Golden Girls

Georgia Adams, captain of the Southern Vipers women’s cricket team, knows more than a little about how tough it is to make it to the top of the game. She talked to us exclusively about her fascinating journey, inspiring a new generation of female cricketers and the importance of team support.

Think of the most quintessentially British sport and cricket probably tops that list. It’s often been dubbed the ‘gentleman’s game’, but the last few years of women’s success on the pitch have completely turned that stereotype on its head. The England women’s team has been one of our country’s biggest sporting success stories, reaching the pinnacle of sporting glory when they won the 2017 World Cup, sharing their victory with a sell-out crowd and millions of viewers at home. However, beyond the silverware, Georgia Adams knows just how significant that title was for her team and the many other talented female cricketers following her into the game. “That win, on home soil at Lords, was a crucial turning point for our game,” she says. “England fans are so patriotic, they really got behind us, and the attention created a vital shift.”

“There’s no bigger buzz than scoring your first century”

Georgia Adams

“It opened the door for more media coverage, investment and sponsorship opportunities – all things we’d never really had before, but have been working towards for years.”

The win also made stars of the players, setting the team up as role models and inspiring a new generation of girls to take up the sport, again, something that Georgia lacked as an ambitious youngster. “Sussex Cricket Club, where dad played (former first-class England cricketer Chris Adams), was like a backyard for me, and I loved having a hit with the boys in the nets or outfield. There was never any pressure on me—it was all fun back then but I always knew I wanted to play, I was just the only girl.” Clare Connor, the current ECB MD for Women’s Cricket, was one of few people who paved the way for Georgia, setting her up for trials with Sussex. “It was the first time I’d seen girls play; I’d never had any exposure to it before. It was such an eye-opener and I knew then that I wanted to play professionally—and for England.”

Georgia worked tirelessly towards her goal, finding support along the way from other female cricketers battling alongside her to raise the profile of the game. “Alongside Clare, as England Captains, Heather Knight and Charlotte Edwards have done so much to move women’s cricket forward and I’ve learnt a great deal from both; the sport owes them a huge debt.”

Georgia also credits her teammates with helping to steer her through some tough times as her career has progressed. “Sometimes it can feel like the game is eating you alive, but it’s the challenge that keeps you coming back—there’s no bigger buzz than scoring your first century—and that drive is something we all share. Vipers has various characters, and many of us are at different stages of our careers, but we pull each other through. The team lows are so low, but the highs make it all worthwhile, and we have plenty of fun along the way.”

The future looks bright

As the women’s game has evolved, Georgia has been pleased to see that player support has improved, too. “We have so many more avenues of support now, including access to psychologists and coaches who help with everything, from dealing with poor mental health to social media scrutiny; it’s a huge improvement from when I started.” Georgia concludes, “There is more excitement about the women’s game than ever before, and seeing the enthusiasm of the girls I’m coaching, from 11-year-olds to 16-year-olds, is so rewarding – the future for them looks very bright.”

Team Talk

What does being a cricketer mean to you?

We are incredibly lucky to be able to call our hobby our job. I couldn’t ask for a more fun and enjoyable job where you get the opportunity to travel the world, play in different conditions and make great friendships along the way.

Freya Davies

How important is your coach for the game?

“I feel that a strong coach to player relationship is such an important area of performance sport. Having a coach who has an understanding of how you operate with the ability to adapt to different individuals is so crucial, something which our current coach Charlotte Edwards does brilliantly. There are so many different facets to coaching cricket in terms of technical skills within each discipline, as well as the instrumental tactical skills required.”

Emily Windsor

Where do you want to be in 5 years time?

My overall ambition in 5 years time would absolutely be to represent England. But in the meantime, my main goal is to continue working hard on my skills and my game. I have ambitions to bat higher up the order for my domestic teams, and aim to contribute as much as I can to winning trophies for the Southern Vipers and the Southern Brave in the Hundred.

Rhianna Southby

Keeping up tradition. The players enjoy a luxury afternoon tea in the Orangery restaurant