The South East Stars have today (Friday 4 November) announced the 11 players who have secured two year professional contracts starting immediately.
Surrey’s Aylish Cranstone, Bryony Smith and Dani Gregory have all signed contract extensions and Kira Chathli receives her first full-time contract for the Stars. Alice Capsey has been rewarded for another excellent season with her first England Central Contract, alongside Sophia Dunkley.
The Stars had another very competitive year, reaching the semi-finals of both the T20 Charlotte Edwards Cup and the 50 over Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy.
The new round of contracts is an increase from the five professional contracts that were previously available and part of a £3.5 million investment from the ECB. In total, ten contracts are being funded by the increased investment in the Women’s game, seven will be funded by the ECB from 1 November with a further three from 1 February 2023.
Surrey have chosen to invest in bringing forward the start date of the second group of contracts in line with the other players as well as funding a further professional contract to bring the total number to 11.
Surrey’s Eva Gray, Chloe Brewer and Rhianna Southby are leaving the South East Stars set up with Gray and Brewer signing professional contracts with the Sunrisers and the Central Sparks respectively; Southby has joined the Southern Vipers on a winter retainer. All three will continue to be available to play for Surrey when their schedules allow it and will remain linked to the Club.
The Stars have also signed all-rounder Paige Scholfield from the Southern Vipers. Scholfield – who is also plays for Sussex – has been a regular member of the Vipers side who have reached every final of the RHF trophy as well winning this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup.
The Stars have also extended the contract of Kent’s Alice Davidson-Richards and handed out new contracts to Phoebe Franklin, Kalea Moore, Alexa Stonehouse and Ryana Macdonald-Gay (all from Kent Cricket) and Emma Jones (Essex).
Emma Calvert, Regional Director of Women’s Cricket, said: “Increasing the number of professional players is an important step for the women’s game and we are absolutely delighted to have rewarded 11 of our players with contracts. There is serious quality in this group and we will be looking to build on last year’s platform as we continue to aim to win trophies. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Eva, Chloe and Rhianna for their time at the Stars and I wish them the very best for the future.”
