Player Profile
Liberty Heap is an all-rounder who accepted her maiden professional contract with Thunder in February 2023, just a couple of weeks after representing England Under 19s in the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa.
Heap, now 20-years-old, is a versatile and aggressive batter and an extremely useful off-spinner from Lancashire League club Lowerhouse, where her father Ben is the long-standing captain.
She opened the batting for the Under 19s through the World Cup, while her final game of the 2022 summer - for Thunder - saw her crash 38 off 18 balls batting at seven in a 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy win over Western Storm at Emirates Old Trafford.
It was important innings, not least because it opened the door for greater opportunity for Thunder in 2023.
In all senior cricket for the region, including friendlies, she hit 357 runs and took six wickets in 23 matches. That haul included bests of 47 and 3-39.
She opened the batting in T20 cricket and was deployed more in the middle order in 50-over cricket, though she did open in the latter through September because of Emma Lamb’s unavailability.
It was without doubt an encouraging breakthrough season, and we will hopefully see further improvement in 2024.
Heap has come through the Lancashire age-groups, first joining the county aged eight. She has represented the Red Rose senior team once, though has also played for Cumbria and the Northern Representative XI.
She made her senior regional debut for Thunder in September 2020.
Her first wicket for Thunder was England legend Jenny Gunn in an RHF Trophy clash with the Northern Diamonds in September 2021.
Shortly after that, a photo was shared on social media of a young Heap meeting Gunn as a fan whilst the latter was playing for England. It indicated Heap’s impressive progression as a cricketer.
Heap has played men’s cricket for Lowerhouse from first team to fourth team and believes bowling at her father in the nets has helped fast-track her development.
In 2021, she hit 101 for Lancashire Under 18s in a 40-over victory against Cheshire at Leigh. Two years earlier, she claimed a remarkable 7-8 from 4.5 overs in a 40-over win against Northumberland at Corbridge for the Red Rose Under 15s.
She was one of only two ever-presents for England Under 19s as they reached the final - they were beaten by India - of the World Cup at the start of 2023.
Captain and opening partner Grace Scrivens was the other.
In seven appearances, Heap scored 149 runs with a best of 64 off 35 balls in a group stage victory over Rwanda. She followed that up with 42 off 29 balls in the next game against Ireland - also a victory.