Surrey Stars Preview: Stars set to shine

 

The Captain

Sciver is an attacking batter and is innovative in the areas she scores around the ground. With an ability to hit big and with home games on a compact Guildford ground the Surrey Stars captain could be at the top of the six-hitting leaderboard.

 

The overseas internationals

Lizelle Lee is another big hitter at the top of the Surrey Stars order. In the recent ODI series against England, Lee was the pick of the South African batters and when she gets a start then you can ensure that the boundaries are under threat.

Marizanne Kapp, the South African fast bowling allrounder, is an economical bowler and makes it difficult for batters to get a grip on games. Add the fact that she will play in the middle order makes her an important player in the Surrey Stars line-up.

Dane van Niekerk is a leg-spinning allrounder. At last years world cup, van Niekerk took four wickets against West Indies without conceding a run. This is van Niekerk’s second season with Surrey Stars as she played for Loughborough Lightning in the first season. As captain of South Africa, van Niekerk probably under bowls herself. A confident batter who will score her fair share of runs for her side.

 

The England internationals

Sarah Taylor, the England wicketkeeper, joins Surrey Stars this season. With a move nearer to home seen as a sensible idea by many she makes the swap with Alex Hartley who moves to Lancashire Thunder. Taylor is one of the world’s top batters and is the world’s best wicketkeeper as well. The speed of her hands and the ability to keep up to the stumps against pace bowlers is one of her major skills.

Laura Marsh is an off-spinning all-rounder. Having previously been a seam bowler Marsh generates more pace and bowls flatter than most spinners, but it gets results. Marsh is a handy batter in this format and may just make the difference between Surrey Stars winning games and losing them.

Bryony Smith is an exciting prospect. Regarded as a future opener for England who made her England debut in the T20 tri-series in India in April. Where she will bat is yet to be confirmed as like most teams in the Kia Super League the opening spots in the batting order are keenly sought after.

 

The best of the rest

Sophia Dunkley one of the best prospects in the England Academy side and the Middlesex all-rounder cannot be too far away from making the senior England side. A batter not afraid to take the attack to the opposition she could be the explosive quality her side needs.

Gayatri Gole, the young Middlesex bowler, will turn 20 during the tournament is an opening bowler who plays for the current county T20 champions. She will take a lot of confidence into the Kia Super League.

 

Squad

Nat Sciver (c), Lizelle Lee, Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk, Sarah Taylor, Laura Marsh, Aylish Cranstone, Sophia Dunkley Grace Gibbs, Hannah Jones, Bryony Smith, Rhianna Suothby, Eve Gray, Maddie Villiers, Gayatri Gole