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Southern Vipers Announce Professional Contract Allocation For 2023 And Beyond
Southern Vipers Announce Professional Contract Allocation
Seven Southern Vipers players are professionally contracted from 1st Nov 2022, with the potential for up to 10 professional contracts signed from Feb 2023
Southern Vipers are delighted to announce that Georgia Adams, Maia Bouchier, and Anya Shrubsole have been retained on professional contracts for the 2023 season, with Georgia Elwiss, Ella McCaughan, Emily Windsor, and Linsey Smith also being awarded professional contracts.
All players will remain at The Ageas Bowl-based club until at least the end of the 2024 season.
Lauren Bell, Charlie Dean, and Freya Kemp have all been awarded their first ECB central contracts, along with Danni Wyatt who retains her central contract, all of whom will be released and available for the Vipers at the discretion of the national team.
Former professionals Tara Norris and Paige Scholfield have elected to take up contracts with other regions, and officially left the club as of 1st November.
Everyone at Southern Vipers wishes Tara and Paige the best of luck in their new ventures.
The sad news of two departures in Paige Scholfield and Tara Norris was countered by the excellent and very exciting news of us retaining the expertise of three club champions, Captain Georgia Adams, Maia Bouchier, and recent addition Anya Shrubsole who will undertake a role of player/coach. In Georgia, Maia & Anya we have retained the spine of our club and in them, supported by an exciting and progressive retainer group of players, we are well placed to remain competitive for 2023 in the hope of further successes alongside the development of outstanding new talent.
Adam Carty, Regional Director of Women's Cricket
McCaughan, 20, is handed her first professional contract after three years in the Vipers setup, where she has scored 482 runs with three half-centuries, and a best of 72 which she recorded earlier this year against Lightning in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
We are delighted to offer Ella McCaughan a first professional contract following three progressive seasons as a front line batter. We all believe Ella has a big future in the game and we hope that this contract reflects the club’s aspirations for her to establish herself as a leading batter across the domestic scene and beyond in years to come.
Adam Carty, Regional Director of Women's Cricket
Emily Windsor has also been awarded her first professional contract.
Having played in six of the Vipers’ seven matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, plus one match on loan to Lightning, the Portsmouth-born batter racked up the fourth most runs in the competition, 288, and averaged over 60 in orange and black.
Emily has demonstrated all the core Viper characteristics & values in how she’s gone about her cricket this summer & to gain a pro’ contract at this time is a worthy reward for some fine performances for the club. Emily has Viper orange running through her veins. This is a great appointment. We wish her well and hope greater opportunity to develop her skill set & learn about her game will see her achieve all that she aspires to within the game.
Adam Carty, Regional Director of Women's Cricket
Elwiss, previously a centrally contracted player, has signed a professional contract with the club after being released from her ECB contract.
Across her short two-year career at Southern Vipers, Elwiss has established herself as one of the leading all-rounders in the squad, scoring over 600 runs and taking 27 wickets, with two centuries, and a best of a run-a-ball 115 against South East Stars at Hove in 2022.
Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith returns to the club in receipt of a professional contract having returned to the Vipers from current Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy holders, Northern Diamonds.
Smith last played for Southern Vipers in 2017, and was part of the side that won the inaugural Women’s Super League in 2016, before moving to Loughborough Lightning and Yorkshire (now Northern) Diamonds.
She received an England call-up in 2018, and played in nine IT20s for her country, and she took 2-24 in this year’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final at Lord’s.
Seeing Lauren Bell and Charlie Dean gain ECB central contracts presented the opportunity for the organisation to welcome Georgia Elwiss to the fold in an official capacity, along with securing the services of past Viper and all-rounder, Linsey Smith from Northern Diamonds. Georgia brings stability and a depth of all-round quality to our ranks, and she’s a wonderful role model to all, whilst Linsey has proven to be a tough and highly respected opponent in recent seasons, and in her we’ve got an experienced, proven performer who offers plenty with bat and ball.
Adam Carty, Regional Director of Women's Cricket
Increased ECB funding from November ’22 allows for a seventh professionally contracted player at each region, with a further increase from seven to ten from February 2023.
Carla Rudd, Charlotte Taylor, Alice Monaghan, Nancy Harman, Finty Trussler, Chloe Hill, and Rhianna Southby have all been awarded winter retainer contracts, with Hill making a permanent move from Central Sparks after signing a loan deal for the 2022 season, and Southby moving from 2021 Charlotte Edwards Cup winners, South East Stars.
All this comes in addition to Freya Kemp also gaining central contract with England having played out this summer as a retained PAYP player with such distinction. We are delighted in our current knowledge that Dean, Bell, Kemp and of course, Danni Wyatt will return to The Ageas Bowl at times across the summer when England schedule allows.
Adam Carty, Regional Director of Women's Cricket
The best way to watch the Southern Vipers in action next year is with a Hampshire Cricket Membership.
Memberships for 2023 are now on sale, from £180 for a standard membership, whilst junior and young adult memberships start at £25.
A Hampshire Cricket Membership provides the chance to be part of the Hampshire family and incorporates a whole host of exciting benefits for 2023.
Members are at the heart of everything that happens at Hampshire Cricket and The Ageas Bowl, and the Club continuously look to improve the Membership offering.
