Sophia Smale concluded the previous season's Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy on a high note and begins this one with ambitious goals.
She has already achieved a half-century as opener and two wickets for Western Storm, although in a losing cause against Thunder. This was followed by a 30-ball 32 batting at No. 8 and 2 for 38 in another defeat, to Central Sparks. It was the result of dedicated training in her batting technique following her return from South Africa, where she represented England's Under-19 Women's side in the inaugural age group T20 World Cup, where they finished runners-up to India.
Smale informed ESPNcricinfo during a recent tour with the England U19s in Sri Lanka:
"That 50 was probably a big score. It was also just a big point to prove. I came back up the order and then I think a lot of people weren't sure and almost thought of me as middle order. So I definitely think that was a good time to score runs.”
During her recent visit to Sri Lanka for a tri-series involving the hosts and Australia's Under-19s, she demonstrated her bowling prowess with five wickets across three T20s, including an impressive 3 for 19 against Australia, which helped England secure the top spot in the table.
Despite this success, both of England's 50-over matches ended in defeat, showcasing the team's resilience. Smale's contributions were noteworthy, with three wickets and 33 runs across both matches.
Following an impressive season with the Oval Invincibles in 2022, where she took five wickets at an average of 21.60 and an economy rate of 7.20, she returned last year with eight wickets at 18.25 and 6.25. She is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most prominent figures in the sport, including prolific Sri Lanka opener and captain Chamari Athapaththu, who will be joining the Invincibles this year.
At Western Storm, she has taken the opportunity to gain insights from England captain Heather Knight. While they have not discussed senior international prospects, Smale plans to be the type of player that Knight has been advocating for, namely a player who will "dominate" domestic cricket.
The importance of a robust domestic season was underscored this week when the ECB unveiled the eight teams that will compete at the pinnacle of a revamped competition in 2025. Somerset, which supplies players to Storm, was among the eight teams selected while neighbouring Gloucestershire was not. Another feeder county, Glamorgan in Smale's native Wales, will have to wait until at least 2027 for inclusion in the top flight. This means that players from all regions are competing for fewer places at the highest level from next year, which may result in players having to relocate.
However, before the successful team bids were announced, Smale stated that it was a "great time" to be a female cricketer in England and Wales. She recognised the opportunity she had upon finishing school to pursue cricket as a career.