TWO PLAYERS from Rockingham Cricket Club have been selected for Yorkshire under 18s girls’ squad.

Izzy Fidler and Maiya Charlesworth, both 15, were the top two run–scorers for Yorkshire CCC in the girls’ age groups last season while Izzy was the leading wicket-keeper.

They also open the batting for Rockingham’s junior and women’s teams while their record stand together is 242 for Rock against Sessay in the ECB National under 15 Twenty20 Cup.

Women’s cricket, from this coming summer, has gone back to the counties rather than regions, so now mirrors the men’s game with Yorkshire women’s senior players full-time professionals.

Maiya is in the Yorkshire Academy and Izzy in the Yorkshire Emerging Player Programme, both of which have 11 players in them. The under 18s squad contains 18 players.

Batting all-rounder Maiya is currently studying for her GCSEs at Penistone Grammar School.

She said: “I have been playing cricket for Yorkshire since I was ten and I’m really proud to have been selected for the new Yorkshire Women’s academy as well as being in the under 18 county team.

“I’m already working hard in training three times a week with the coaching team to improve my all-round game.

“I am looking forward to playing some academy games against other tier one sides when the season starts and hopefully contributing to our runs and taking a few wickets.”

Izzy’s granddad Michael Fidler was on the books of Barnsley FC during the 1960s as a young player where he was coached by club legend Norman Rimmington.

She said: “I love playing for Yorkshire and to make this year’s under 18 squad is great because there was lots of competition for places.

“I’m part of the emerging player programme as well so hopefully I’ll get a chance to play some academy games too this season.

“It’s hard work and I train about three times per week with county, club or school, but it’s worth it.

“Being a wicket-keeper means I’m involved in the game all the time, but I enjoy doing that and I also think it helps with my batting.”