Sophie and Trevor look ahead to the new season

With the start of the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy just one day away, we sat down with Western Storm Head Coach, Trevor Griffin and Captain, Sophie Luff to get their thoughts on the season ahead.

Are you looking forward to getting back out on the field?

Trevor Griffin: “We’re all incredibly excited that the season is just around the corner. There’s a bit of frustration due to the pre-season programme being washed out, but the girls are in a great place. They’ve trained incredibly well this winter and have put in a big shift from a physical perspective. We’re looking fitter and stronger than ever.

“We have a young group and that brings a certain freshness and excitement. They have a fearless approach to playing and nothing sees to phase them.

“2023 will be a period of transition for us, but that brings with it a number of positives. I think we have a number of players who will stand out this year. The likes of Dani Gibson and Alex Griffiths are still young but have a huge amount of experience that dates back to the KSL days.”

Sophie Luff: “It’s come around pretty quickly because we haven’t really played any pre-season games because of the weather. I know that the girls are ready to get out there and show what they can do.

“We’ve got a really exciting group. It’s a young squad and that brings a different energy. Everyone’s just desperate to get going. It’s a long season this year and we want to hit the ground running. We need to build on last year and be as consistent as we can. If we can take the learnings from last year and build on those then it will stand us in good stead.”

Dani Gibson has been named as vice captain. What will she bring to the role?

TG: “One of the reasons is player development. I’ve been really impressed with Dani over the winter. She’s played a big role in gelling a new and young group together, and we want to try and develop that leadership within her. There’s also an element of looking to the future. Sophie Luff has been our captain since 2020 and has done a terrific job and we need to have something in place for when she decides to call it a day. We have a duty to be helping make leaders of our younger players.

“This will also give Fran, who was in the role previously, the opportunity to concentrate on her own game and carry out her new role as the leader of our player leadership group. She’s already got her teeth stuck into that role and I’m excited to see how Fran can develop this element of our structure. She is a model professional, and her experience and knowledge will be vital for us both on and off the field.”

SL: “Dani will bring some really good ideas. She’s a very good player in her own right and I’m really excited to have her alongside me. She will really help the bowling group and will lead the attack by example.”

How much are you looking forward to playing at Somerset, Gloucestershire and Glamorgan?

TG: “Western Storm covers a vast region, from North Wales to the tip of Cornwall and everything in between. To be able to play at the three First Class grounds in the region is something that we’re very proud of. The support that we get in those venues is phenomenal. The crowds that come to watch us and gives us that energy through thick and thin is something that the players feed off and they certainly extremely grateful for.”

SL: “It’s always good to get across the region and to play our home games in front of a wide audience. That’s the brilliant thing about Western Storm. We feel really connected to the three counties and that enables us to get cricket to a good and varied audience.

“As a Somerset girl I’m excited to be playing at Taunton, and everyone is looking forward to the double headers at Somerset, Glamorgan and Gloucestershire later in the year. It’s always a proud moment for the girls to walk out at the ground that they consider to be their home ground.”

What will constitute success for Western Storm in 2023?

TG: “We’re quite clear where we want to be going in the next two years because there is an element of rebuilding. I only came back to Storm in July last year and we’ve had personnel changes both on and off the field.

“For me, success this year will be for us to be competing in every single game and aiming for finals in both competitions. That’s what we’re working towards. Success will also be having players break into England squads or England A squads or being selected to go on tours during the winter.

“Whatever happens we’ll be going out there to win every game that we play.”

SL: “We want to build on last year. We’ve got a young squad, as has already been mentioned, but we all want to be as successful as possible. We want to win games of cricket in the here and now, but we have long term ambitions in mind and this year will help us build towards those.”