Linsey Smith leaves Northern Diamonds for Southern Vipers

Smith began her career with the Vipers in the Kia Super League, taking 13 wickets in 11 appearances

Linsey Smith has left Northern Diamonds to join Southern Vipers.

The 27-year-old spinner, who has been capped nine times by England, began her career with the Vipers in the Kia Super League, picking up 13 wickets in 11 appearances.

She later moved to Loughborough Lightning (2018) and Yorkshire Diamonds (2019) before being recruited by Northern Diamonds following the regional restructuring of women's domestic cricket.

Smith made 19 List A appearances for Northern Diamonds, scoring 178 runs and taking 29 wickets, and lifted the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in 2022. She contributed 66 runs and a team-leading 13 wickets to their victorious campaign.

^{Smith (centre) represented Southern Vipers during the KSL [Mike Hewitt/Getty Images]}

In the Charlotte Edwards Cup, she scored 98 runs and took 18 wickets in 14 appearances.

Throughout her career, Smith has also represented Berkshire, Sussex, Northern Superchargers and WBBL side Melbourne Stars.

Commenting on Smith’s return, Southern Vipers' regional director of women's cricket, Adam Carty, said: "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 whilst being a fine inner ring fielder.

"We've endured some tough battles with her and the Diamonds in the recent past, and I am really heartened that future tussles with our respected northern opponents will see Linsey in orange and black rather than the two-tone blue! It's great to have her back at the team she started her career with."

Northern Diamonds' director of cricket, James Carr, added: "Linsey's one hell of a competitor. She's an absolute firecracker who can carry people with her.

“She's developed her batting to be an allrounder and, with the ball, almost single-handedly dismantled the Southern Vipers' batting during the last two weeks of the summer. We're sad to see her go, but what a way to go!"

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