An important year for the [East Midlands'] The Blaze as they transition to a new more inline identity with their new base, currently under-wraps.
Will it be Nottinghamshire Blaze, or Nottinghamshire and Chesterfield Blaze, or even Notts Outlaws Women (something the club would want us to regard them as, regardless of their nomenclature)
23/09
Pravda:
Members and supporters will have two opportunities to celebrate the unprecedented success of The Blaze during Nottinghamshire’s final Rothesay County Championship fixture of the season against Yorkshire.
In securing the Metro Bank One Day Cup on Saturday, The Blaze became the first women’s team to ever complete the domestic treble, having already won the T20 County Cup and Vitality Blast as part of a clean sweep of first-team honours.
At lunch on Thursday 24 September (scheduled for 12.30pm), Head Coach Craig Cumming and assistants Luke Fletcher and Simon Guy will take part in a Q&A for members in The Clubhouse, located in the Derek Randall Suite.
Members will also be able to have their photo taken with the trophies, with all three pieces of silverware on display.
Sunday’s lunch break, meanwhile (27 September, scheduled for 12.30pm), will see The Blaze’s players and support staff conduct a lap of honour with the trophies around the Trent Bridge outfield.
Kirstie Gordon’s side secured their first silverware of the season by thrashing Durham to win the Vitality Blast in July.
August saw the team cruise to victory over Surrey to win the T20 County Cup, before a nerve-shredding Metro Bank One Day Cup Final against Hampshire also ended with The Blaze victorious.
Several members of the treble-winning squad were also part of the Trent Rockets setup this summer, winning the women’s competition and The Hundred Helix, awarded to the best-performing team across the men’s and women’s competition.
2026 members can enjoy entry to this week’s fixture by showing their membership card at the gate, and can secure a free ticket for a guest to join them for one of the four days of the Notts game.
20/09
Congratulations to the Blaze on completing a treble of trophy victories. Now the winding up of the East Midlands franchise is due, if CEOs and Chair Hunt are to be believed.
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| Which was the greater number: the supporters or the squad and backroom staff? |
So has the The Blaze experiment been a success?
On the field yes, if the trophies mean anything.
Off the field perhaps not, if interest from the Nottinghamshire public is any kind of measure.
As with all franchise teams, the Blaze squad is/was a collection of players gather from other counties, with no Nottinghamshire identity. Perhaps the Blaze academy has had some success in bringing Nottinghamshire girls through to a higher level (?)
Many influential voices have been heard saying that they wished more members would show-up to support the Blaze, but the reality has been that there is little interest in the Blaze and elite women's cricket in general, rightly or wrongly.
Perhaps saying that makes me a male chauvinist or a mysogynist, which would be incorrect in the real meanings of those terms, but the truth is that very few members bothered attending any Blaze stand alone fixtures, even with it being free entry. The Blaze never felt like it was Nottinghamshire and the ready-made concept of elite women's cricket doesn't look "elite" on inspection, when watched in small doses prior to an Outlaws game in a double header fixture. The women's game should have been funded counties-wide evenly by the ECB and allow to grow organicly and not implanted ready-to-wear, perhaps like the lower tier women counties but then again all their better players have been stripped away to populate the Tier 1 "counties". It's all mean too rushed and all too fake.
What is the hurry anyway?
Would you instantly feel that you had to support a male netball team if they started up playing at Trent Bridge? I know that I wouldn't, dismissing it as a woke gimmick!
30/08
The Blaze splashed through another finals day - last night to win another trophy, at Old Trafford
19/08
The Blaze play at Trent Bridge today. One of the last few opportunities to see the Blaze before it all is to changes, if what the latest former CEO hinted at is correct. Temporary Mick might have another idea!
17/07
The Blaze advance to the Final at Finals Day
| 3 wickets in a demolition job on Surrey Women |
Grace writes again
08/07
Tammy Beaumont International Retirement
03/07
Refreshed just for the Blaze fan.
21/06
Bring your own seat day at Lady Bay for a County Cup match...
16/06
10/06
A new post for those that have adopted this niche product without all of the scrolling of the old one.
If anyone fancies writing an article, review or report of the Blaze please use the Email address in the header.
Well done ๐ to Charley “David” Phillips, Emma Jones and Amazing ๐ป Grace Ballinger on being called up ๐ for England ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ A
ReplyDeleteJust not sure how we can keep on being competitive with SO many girls missing for our matches !
Korky the Cat ๐⬛ ๐พ๐พ
ReplyDeleteAnother fabulous win by the mighty Blaze ๐ฅ girls beating The ‘Rey Women at Beckenham.
Must have been a great knock by ‘Elwiss is in the building’ - sorry, Korky can’t claim that one and good contributions from young players Prisha and Maria AndrewsSisters………….next up ๐ it’s Lanky at Blackpool. We are SO strong ๐ช we can cope with losing 6 to the world ๐ cup, but we can’t cope with then losing Amazing ๐ป Grace, ‘David’ Phillips and the best player of reverse ๐ switch hits in the game Emma Jones……or can we ?!
Did I miss the latest scores of this game whilst at Trent Bridge yesterday?
DeleteNo, I didn't think I had!
Korky the Cat ๐⬛ ๐พ๐พ
DeleteKelly Marie - new ๐ contract ๐ signed keeping her with the mighty Blaze ๐ฅ untill 2027 now
Stand in captain in recent weeks and performing in majority of the games when she opens the batting, so very good news ๐ฐ indeedy
83 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteReading the above posts it appears the BLAZE are on fire. ! The financial rewards in women’s cricket are pretty good now and a good living can now be made out of the game . It has led to the formation of perhaps hundreds of new teams of women playing cricket . Something needed to be done to stimulate more women - especially school leavers - to do some form of physical activity .
Korky the Cat ๐⬛ ๐พ๐พ
DeleteHard luck ๐ mighty Blaze ๐ฅ girls, great fight shown as always. Still thought we would get over the line up ๐ untill “Steve” Claridge was out rather unluckily
Might start to get a bit ๐ค tough now, but great opportunities for more of the Blaze ๐ฅ2s/Academy girls - we keep the faith !
Korkinda the cat ๐⬛ ๐พ๐พ
DeleteBIG game tomorrow at the palatial Lady of Bayness
The brilliant Emma Jones a big miss in our batting, but thankfully Gracie ‘B’ overlooked by England ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ A so playing against Durham in this round of the County Vitality Cup Competition
We look strong ๐ช still, despite all the international absentees……C’mon the mighty Blaze ๐ฅ girls
Korkinda(the female) cat ๐⬛ ๐พ๐พ
DeleteAlas, couldn’t make it to Queens Park earlier
What another fabulous win by the mighty girls, take all our England ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ players off us, take some other England A players off us…….and we’re still a match such is the strength of the mighty Blaze ๐ฅ squad
C’mon the Blaze ๐ฅ!!!!!
Korky the cat ๐⬛
ReplyDeletePre Blaze ๐ฅ v Surrey
Hope the pitch takes spin !!!
Sorry Korkicus, re Blazers v Surrey WOMEN
DeleteIf I were to report what I witnessed...
Put it this way, there's street by this name famously in York.
I am Korkicus
DeleteI am Korkicus
I am Korkicus
I am Korkicus
I am Korkicus
Korky the cat ๐⬛ ๐พ ๐พ
DeleteNicely refreshed for the many Blaze ๐ฅ fans out there HBD
Had the game won really when Knott’s Landing was at the crease but a couple of our players seemed to panic ๐ slightly and holed out in similar fashion in a poor 3/4 over crazy ๐คช spell of batting
The mighty Blaze ๐ฅ girls were certainly due a loss
Brilliant bowling by Knott’s Landing to restrict the oppo to a very chaseable total
C’mon the Blaze ๐ฅ!!!!!
Korky the Cat ๐⬛ ๐พ๐พ
ReplyDeleteWe’re missing too many players due to international call ups and injuries - as Jilted John would sing ๐ถ “Yeah, yeah, it’s not fair”
Korky the cat ๐⬛ ๐พ
ReplyDeleteAmazing ๐ป Grace Ballinger and Charlie “David” Phillips return tomorrow
C’mon the mighty Blaze ๐ฅ girls
Korky the Blaze ๐ฅ Cat ๐⬛ ๐พ๐พ
ReplyDeleteC’mon mighty Blaze ๐ฅ girls….time to bounce back Friday now
83 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteA high quality demolition job by the Blaze girls yesterday to bring home to TB a nice silver trophy . That’s got to be a boost for the Notts men’s Blast squad playing in crickets Cup Final today with world wide exposure .
Could we possibly win the two Blast trophies in the space of two days . ?
Come on Notts ! Give us a day to remember . Go all out for victory . Don’t “ freeze” on the big day like on previous big occasions .
So it’s everything to play for and the weather will not spoil things !
83 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteNice to see a FEMALE face on NottsView . It’s been a while HBD !
About time we had some female contributors on here !?
83,NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteDo we have a female contributor yet on Notts View?!
Thumping Blaze victory yesterday . But no basic match reports yet
Is there an interest? Is it Notts, really? So far the women's game has failed to grip my imagination being just a lightweight imitation of the men's game (from what I have seen). It needs to become its own thing that draws its own audience and support.
DeleteHaving said that, if anyone were to submit any women's content via the Email address, I would publish it. The Nottsview audience continues to grow, so surely there are those that care about the fortunes of The Blaze within those, beyond the couple that make occasional comments of support. for the young women. They know who they are.
83,NOT OUT
DeleteThere now seems to be a fair number of female cricket commentators on the radio and TV but apparently very few female cricket writers.
Korky ๐⬛the cat ๐พ๐พ
DeleteEagerly anticipating the team news ahead of tomorrow’s county cup vitality blast quarter-final at Lady Bay versus Lancashire Thunder. In the previous round versus ๐ Durham Women we were down to the bare bones due to the World Cup and England ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ A absentees but the girls performed heroically with Academy player Prisha Thanawalla and Maria Andrewsisters filling in superbly in the spin department Expect us to be strong tomorrow pretty much unchanged from last Wednesday’s demolition job of Durham with really only Amy Jones and Nat Sciver-Brunt missing which you tend to expect these days anyway
Come on the Blaze ๐ฅ
Korky the cat ๐⬛ ๐พ๐พ
DeleteKorky was wrong ๐- so no change there, then as the squad is much changed
Will be a very interesting team selection indeedy
Korky the cat ๐⬛ ๐พ๐พ
DeleteAt 40-0 after 4 was getting slightly worried that we were under par, however should never ๐ have feared as we then unleashed our brilliant slow bowling attack of Josie Groves’ leg spin and Lucy Higham’s more conventional off spin into the game, ably assisted by Katherine “Twice As” Bryce’s pace off and the mighty Blaze ๐ฅ do a complete demolition job on Kate Cross’s ❌ Thunder.
The Blaze’s incredible squad in force yet again, Cassidy McCarthy on debut with Ella “Steve” Claridge effectively replacing Wednesday’s heroine Georgia Elwiss in the middle order and also getting the gloves ๐งค off Sarah “Twice As” Bryce, the mighty Blaze ๐ฅ march on to their second t20 Finals Day of the season
Amber ๐พ๐พthe Cat ๐⬛
ReplyDeleteYet another brilliant performance by my mighty Blaze ๐ฅ girls as we secured our second T-20 title of the season, beating arch rivals Surrey in a reduced game of 13 overs, having thrashed Essex women in the 1st semi-final reduced to a five over thrash.
Kathryn “Twice As” Bryce the heroine ๐ฆธ♀️ in the final, we now hold two pieces of silverware and have already made the semi final stage with a whopping four games to go still in the Metro Bank 50 over. 2 Home ๐ก fixtures at Trent Bridge, one a week today then Chesterfield a week on Friday as we pursue an unprecedented domestic treble of Trophies ๐
C’mon the mighty Blaze ๐ฅ #MetroBankFever
83 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteWatch out Dave !
Korky is after your job !?
I've told him several times before if he would like to write a proper report, I'd happily publish it. The same goes for anyone else with a report/article/ extended comment piece/poetry, just email them to the address in the header.
ReplyDelete83 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteDAVE - writing cricket reports is far from easy . Takes skill and concentration and a good command of language . Otherwise you end up endlessly repeating yourself. It’s far more difficult than it appears and it’s not for the faint hearted.
I agree totally. That's why MAG makes such a good job of the reports for the proper Notts cricket. It is the reason why I started Nottsview back in 2011, to share MAG's match day reports to beyond the handful of email recipients to a wider audience online.
DeleteAmber ๐พ๐พthe Cat ๐⬛
DeleteProper ? Two 2️⃣ trophies already secured and a semis place secured in the Metro Bank
๐๐๐ฅ๐น๐๐ธ๐ฅ
Proper Notts cricket I was talking about, not an imposter franchise such as The Loughborough Blaze that play at Trent Bridge.
DeleteAmber ๐พ๐พthe Cat ๐⬛
DeleteTrent Bridge has been the official home since the Blaze ๐ฅ first played there in 2023 and I would say 65 to 70% of the squad are the same now as of then so it’s pushing it to call it an impostor franchise surely ?
๐๐๐ฅ๐น๐ป๐๐ธ๐ฝ
The Three Elephants and 18 umbrellas:
DeleteA female Nottinghamshire u18 set-up exists. So why the differentiation with a Blaze Academy? It's either Nottinghamshire or its not. 17 other counties have managed it; the seven other regional hubs all disbanded falling under the umbrellas of the counties. There is one other anomaly that occasionally crops-up - Vipers Academy but there are Hampshire Women and Hampshire Hawks Women playing out of Southampton at the "elite" tier.
The adoption of Loughborough Lightning by Nottinghamshire should have happened at the same time as the second tier women's counties were brought under those county umbrellas at Leicestershire and Derbyshire. Unfortunately Pursehouse and Newell decided to scam the Nottinghamshire public, or at least attempt to scam us, because of their lack of investment in the cricket of the county beyond HQ. There's an element of catch-up going on now with the [now former] CEO's hints to extinguish The Blaze name and the lease on West Park cricket ground on Loughborough Road - all a bit after the event really and far short of what was required three years ago and well short of what is needed now!.
The elephants in the room - The Notts Sports Ground at Lady Bay not being fit of spectators (1st elephant); and the other competition with its other franchise that spouts "elite women's cricket" (2nd elephant). The gene pool of elite women's cricketers isn't big enough for the co-existence of county cricket (+ the Blaze franchise) and the R*ckettes franchise - hence the Blaze disappears during the summer short format tournament of double headers at Test grounds.
Yes I'm being bloody-minded but I also refuse to be scammed by those that would rather build a white elephant (3rd elephant) on top of the Radcliffe Road stand than invest in infrastructure that would have benefited mens and women's cricket in Nottinghamshire for generations with no need to sell anyone's soul or get into bed with foreign investors in the process.
83 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteBlimey Dave - a lot to consider in that long posting. It seems a longish running complex issue . To be honest I only understand half of it!