A West Cumbrian woman is making a career for herself in cricket – after being set on her way at the Egremont club.
All rounder Olivia Brinsden is a Lancashire Cricket graduate who recently made her first-team debut at Neston Cricket Club against Bucks Cricket in the Vitality County T20 Cup.
The 20-year-old has been a part of Lancashire’s academy since Under-14s, as one of the inaugural academy cohorts, a team she has even captained.
She has also played representative cricket for Cumbria, where she grew up, making her the first female academy graduate from the region.
Whitehaven-born, she developed with the Egremont club, reaching the first team in the Cumbria County League.
Initially, Olivia came through Cumbria’s County Age Group set-up, representing her local county from Under-13s up to Under-18s.
She’s also played for Cumbria’s first team alongside her time in Lancashire’s academy.
Cumbria players are observed through their county age group pathway, with several players having attended sessions at Emirates Old Trafford as part of the Thunder Observation sessions.
Players can progress onto Lancashire’s Emerging Player Programme (EPP) and subsequently academy group, while representing Cumbria Women’s Tier 3 team, just as Olivia has done over the last few years.
She made an excellent impression with the ball on her debut at Neston. After receiving her cap from fellow fast bowler Tara Norris, she finished with figures of 1-11 from her four overs, bowling with impressive pace and bounce.
It is not just Lancashire and Cumbria who have noticed the ability of the 20-year-old. She was part of England Under-19s T20 World Cup squad last January, alongside the likes of Davina Perrin and Tilly Corteen-Coleman.
The all-rounder is an excellent example of the success this link between Lancashire and Cumbria can have. It allows some of the best talents from the region to have the chance to progress their game at Emirates Old Trafford while playing Tier 3 cricket, thus benefitting Cumbria who get a player with her talent.
That spell on debut showcased exactly why Lancashire and Cumbria have invested in Brinsden’s talent, what the partnership between the two counties represents, and why it is so important in the game.
The ECB were heavily involved in helping to fund work at the Egremont club 13 years ago, establishing a local development centre for women and girls cricket.
Olivia’s progress in the game highlights the importance of club development/enhancement as well as of local volunteers spotting and developing talent.
The £245,000 fully-refurbished Egremont club and pathway development received £80,000 of that from the Copeland Community Fund and the progress made by Olivia has been a shining example of what is possible from such a partnership.
A spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board said: “We were delighted to help fund the Egremont Cricket Club clubhouse project and are pleased to see the club going from strength to strength, particularly as a centre for women’s and girls’ cricket.
“Investing in quality facilities which are welcoming to everyone is an important part of our work to grow cricket and make it the most inclusive team sport in the country.”
