Hannah Jones to miss entire Charlotte Edwards Cup season through injury

Hannah Jones in action for Thunder [Getty Images]

The 24-year-old left-armer underwent shoulder surgery during the winter and has not played for Thunder or Lancashire in 2023. She should be back for the Heyhoe Flint Trophy matches from July 2

Thunder spinner Hannah Jones is unlikely to feature at all in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, with July's block of Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fixtures a more realistic target as she works her way back from injury.  

The 24-year-old left-armer underwent shoulder surgery during the winter and has not played for Thunder or Lancashire in 2023.  

She did, however, feature in a T20 friendly against Central Sparks at Sale on May 23, bowling two overs and conceding 16 runs.  

In a statement, Thunder said: "She is working through rehab following shoulder surgery earlier this year. [She] played a 2nd XI game last week as part of her rehabilitation programme and [we're] hoping to see her play more fixtures in the weeks to come."

Hannah Jones of Thunder [Getty Images]

Jones' absence has been keenly felt by Thunder at times this season. Dubbed the 'Quiet Assassin' by head coach, Paul Shaw, she was one of only two ever-present players for the region since 2020, alongside captain Ellie Threlkeld.  

In the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, she has picked up 23 wickets at an economy of 4.02 between 2020 and 2022 – a haul only Alex Hartley (31) could better over the same time period, including finishing second to The Blaze's Kirstie Gordon in the overall wicket-taking charts in 2021. She picked up 14 wickets compared to Gordon's 16.  

Even when she's not taking wickets, she remains a major asset in the middle overs thanks to her control. In 2022, for example, she bowled a team-leading 55.2 overs and maintained an economy of 3.97.  

Hannah Jones of Thunder [Getty Images]

In the Charlotte Edwards Cup, meanwhile, she has 13 wickets and an economy of 5.39 from 12 outings, including a team-leading nine wickets from just 19 overs last season.  

While still predominantly used in the middle overs, she is also an economical wicket-taking threat in the powerplay and at the death, memorably picking up three wickets in four deliveries in the 20th over against Northern Diamonds at Headingley last May. 

This season, Thunder have used 11 different bowlers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, with Tara Norris the only player to bowl more than 20 overs, while 10 players have featured in the T20 bowling attack.