OXFORDSHIRE Women’s cricket team will come up against a side containing multiple England internationals today.
In the inaugural season of the newly structured women’s cricket system, Oxfordshire find themselves in Tier 3, and although there is no promotion between tiers, the semi-professional teams of Tier 2 and the amateur outfits of Tier 3 have the chance to compete at the top level in the T20 County Cup.
After beating fellow Tier 3 opposition Wiltshire and Hertfordshire in rounds one and two respectively, Oxfordshire find themselves with a David and Goliath match-up against Nottinghamshire in the third round.
The Blaze team includes England internationals Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Glenn and Amy Jones.
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Oxfordshire captain Emilia Bartram said: “We’re giving the message to the girls that there’s no pressure at all.
“If we go out there and complete our skills and our roles, I think with the players we have there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t complete with The Blaze.
“Obviously there are nerves and there are whole new challenges and standards when you’re talking about players who have played internationally. I think in this situation, naivety could be good.
“The ball will come down a bit quicker, it will turn a bit more but if they just react to the ball it can lead to success.”
Nottinghamshire were given Tier 1 status by the England and Wales Cricket Board, alongside seven other counties, and must adhere to giving a minimum of 15 players £20,000 per year contracts.
Bartram said: “It’s a new learning experience but you see the new professional side. Playing with the regulations will be a great experience.”
Bartram misses the T20 County Cup tie as she is on international duty with Italy, therefore Ellie Ingram stands in as captain, as she did in the 24-run win over Hertfordshire, when she had a match-defining 53 not out from just 29 balls.
Oxfordshire are also unbeaten in their 50-over competition in Tier 3 thanks to contributions from former Southern Vipers player Sophie Mitchelmore and former Sussex pathway player Sophie Grayson, who scored a century on debut.
Bartram said: “It’s important for us to look back a couple of years when Ed Wilson was appointed head coach and myself captain, we wanted to take a new dynamic, mentality and style into how Oxfordshire play.
“We actually applied for Tier 2 status given the quality of players we have and the opposition we have been playing over the last few years, where the results may not reflect the ability we have and I think there’s no reason why we can’t aspire to be a Tier 2 team in future because that’s where I think we should be.”
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