Sophia Dunkley

An aggressive batswoman and a leg-break bowler, Sophia Dunkley made her international debut in the 2018 Women’s World T20, and since then has not looked back.

She made her county debut for Middlesex and played regularly for them for the next few seasons. Dunkley was the player of the season for Middlesex in both 2017 and 2019 season. 

In the 2019 County Championship, she slammed two-centuries and ended the season as the tournament’s leading run-getter with 451 runs.

The Lambeth born played for Surrey in the Kia Super League and it was in the 2018 season where she rose to prominence, scalping 6 wickets and scoring 98 runs. Her all-round efforts ensured that the Surrey Stars clinched the 2018 Kia Super League title. 

Dunkley was added to the England squad for the 2018 Women’s World T20I squad. She made her debut against Bangladesh, but did not bat or bowl. In the following game against the Windies, she top scored for England, scoring 35 runs in a losing cause.

Post 2018 World Cup, Dunkley was in and out of the team due to poor form, but made her comeback in the England squad for their tour of Sri Lanka and India in 2019. She picked up her maiden international wicket in the second T20I match against Sri Lanka. 

In 2020, she became one of England’s first 24 professional women’s domestic cricketers to be given a central contract by the England Cricket Board.

Dunkley’s hard-hitting down the order to go along with her ability to take wickets at crucial junctures, makes her a valuable asset for the English cricket. The world has not yet seen the best of Sophia Dunkley, but it is just a matter of time before she explodes at the international level.

(As of April 21)