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Spin specialist Charlotte Taylor’s Hampshire County CC journey ends




FORMER New Milton Cricket Club member and professional cricket player Charlotte Taylor has left Hampshire County CC after 15 years.

The spin-bowler – the leading wicket-taker in the 2020 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy competition despite missing half the tournament – is leaving after a restructure meant her team was scrapped.

At the end of the 2024 season, following reforms to the structure of women’s domestic cricket, the Southern Vipers team was effectively replaced by a professionalised Hampshire team.

New Milton's Charlotte Taylor bowling for the Southern Vipers (picture: Dave Vokes)
New Milton's Charlotte Taylor bowling for the Southern Vipers (picture: Dave Vokes)

Former Arnewood School pupil Taylor, who took six wickets to lead her side to the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Edgbaston in 2021, said: “Reflecting on the last 15 years, I feel immensely proud of myself to have been fortunate enough to represent my home county and region for as long as I have done and to have achieved my childhood dream of being a professional cricketer.

“I have made some great friends, great memories and even some good performances (from time to time) across the years.

“I have won trophies, dropped catches, gotten run out, won games for my team and even gained a life partner.”

After losing in the final of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in 2022, they won the tournament for the third time in 2023 before the restructure.

Charlotte Taylor with the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy
Charlotte Taylor with the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy

She added: “Wearing these shirts has given me a belonging that will be hard to match.

“I cannot thank the people I need to in one post, but – to everyone who’s been a part of my journey from the beginning to the end – thank you so much!

“I really can’t begin to sum up the emotion I feel having to close this chapter of my life but I am hopeful to begin a new and exciting one in 2025.

“And to all that think my arm balls are a thing of the past, I will be back!”

Charlotte Taylor with her partner Rhianna Southby at wicketkeeper
Charlotte Taylor with her partner Rhianna Southby at wicketkeeper

Taylor is now pursuing a career in coaching and commentating on women’s and men’s cricket after previously commentating on several Hampshire CC championship games and plenty of Southern Vipers games.

First, she will fly to Melbourne to support her partner, Rhianna Southby, who will play for Box Hill CC this winter.

Taylor’s start was far from plain sailing after suffering a potentially career-ending cruciate ligament tear in 2017. However, after battling back to full fitness, she earned a recall by Hursley Park before Vipers’ coach and former England captain Charlotte Edwards called her up.



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