side has developed greatly.

“Prior to this season she was a longer format opening bat and part-time spinner. This season she’s progressed into one of our main spinners in both the T20 and 50-over formats, while still adding with the bat.

“The other player is Amber Bradnam, a player who wasn’t in the squad at the start of the season, but due to injuries and unavailabilities was given a chance, first as 12ths but then a chance in the starting XI, where she proved her worth becoming a regular in the bowling attack in both formats.”

Southall picked out the 118-run victory over Buckinghamshire as the highlight of the season.

“As far as performances goes the highlight for me was the win over Buckinghamshire, scoring 188 for 1 in a T20 was an incredible accomplishment, seeing Emily Cunningham (87 not out) and Natalie Samuels (72 not out) both making big, unbeaten scores and then backing it up with the ball was definitely our most complete performance of the season.

“The other highlight for myself is, as always, seeing young players like Amber Bradnam and Laila Hollis break into the first team and perform.

“I felt this season went as expected; we beat the sides we thought we should beat and got beaten by the sides we saw as the harder fixtures. I feel the 50-over table definitely reflects where we are currently as a side.

“We could probably feel a bit more hard done by in the T20 standings, where there was a couple of fixtures where a close loss could have easily ended up as a close victory.

“Even though this season has had its fair amount of challenges, I feel that there definitely has been some valuable lessons learned and with a very young side the more they can learn and grow better,” he said.

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