MATCH PREVIEW: Lancashire Women vs Hampshire Women, Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women
Lancashire Women Squad to face Hampshire:
Ellie Threlkeld (c&wk), Danielle Collins, Kate Cross, Mahika Gaur, Eve Jones, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Ailsa Lister, Katie Mack, Fi Morris, Sophie Morris, Tara Norris, Grace Potts, Seren Smale
There’s no place like home for Lancashire’s Tara Norris.
The Red Rose’s seam bowling all-rounder has played cricket in destinations such as Buenos Aires, Harare, Melbourne and Bangalore this winter, enjoying some notable success along the way.
And now back on home turf, it’s clear that the desire for that success to continue is burning bright.
USA international Norris helped her country reach the next stage of qualification for next year’s T20 World Cup, which will be hosted in England, while she was also part of the Melbourne Renegades squad who won the Australian Big Bash League title before Christmas.
“I think being around different environments, different teams, working with different coaches is brilliant for my development,” she said.
“Any opportunity to play cricket, I absolutely love. So, as long as I keep fit and healthy, I think it's doing me the world of good. But coming back to Lancs and playing with the same team is brilliant.
“This is my third season here, and this feels very much home for me.”
Norris has been speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup clash with Hampshire at Southport and Birkdale (10.30am).
Lancashire have made a flying start to the summer, winning two from two.
Most recently, they beat Somerset at Taunton by seven wickets on Sunday, chasing 206.
Opener Eve Jones shone with 97, while Emma Lamb claimed two wickets and hit 52 at the top of the order. Norris struck once with the new ball.
Philadelphia-born Norris is in the early stages of her third season in the North West and said of her previous two campaigns: “I feel like we should have done better than what we have.
“But I think Chris Read coming in as coach last year has been really positive. And I'm really excited for this season. I feel like we've made a bit of a turn this year.
“We've got slightly different squads. We've signed a few players, some brilliant players, actually, so I think everyone's feeling really positive and super confident.”
Previously, Norris has chased success with Thunder in regional cricket, an era which finished last September to make way for the new professional county structure. The region qualified for T20 Finals Day in 2023, though that was their only notable success.
The bulk of the squad remains the same, albeit with some new additions. One is opener Jones, who starred at Taunton on Sunday. The other is England squad seamer Grace Potts, who bowled nine cheap overs without taking a wicket on debut in the same game.
Norris continued: “I think we owe it to ourselves, to our coaches, to our staff and all the management to get a trophy, which would be unbelievable.
“And it feels like now is the best time to do it.”
Despite only being 26, Norris has done so much in the game.
She was a regular trophy winner with the Southern Vipers at the start of the regional era, she has obviously played international cricket, and in early 2023 famously became the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the new Indian Women’s Premier League competition.
But there remains plenty of room for development for a player who is only three away from the 100-mark in List A cricket, a milestone she could reach against Hampshire. However, the team comes first.
“I guess it’s more the contributions that I’m looking at rather than the development - how much I can impact games,” said the ex-Southern Viper.
“Whether it's a big role, opening the bowling, coming on first change, batting number seven or number ten. How can I impact the game and contribute to wins?”
Norris’s start to the season, having been left out of the team for the opening game before returning for the second, indicates that Lancashire are progressing.
The competition for places has increased significantly, which means someone like Norris - despite all her experience and quality - is not guaranteed her spot in the eleven.
But she wouldn’t have it any other way, adding: “I think there are very few players who get that privilege of having a certain spot every year, and I don’t want that position either.
“I like that I've got to work hard and keep pushing. It’s sort of increased my drive and my hunger to do better.”
While Lancashire are top of the embryonic 50-over table on nine points, Hampshire are third on six having tied one against Warwickshire and beaten Surrey. The latter came at the Utilita Bowl on Sunday, by 50 runs.
England stars Maia Bouchier and Lauren Bell should feature at Southport for a side coached by Paul Prichard. The former Essex men’s batter replaced England-bound Charlotte Edwards earlier this month.
Last time out