"We're Ahead Of Where We Thought We'd Be" | Franklin Proud Of Foxes' Progress

Leicestershire Women Head Coach Stephen Franklin says his side are ‘ahead of schedule’ in their development as a Tier Two county, as the Foxes’ boss reflects on two buoyant T20 campaigns and outlines the ambitions for the remainder of the 2025 season.

The Foxes lost to eventual winners Middlesex at the inaugural Vitality Blast League 2 Finals Day on Saturday, having previously bowed out to Tier One powerhouse “ and champions-elect - Lancashire in the T20 County Cup quarter-finals in May. There’s no shame, Franklin says, in losing to sides of that calibre.

“To get to Finals Day was a fantastic effort,” he says. “We’ve gone toe-to-toe with two strong sides in those knockout games, and although you want to go all the way and win competitions, we can be really proud of the performances we put in.

“I think we've grown and developed considerably during these two campaigns. We've found out what a lot of different players can do and the strengths that they've got. Our batting group especially, who have learned from mistakes and worked out how to put big totals on the board. We're ahead of where we thought we'd be.”

After an impressive batting performance in the opening half of the semi-final, posting 140 for seven, conditions took a downturn during the interval. Heavy rainfall at The County Ground swung the odds in favour of the batting side, with Middlesex going on to earn victory by ten wickets on DLS.

“They had the better of the conditions,” Franklin admits. “Take nothing away from Middlesex, they batted really well, and their two openers were the best I’ve seen this season. I thought it was a decent effort to get 140 on the board but the weather changed the game.

“Our opening bowlers have often relied on movement through the air, which they didn’t get with the rain. Our spinners struggled to grip the ball, and it became like a bar of soap in the field. But looking at the bigger picture, it’s a campaign we can reflect on with immense pride.”

The standout performer throughout the Blast was batter Francesca Sweet, promoted to open after a string of impressive middle-order showings in the One Day Cup. It’s an experiment which proved incredibly lucrative, with Sweet concluding the competition as the second-leading run-scorer (296 @ 37.00).

“She’s got long levers,” Franklin jokes. “We saw in an innings during the 50-over match up at Yorkshire when Cesca hit a couple of sixes that she possessed the qualities of a T20 opener. We thought if she can hit a clean ball like that in the Powerplay of T20 cricket - where it wasn't slogging it was clean cricket hitting - she could be seriously dangerous.

“Cesca can clear the in-field easily and put bowlers on the back foot, which is always a valuable asset to have at the top of your order. She was selective on what she was trying to hit. If the ball was in her area, she just backed herself to make a good connection with it, and more often than not she executed her skillset to a tee.”

With such vast runs in her newfound role as opener, it poses a tough conundrum for Franklin and his selection group upon the side’s return to one-day cricket. Does Cesca revert back to a middle-order berth or is opening the ‘Sweet spot’?

“We need to have that conversation with Cesca to see how she feels about doing it in the longer format of the game. That ten-over Powerplay at the start of the innings will be crucial for us, so if we can have her still there at the end of those 10 overs and have 40-50 on the board, we know the team's going to be off to a good start. Ideally that's where she’ll continue now.

“Her challenge going forward will be how can she bat for longer? We want her to bat 20 overs and then bat 30 overs. If she can, who knows what score she can be on by then.”

With Leicestershire making the switch back to 50-over cricket this weekend, Franklin has been clear on what he wants to see from his squad in the remaining five group stage games. With the loan market a possibility, the Foxes’ boss is adamant he first wants to examine the depths of his own squad and allow players the opportunity to stake their claim.

“We've spoken to the squad and said ‘if you're in the side, it's your job to maintain your position by doing what the team needs’. And if you're not in the team, it's about working hard to put the pressure on the players that have got the shirt and take your chance when you get it. Those opportunities will present themselves in these five games.

“We don't want players to feel like they're under pressure, but ultimately that’s what semi-professional and professional cricket is. It's about performing consistently whenever you get the opportunity, and that might only be one chance “ but you've got to grasp it with both hands.

“Cesca and Lucy Weston are prime examples of that. Lucy had one chance to bowl and took four wickets first time. She's worked hard to change herself from a seam bowler to an off-spinner and she seized her moment in that Worcestershire game to become a valuable bowling option for the rest of the campaign. We want players to make it as difficult as possible for us as a selection group.”

Fellow Finals Day semi-finalists Glamorgan await at Neath on Saturday. A side preparing for life as a Tier One county in 18 months’ time, Franklin knows this weekend’s contest will be a stern examination of his side’s credentials.

“It’ll be a very, very tough game,” he admits. “Glamorgan have some highly talented cricketers in their ranks. They've got an ex-international cricketer [former New Zealand star Rachel Priest] as Head Coach, which gives them a lot of experience and advice. So, they're going to be well organised.

“We just need to make sure we bring our A-game and stick to what we do really well. It seems a long time ago since we last played a 50-over game but if we take the strong elements and the confidence in our blueprint from T20 cricket into this weekend, we’ll be well set. We’re looking forward to it.”