Leicestershire Women Re-Sign Australian Superstar Piepa Cleary

Leicestershire Women have announced they are signing Australian bowler Piepa Cleary for the second year running.

The 27-year-old became the Foxes' maiden overseas player last summer and made an instant impact taking four wickets at an average of 10.5 in her three games including a best of 3-4 in a T20 match at Uptonsteel County Ground against the National Asian Cricket Council.

The bowler has made herself available for six games of the Women’s County T-20 competition as well as the possibility of a couple of One-Day appearances.

She is set to make her return in a T20 double header against Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire on Sunday the 26th of May.

Cleary has plenty of white ball experience, playing in the WBBL, the main White ball competition in Australia, taking 56 wickets in all at 26.42.

She was also part of the winning Perth Scorchers team in WBBL07.

Her time playing in the UK includes playing in the inaugural year of the Hundred for the Welsh Fire in 2021 as well as some time with Lancashire.

The Pace Bowler also featured for The Blaze in 2022, (Previously known as the Lightning) and The Western Storm in 2023.

This wealth of experience will hopefully Bolster the Leicestershire Women’s attack in this year’s Women’s County T20.

Stephen Franklin, who is the Head coach for the Leicestershire women’s team highlighted that the main thing Piepa Cleary provides is her experience as a professional.

He said: â€œIn that one 45 over game, the players learned so much from just how she goes around setting fields, going about bowling and the tactical side.”

“Just the experience from the professional game bearing in mind they very rarely get to play with full time professional cricketers, and we can continue to build upon that this year.”

See Piepa's return to the Uptonsteel County Ground HERE as part of a T20 double header on Friday the 14th of June when Leicestershire Women take on East Midlands rivals Notts Outlaws before Leicestershire Men attempt to strike against the Lancashire Lightning.