Middlesex’s T20 captain, Natasha Miles, has signed for her second season with Lancashire Thunder in the Kia Super League. We talked to our opening bat to discuss the inaugural KSL and preview this season.
How did playing for Lancashire Thunder in the inaugural KSL come about?
I think they looked at the postcode that was North West London and put me in North West England. Joking aside, they send out some feelers to players they wanted to be involved in and I obviously took the opportunity with both hands. From there, they split up the county players into the different set-ups and the North West joke makes more sense now. I said yes and I was really excited about playing up there because I knew a few of the girls.
What was it like playing alongside internationals Amy Satterthwaite, Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews?
Absolutely incredible. What they brought to the team is something you don’t get often. Satterthwaite’s knowledge is just incredible. I would just sit and ask her everything I possibly could about anything. It’s refreshing to hear someone from a different country’s point of view on how they go about things. If you just play with people from England you tend to find you have similar approaches. Dottin and Hayley were just really fun to have around. They have that West Indian free spirit and were really chill and they hit the ball so incredibly hard – it’s insane. I was stood behind the net because I didn’t want to get hit.
Thunder have again signed Satterthwaite who will be joined by White Ferns’ teammate Lea Tahuhu and Australian spinner Jess Jonassen. What are you looking forward to learning from them this year?
It’s just fun to see how they go about their cricket. It’s always fun to learn and watch players of their talent play such a short format of the game where they have to compress all their knowledge into a short space of time.
What are your aims both personally and as a team this season?
Personally I’d like to make an impact and play a few games – even if I’m just fielding for 20 overs. Stop runs, take catches and be a positive influence. As a team, we know we’re capable of doing a lot better than we did last year – we came bottom. With the players we have we’re more than capable of coming in the top three for finals day.
Who are you most looking forward to playing with?
I can’t pick one - they all bring their own personalities to the game which are fun in a different way.
Lancashire Thunder has lots of England Academy players, who do you think are some of the most exciting prospects for England?
Sophie Ecclestone has already proven herself on the international stage, Lamby [Emma Lamb] and Jones [Evelyn Jones] at the top of the order have done well at county [for Lancashire]. They’re all very talented and young so they’re going to come in and challenge the England girls in due course.
You were on the MCC Young Cricketers’ programme alongside Sarah Taylor, and were housemates for a few seasons. What will it be like playing alongside her again?
It’s always fun to take the field with her – it’s been a while. I’m excited she’s had such a good World Cup. It’s just fantastic for her to bounce back the way she has done – she’s an incredible personality and it’s good to see her with a smile back on her face, on the field and scoring runs where she’s comfortable.
What was the biggest challenge of joining the Lancashire Thunder – a squad predominately consisting of Lancashire county players?
The only challenge was the travel – they were incredibly welcoming and I felt like I’d always played with the squad. It was good because I already knew a few of the girls like Crossy [Kate Cross] and Danni Wyatt [playing for Southern Vipers this season].
Do you still have aims to play international cricket with Hong Kong or England?
It always sits in the back of your mind but it’s not something that’s pressing to me. I’ve been and gone through that process and done as well as I could have done at the time. If it comes up and I do well enough it’s a passion and I’d say yes in a heartbeat, but if it doesn’t I have many passions outside of cricket I’m enjoying pursuing.
Lancashire Thunder’s first match is against Yorkshire Diamonds at Headingly on Friday 11th August.
