Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy team of the season: Who makes our XI?

The Cricketer looks at the star performers from the 2021 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy season…

Georgia Adams (Southern Vipers)

233 runs @ 29.12, 12 wickets @ 14.41, 10 catches

Georgia Adams might not have hit the dizzy heights of 2020 with the bat, but she still scored three half-centuries in eight innings and finished the season as her side’s second-highest run-scorer. In the field, meanwhile, she was near unstoppable, taking 12 wickets in 37.5 overs with her medium-pace bowling and completing a competition-leading 10 catches. Oh, and she captained her side to their second Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title. A very good year for Adams.

Eve Jones (Central Sparks)

299 runs @ 42.71

The newly-crowned PCA Women's Player of the Year, Eve Jones stepped up to the plate in the absence of England ‘keeper Amy Jones, scoring 299 runs at an average of 42.71, including a fine century against Thunder in June and two half-centuries. Her namesake was the only other Spark to pass 200 runs in 2021 while only Sophie Luff and Kathryn Bryce (who we’ll hear more about shortly) scored more runs across all eight teams. Honourable mentions have to go to Cordelia Griffith (Sunrisers) and Sterre Kalis (Northern Diamonds), who scored 273 runs and 290 runs, respectively.

Sophie Luff (Western Storm)

417 runs @ 69.50

The runaway golden bat, Luff finished the season 67 runs clear of her nearest rival – Kathryn Bryce – and was one of only two players to pass 300 runs. Her 417-run haul included one century – a monster 157 not out off 142 balls against Sunrisers, three half-centuries, and a competition-leading 47 fours. The Western Storm skipper well and truly carried her side with the bat.

Congratulations to @Kathryn_Bryce - your Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Player of the Year! 🏆

🤝 Well done to @eve_jones11 who is the first ever PCA Women's Overall Domestic @pcaMVP.

Deserved recognition for both as the women's domestic season ends 👏#PCAawards | @cinchuk

— PCA (@PCA) September 25, 2021

Kathryn Bryce (Lightning)

353 runs @ 50.42, 10 wickets @ 24.60

She struggled in the Charlotte Edwards Cup but  showed her class in the 50-over game, finishing the season as the second-highest run-scorer and earning her place among the top-15 bowlers. The pick of Bryce’s performances? Her 156-ball 162 against Central Sparks in round seven – the second-highest individual knock of the season – and her 4 for 16 against Northern Diamonds in round two. Deservedly the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy player of the season.

Bryony Smith (South East Stars)

252 runs @ 42, 12 wickets @ 19.33

South East Stars’ stand-in captain was one of only two players, the other being Bryce, to pass 250 runs and take 10 wickets in the 2021 tournament. Smith was also the only Stars batter to pass 200 runs, one of only two players to post multiple fifties (alongside Alice Davidson-Richards), and scored her runs at a strike rate of 102.34. She led the way with the ball as well, taking 12 wickets in six appearances, and bowled with a tidy economy of 4.43.

Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds)

212 runs @ 106, four catches, one stumping

Bess Heath only played five matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy after missing the first half of the season through injury and yet she ended the competition as Northern Diamonds’ third-highest run-scorer, behind Kalis and Ami Campbell. The 20-year-old enhanced her reputation as a middle-order wrecking ball, smashing 212 runs, including two half-centuries and 25 fours, at a strike rate of 111.57. A player to watch and, after this season’s performances, possibly the favourite to replace Amy Jones in the England set-up when the time comes.  

Beth Langston (Northern Diamonds)

141 runs @ 32.35, 13 wickets @ 20.69

Beth Langston is categorised as a bowler, and she did impress with the ball this season, taking a team-leading 13 wickets and posting an economy of 3.64. However, next year, she might find herself in the allrounder category after blasting 141 runs from just 108 balls in six innings and scoring two half-centuries. The seamer finished 2021 as Diamonds’ fifth-highest run-scorer and her 30-ball 58 against Thunder in round six will live long in the memory.

Kirstie Gordon (Lightning)

16 wickets @ 15.43

The leading wicket-taker in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, Kirstie Gordon picked up 16 wickets in 70 overs to finish two wickets clear of Thunder’s Hannah Jones and Sparks’ Issy Wong. Her economy – 3.52 – was also the seventh-best in the competition and third among players to bowl more than 50 overs. Not a bad way to respond to losing your England contract.  

Issy Wong (Central Sparks)

14 wickets @ 21.35

This XI was crying out for a specialist pace bowler and Issy Wong topped the charts in that department, taking 14 wickets and conceding just 4.68 runs per over. The pick of her performances came in round one when she took 5 for 49 against Northern Diamonds to record the first five-for of the season, and while she didn’t reach those heights again in 2021, she was always among the wickets. A huge improvement on her 2020 haul of three wickets at 35.33. Teammate Emily Arlott can consider herself unlucky to miss out after taking 11 wickets, including a magnificent five-for against Vipers, and contributing 84 lower-order runs.

^{Southern Vipers spinner Charlotte Taylor pipped Katie Levick to a spot in the XI}

Charlotte Taylor (Southern Vipers)

13 wickets @ 18.15

In 2020, Charlotte Taylor came into the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy as an injury replacement and finished the season as the leading wicket-taker, including figures of 6 for 34 in the final. This season, she went about her business quite quietly but still finished the 50-over campaign at the top of Vipers’ bowling charts, both in terms of wickets taken (13) and economy (3.27). Hard proof that her 2020 heroics were no fluke and just enough to edge Northern Diamonds' Katie Levick (12 wickets, economy 3.12) out of the XI. 

Hannah Jones (Thunder)

14 wickets @ 17.07

Like Bess Heath, a player to watch in seasons to come. Hannah Jones took second-place in the overall standings with her 14 wickets and was Thunder’s stand-out bowler in 2021. The icing on the cake for the 22-year-old? Taking her maiden List A five-for against South East Stars and posting the joint second-best figures of the season (5 for 33) in the process.