MATCH PREVIEW: Western Storm vs Thunder, Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
England star Emma Lamb is hoping some early season success with Thunder can lay the foundations for an unforgettable summer.
Lamb is starting 2023 in regional cricket before, hopefully, ticking off a bucket list experience by opening the batting in an Ashes Test Match at Trent Bridge in June.
Of course it is not just a Test appearance Lamb is hoping for, with the 25-year-old also a key part of England’s recent ODI plans.
It would be a surprise if Lamb is not opening the batting in Nottingham in a couple of months after 38 on debut against South Africa last June, but as the Prestonian said herself: “You can’t presume these things.”
There are 11 more regional fixtures scheduled before the Ashes, excluding Charlotte Edwards Cup Finals Day, so clearly a lot of water to go under the bridge.
It is why Lamb is insistent that her primary focus for now is on the Thunder’s cause.
“We’ve got the next month-and-a-half with Thunder leading up to the Ashes, and it’s very exciting,” she said.
Lamb had an unusually quiet day in Thunder’s opening Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy clash with South East Stars at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday, returning 0-35 from six overs of off-spin and hitting six at the top of the order in pursuit of a daunting 334 target.
But, after a winter’s hard work, you feel it won’t be long before she’s in the sort of form needed to advance the causes of both Thunder and England.
Next up is a trip to Cardiff to face Western Storm in the RHF Trophy on Saturday (10.30am), the first of a Bank Holiday weekend double header. A trip to face the Blaze follows on Monday.
“I’ve worked on a few things with my batting and bowling. I’m always trying to find ways to improve,” she continued. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop trying to improve my game, and hopefully that can lead to more wins for Thunder first of all.
“It would be a dream come true to play in the Ashes, it would be unbelievable. But you can’t presume these things. That’s why it’s such an important time with Thunder, and hopefully it can be the start of a really good summer for me.”
Lamb’s focus on Thunder is indicated by her answer to the question of whether this is the biggest summer of her career.
“I’d like to think every summer’s the biggest of my career,” she said.
“That’s the way I view it at the start. I’ve done a lot of hard work, and hopefully that pays off. I’ll just take it as it comes and do the best I can for whichever team I’m playing for.
“There is a lot of competition for places, so you can’t take anything for granted - and that’s at regional level as well. But that’s the really exciting part of being a professional.”
Lamb is clearly desperate to achieve big things with Thunder. Confidence is high within the camp that trophies can be challenged for and even won this summer, with Saturday’s heavy defeat against the Stars hopefully only a minor and early bump in the road.
“We’ve got double the amount of group games this year in the 50-over stuff, and the one thing that’s good about that is that there’s not too much time in between to overthink things,” she said.
“That’s the case whether it’s being over-confident after a win or too low after a defeat. You just have to crack on with the next one.”
Storm also tasted defeat in their opener. While Thunder went down by 131 runs to the Stars, the Storm lost a rain-reduced 36-over game by 105 runs against Northern Diamonds at Headingley.
The Diamonds made 290-8 before bowling their visitors out for 185 in reply.
Captained by batter Sophie Luff, Trevor Griffin is back in the South West for a second spell as coach.
Squad News:
Ellie Threlkeld (c/wk), Danielle Collins, Naomi Dattani, Deandra Dottin, Mahika Gaur, Alex Hartley, Liberty Heap, Laura Jackson, Emma Lamb, Fi Morris, Tara Norris, Olivia Thomas, Seren Smale