Fran returns to Western Storm

Western Storm are delighted to be able to announce that former England international, Fran has returned to the team.

The 29-year-old was a key element of Western Storm’s success during the four years of the KIA Super League and returns to the region following a spell with Sunrisers.

“I’m really excited to be back,” she said. “The South West is home for me, so when my time with England came to an end I gave some real thought to where I wanted to be. It just made sense for me to come back to my roots. I can’t wait to be back and to get stuck into the challenge.

“Obviously, I’ve been elsewhere recently but it feels like I’m coming home. I see my role as helping to develop talent and I’m really passionate about doing that in the region that I’m from. There’s nothing quite like cricket in the West Country. It’s such a great place to be playing the game because of the fanbase that we have and the support that we get.”

The former Somerset batter featured in 36 KSL matches for Western Storm, amassing 560 runs, and it’s a team that holds a special place in her heart.

“The setup at Western Storm is amazing,” she explained. “Credit for that has to go to the likes of Lisa Pagett and Trevor Griffin. They helped to put together an incredible programme. It didn’t just focus on the elite game, there was a real focus on the grassroots game too.”

Fran recently announced her retirement from international cricket following a successful career that saw her make 64 appearances for England across an 11-year period. She played in three World Cups and was a part of the England squad that lifted the trophy at Lord’s in 2017.