Leicestershire Quartet Retained By Blaze Academy

Leicestershire Women quartet Flora Davies, D’Nica Roff, Prisha Thanawala, and Brianna Ray have all been retained by The Blaze Academy for the 2024 season.

Davies, Roff and Thanawala will continue with the Academy, while Ray is set to be part of Blaze’s transition group.

Davies, who won Blaze’s Academy Player of the Year award, scored 317 runs at 22.64 for the side last summer, with the 15-year-old enjoying a fruitful 50-over campaign “ averaging 43 with a top score of 83 against Thunder Academy.

South African-born Roff picked up 13 wickets at 18.15, bested by returns of 4/42 against Sunrisers Academy with her big-turning leg-spin.

Thanawala, who set a club record score of 206* for Leicestershire U15s in 2022, recorded 146 runs at 13.27 and took 11 wickets at 16.45 for The Blaze last summer.

Bermudan quick Ray, who captained the Academy at times during 2023, scored 80 runs and took three wickets in the early part of the season before a stress fracture suffered in July truncated her summer.

Heather Beattie, Women and Girls Pathway and Coach Development Lead, said: “It’s brilliant to see four of our young players recognised for their talent and efforts last season.

“All four have worked tirelessly to develop their game and we are confident they will continue to perform and progress for both Leicestershire and The Blaze again in 2024.”