Grace Ballinger, Teresa Graves and Josie Groves earn contracts with The Blaze

Ella Claridge, Beth Harmer, Michaela Kirk and Cassidy McCarthy have all signed summer retainers

Grace Ballinger, Teresa Graves and Josie Groves have been awarded professional contracts with The Blaze ahead of the 2023 season.

The trio, who have been on winter retainers at Trent Bridge, join Georgie Boyce, Sophie Munro, Marie Kelly, Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce, Kirstie Gordon and Lucy Higham on full-time contracts.

In October 2022, the ECB announced a £3.5m funding increase for women's domestic cricket and promised that every region would have 10 ECB-funded professionals from February 2023.

A further four players – Ella Claridge, Beth Harmer, Michaela Kirk and Cassidy McCarthy – have signed summer retainers with the region.

Ballinger, a left-arm seamer, impressed in 2022 with nine wickets and also featured for London Spirit in The Hundred.

^{Josie Groves (right) [Tony Marshall/Getty Images]}

Graves has been a regular performer for the region since 2020, making 16 List A appearances and a further 11 T20 appearances. In the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the allrounder has scored 251 runs and taken 14 wickets while in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, she has contributed 79 runs and three wickets.

Groves, a product of the Lightning academy, made her senior debut for the East Midlands side last season and went on to take eight wickets in eight appearances. The teenage was recently involved with England Under-19s at the 2023 Under-19s Women's T20 World Cup, taking three wickets. 

"Grace, Teresa and Josie have all worked really hard since our move to Trent Bridge, and prior to that at Loughborough, so it's really pleasing to reward them with this opportunity," said head coach, Chris Guest.

"Grace has a point of difference with her action, her skills with the new ball are impressive and she has added a yard of a pace this winter.

"Teresa, meanwhile, is a consummate professional; she is really consistent with the ball and is a multi-dimensional batter. Both of those elements put pressure on the opposition.

"And Josie has shown everyone what she can do whilst in England colours at the Under-19 T20 World Cup. She executes one of the hardest skills in cricket with her leg spin, is a capable batter and a strong all-round athlete."

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