Fourteen-year-old Venus has had a cricket season to remember, taking an incredible 121 wickets while playing across multiple age groups and at a senior level.
The young leg-spinner, who is in Year 10 at Bradford Grammar School (BGS), has cemented her place as one of cricket’s most exciting prospects, competing with players far older than herself in the U15, U18 and women’s sides at Lancashire Cricket Club.
At the start of the season, Venus was one of four players promoted to the Thunder Academy, a regional hub for top female cricketers from Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria, following her success in the Emerging Players Programme (EPP).
Her subsequent performances earned her a call-up to the England U19 World Cup trials, where she was selected from a pool of 48 players to make the final 39. Although she narrowly missed out on the final squad for the upcoming tournament in Malaysia, her early inclusion highlights her promising potential in the sport.
“I didn’t make the U19 squad this time, but that’s only made me more determined to keep improving,” Venus said. “My goal is to play for England as soon as possible, and I’m focused on working hard to get there.”
Venus’s rise through the Lancashire pathway has been swift. She first caught the attention of coaches when she joined Esholt Cricket Club at the age of eight, and by the age of ten she was selected to play for Lancashire. Since then, she has consistently played at least two years above her age group.
She juggles her intense training schedules with life at BGS, where she plays cricket as often as possible. Venus credits the school’s support for helping her manage both her studies and cricketing ambitions. She said: “The teachers and my friends have been amazing in helping me catch up with work when I’ve missed school for cricket. It’s great to have that kind of support.”
With winter training underway, Venus is already looking ahead to next season and is determined to push for a spot in the England squad once again. “I want to go as far as I can in cricket and be the best I can be. I hope to play for England and reach the highest level possible,” she added.
“My goal is to play for England as soon as possible, and I’m focused on working hard to get there.”
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