Changes give Yorkshire Diamonds belief for latest Super League season

The Diamonds get their season underway this Sunday when they travel to Taunton to take on reigning champions Western Storm in a televised clash.

Only six players from last season’s team have survived this time around, with head coach Grayson admitting some tough decisions had to be taken.

“There are a lot of changes, and we’ve had to be a bit ruthless,” said Grayson. “At the end of last year’s campaign we said ‘We’ve got to be better, we’ve got to make some tough decisions’ – and we have.

“People may say ‘You haven’t got as many Yorkshire girls in there’. But girls have to put their claim in.”

Central to the team’s hopes of achieving what they hope will be a maiden Finals Day appearance will be their overseas signings, with Australian duo Beth Mooney and Delissa Kimmince being joined by Sri Lanka’s Chamari Atapattu.

Mooney, played for Yorkshire in 2016 while Atapattu was a regular last season. Seam bowler Kimmince will be getting her first taste of Super League.

“We are expecting all three to have a huge impact – we’re very happy with all of them,” said Grayson. “They are all strong characters and top players.”

The final member of the 15-strong Diamonds’ squad was announced earlier this week with the addition of 21-year-old leg-spinner Katie Thompson, who featured twice last season and who earlier this season took 11 wickets in six one-day games for Yorkshire women.