Sapphires (Super Fours)

Last updated

Sapphires
Personnel
Captain Charlotte Edwards (2013)
Heather Knight (2011–2012)
Alexia Walker (2008)
Rosalie Birch (2007)
Laura Newton (2004–2006)
Clare Taylor (2002–2003)
Team information
Colours  Dark blue
Established2002
History
SF50 wins3
SFT20 wins4

Sapphires, previously known as V Team, were an English women's cricket team that competed in the Super Fours. The squad varied from season to season, but was made up of some of the top players in English cricket. They were captained by various England players, such as Clare Taylor, Laura Newton and Heather Knight. They won seven Super Fours titles in their history: three 50-over tournaments and four Twenty20 tournaments.

Contents

History

2002–2005: V Team

The Super Fours was established in 2002 as a way of bridging the gap between women's county cricket and international cricket, bringing together the top players in England. [1] V Team was one of the teams established, and was captained by Clare Taylor. They finished 3rd in the first 50 over tournament that took place, winning 3 out of 6 games. [2] After finished 4th in 2003, [3] V Team quickly became a strong side in the Super Fours, winning both the 50 over and the newly-established Twenty20 tournament in 2004. [4] They won the Twenty20 tournament again a year later in 2005, going unbeaten to top the group. [5]

2006–2013: Sapphires

In 2006 the team was renamed Sapphires and continued their form, winning their second 50 over title, with batter Claire Taylor finishing the season as leading run-scorer. They claimed another 50 over title in 2008, as well as two more Twenty20 titles, in 2011 and 2013. [6] [7] [8] Sapphires therefore ended the Super Fours as the most successful side, with 7 titles.

Seasons

Super Fours

SeasonLeague standingsNotes
PWLTAPtsPos
2002 63300363rd
2003 61401124th
2004 63210511stChampions
2005 62310363rd
2006 64220741stChampions
2007 60501114th
2008 63120741stChampions
2011 20200No overall standings
2012 21100No overall standings
2013 21100No overall standings

Super Fours Twenty20

YearPlayedWinsLossesTiedNRStanding
2004 22000Beat Braves in the final
2005 330001st in group
2006 21100Lost to Diamonds in the final
2007 Tournament Abandoned
2008 21100Won 3rd place play-off
2011 22000Beat Rubies in the final
2012 21100Lost to Rubies in the final
2013 22000Beat Emeralds in the final

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The Super Fours was a women's limited overs cricket competition which was played annually in England between 2002 and 2013, with a break in 2009 and 2010. Designed to bring together the leading 48 players in English women's cricket, it originally composed solely of a 50-over tournament, but in 2004 a Twenty20 competition was added. The tournament, which was created to bridge the gap in quality between the Women's County Championship and international cricket, first featured overseas players in 2008, when Australians Alex Blackwell and Leah Poulton were invited to take part. The competition was not held in 2009 or 2010 due to a busy international schedule caused primarily by the ICC World Twenty20.

Linsey Claire Neale Smith is an English cricketer who plays for Sussex, Southern Vipers and Northern Superchargers. A slow left-arm orthodox bowler, she originally played for Berkshire before moving to Sussex ahead of the 2017 season. In October 2018, she was named in the England women's cricket team squad for the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 tournament, and made her Women's Twenty20 International cricket (WT20I) debut in the tournament against Bangladesh.

The 2005 Super Fours was the fourth cricket Super Fours season. It took place in June and July and saw 4 teams compete in a 50 over league and a Twenty20 league. Knight Riders won the 50 over league, achieving their second title, whilst V Team won the Twenty20 league, also achieving their second title in the format, and their second in two years.

The 2006 Super Fours was the fifth cricket Super Fours season. It took place from May to July and saw 4 teams compete in a 50 over league and a Twenty20 knockout tournament. The competing teams were renamed from the 2005 season, with Braves, Knight Riders, Super Strikers and V Team becoming Rubies, Diamonds, Emeralds and Sapphires, respectively. Sapphires won the 50 over league, whilst Diamonds beat Sapphires in the final of the Twenty20 tournament.

The 2007 Super Fours was the sixth cricket Super Fours season. It took place in June and July and saw 4 teams compete in a 50 over league. A Twenty20 tournament was also scheduled, but abandoned due to rain. Rubies won the tournament, winning all of their matches to claim their second title.

The 2008 Super Fours was the seventh cricket Super Fours season. It took place from May to July and saw 4 teams compete in a 50 over league and a Twenty20 knockout tournament. Sapphires won the 50 over tournament, achieving their third 50 over title, whilst Rubies won the Twenty20 tournament, claiming their first title in the format.

The 2004 Super Fours was the third cricket Super Fours season. It took place in May and June and saw 4 teams compete in a 50 over league and, for the first time, a knockout Twenty20 tournament. V Team were the winners of both tournaments.

The 2011 Super Fours was the eighth cricket Super Fours season. This was the first time the competition had been played since 2008, having been cancelled in 2009 and 2010 due to a busy international schedule. It took place in May and saw 4 teams compete in 50 over and Twenty20 matches. There was no overall winner in the 50 over tournament, whilst Sapphires won the Twenty20 tournament, their third title in the format.

The 2013 Super Fours was the tenth cricket Super Fours season. It took place in June and saw 4 teams compete in 50 over and Twenty20 matches. The four teams that competed in previous years were condensed into three, and Leicestershire and Rutland Under-16 Boys replaced Diamonds. There was no overall winner in the 50 over tournament, whilst Sapphires won the Twenty20 tournament, their fourth title in the format.

Diamonds, previously known as Knight Riders, were an English women's cricket team that competed in the Super Fours. The squad varied from season to season, but was made up of some of the top players in English cricket. They were usually captained by Charlotte Edwards. They won three Super Fours titles in their history: two 50-over tournaments and one Twenty20 tournament.

Emeralds, previously known as Super Strikers, were an English women's cricket team that competed in the Super Fours. The squad varied from season to season, but was made up of some of the top players in English cricket. They were captained by various England players, including Claire Taylor and Arran Brindle. They were the only Super Fours side to never win a competition.

Rubies, previously known as Braves, were an English women's cricket team that competed in the Super Fours. The squad varied from season to season, but was made up of some of the top players in English cricket. They were captained by Clare Connor for their first four seasons, and were subsequently captained by various England players such as Lydia Greenway. They won four Super Fours titles in their history: two 50-over tournaments and two Twenty20 tournaments.

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References

  1. "Super Fours gives women step up". BBC Sport. 16 May 2002. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  2. "Super Fours 2002 Table". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  3. "Super Fours 2003 Table". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  4. "Super Fours Twenty20 2004". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  5. "Super Fours Twenty20 2005". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  6. "Super Fours 2008 Table". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  7. "Super Fours Twenty20 2011". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  8. "Super Fours Twenty20 2013". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 26 January 2021.