Freya Davies

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Freya Davies

| female = true

| image =

| country = England

| fullname = Freya Ruth Davies

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|10|27|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Chichester, West Sussex, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm fast-medium

| role = Bowler

| international = true

| internationalspan = 2019–present

| onetest =

| testdebutdate =

| testdebutyear =

| testdebutagainst =

| testcap =

| lasttestdate =

| lasttestyear =

| lasttestagainst =

| odidebutdate = 14 December

| odidebutyear = 2019

| odidebutagainst = Pakistan

| odicap = 134

| lastodidate = 9 December

| lastodiyear = 2022

| lastodiagainst = West Indies

| T20Idebutdate = 24 March

| T20Idebutyear = 2019

| T20Idebutagainst = Sri Lanka

| T20Icap = 48

| lastT20Idate = 1 July

| lastT20Iyear = 2023

| lastT20Iagainst = Australia

| club1 = Sussex

| year1 = {{nowrap|2010–present}}

| club2 = Western Storm

| year2 = 2016–2019

| club3 = South East Stars

| year3 = 2020–2023

| club4 = London Spirit

| year4 = 2021–2022

| club5 = Welsh Fire

| year5 = 2023–present

| club6 = Southern Vipers

| year6 = 2024–present

| columns = 4

| column1 = WODI

| matches1 = 9

| runs1 = 13

| bat avg1 = 6.50

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 10*

| deliveries1 = 423

| wickets1 = 10

| bowl avg1 = 31.10

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 2/36

| catches/stumpings1 = 4/–

| column2 = WT20I

| matches2 = 26

| runs2 = 1

| bat avg2 = –

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 1*

| deliveries2 = 468

| wickets2 = 23

| bowl avg2 = 23.21

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 4/23

| catches/stumpings2 = 6/–

| column3 = WLA

| matches3 = 61

| runs3 = 265

| bat avg3 = 13.25

| 100s/50s3 = 0/0

| top score3 = 32

| deliveries3 = 2,783

| wickets3 = 69

| bowl avg3 = 24.66

| fivefor3 = 1

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 6/10

| catches/stumpings3 = 16/–

| column4 = WT20

| matches4 = 145

| runs4 = 195

| bat avg4 = 9.28

| 100s/50s4 = 0/0

| top score4 = 27*

| deliveries4 = 2,714

| wickets4 = 127

| bowl avg4 = 23.11

| fivefor4 = 0

| tenfor4 = 0

| best bowling4 = 4/8

| catches/stumpings4 = 23/–

| date = 18 October 2023

| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/492/492341/492341.html CricketArchive

}}

Freya Ruth Davies (born 27 October 1995) is an English cricketer who plays for Sussex, Southern Vipers, Welsh Fire and England as a right-arm fast-medium bowler.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/652945.html |title=Freya Davies |access-date=19 February 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828060917/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/652945.html |archive-date=28 August 2018 |url-status=live }} She made her Sussex debut in 2010 at the age of fourteen, and played her first match for England in 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1057772 |title=Freya Davies details 'crazy' rise up to England ranks |work=International Cricket Council |date=19 February 2019 |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220003118/https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1057772 |archive-date=20 February 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Nicholson |first1=Raf |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26024033/freya-davies-treads-own-path-england-recognition |title=Freya Davies treads her own path to England recognition |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218204959/http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26024033/freya-davies-treads-own-path-england-recognition |archive-date=18 February 2019 |url-status=live }}

Early life

Davies was born on 27 October 1995 in Chichester, West Sussex. When Davies was a young child, her father, and her older brother Jack, both played for the family's local cricket club, Chichester. At the age of 8, Davies decided to join in, and played her first hard-ball game with Jack's under-11 team. She was attracted to fast bowling, because "that seemed like the most fun"; at 10 and 11 she was tall for her age, which also helped. Eventually, she joined the Sussex junior ranks as an 11 year old.{{cite journal |last1=Krarup |first1=Ed |title=Freya Davies: "You got picked on merit and gender was irrelevant" |journal=The Cricketer |date=11 May 2020 |url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/womenscricket/freya_davies_you_got_picked_on_merit_and_gender_was_irrelevant.html |access-date=2 July 2020}}

Davies attended Chichester High School for Girls, Brighton College and the University of Exeter.

Domestic career

In 2010, Davies made her county debut for Sussex, against Middlesex. She took her first wicket a day later in her third match, dismissing the then England captain Charlotte Edwards, thanks in part to a catch by Sarah Taylor that Davies later described as "unbelievable".{{Cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/492/492341/Womens_Twenty20_Matches.html |title=Freya Davies T20 Matches |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=Cricket Archive}} Davies soon became a regular player in Sussex's side, and was part of their team in three title wins: the 2013 Women's County Championship and the 2012 and 2015 T20 Cups.{{Cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/492/492341/Womens_List_A_Matches.html |title=Freya Davies List A Matches |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=Cricket Archive}} In the 2019 Women's Twenty20 Cup, Davies was Sussex's leading wicket-taker, with 8 at an average of 14.62.{{Cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/32/Vitality_Womens_Twenty20_Cup_2019/Sussex_Women_Bowling.html |title=Vitality Women's Twenty20 Cup 2019/Sussex Women Bowling |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=Cricket Archive}}

Davies played every game (36) for Western Storm in the Women's Cricket Super League from its inception in 2016 until its conclusion in 2019, helping her side to two titles, in 2017 and 2019. Davies was the leading wicket-taker in the 2019 competition, with 19 wickets, and the second highest wicket-taker across the four years of the competition, with 37.{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=12762;type=tournament |title=Women's Cricket Super League, 2019 / Most wickets |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=7 September 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=697;type=trophy |title=Women's Cricket Super League / Most wickets |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=4 October 2019}}

In October 2019, Davies was named as one of the first two players signed for London Spirit in The Hundred.{{cite web |url=https://www.thehundred.com/news/1366687/-first-players-named-in-the-hundred-men-s-women-s-teams |title=First players named in The Hundred men's & women's teams |work=The Hundred |access-date=4 October 2019}} She played two matches in the 2020 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for the South East Stars, but failed to take a wicket. In April 2022, she was retained by the London Spirit for the 2022 season of The Hundred.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/60477088 |title=The Hundred 2022: latest squads as Draft picks revealed |work=BBC Sport |access-date=5 April 2022}} In March 2023 Davies was bought by Welsh Fire in the Hundred auction.{{cite web | url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/live-blog/hundred-draft-2023-the-picks-as-they-happen-1364953 | title=Hundred Draft 2023 - the picks as they happened | date=23 March 2023 }} Welsh Fire finished third in the league stages of the competition, but were denied a place in the Final due to the semi-final being rained off when they were in a strong position.{{cite web | url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2023-1355568/northern-superchargers-women-vs-welsh-fire-women-eliminator-1355604/full-scorecard | title=NSC-W vs WF-W Cricket Scorecard, Eliminator at London, August 26, 2023 }}

Davies was retained by Welsh Fire for the 2024 competition and finished as the fourth highest wicket taker (11 wickets),{{cite web | url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/bowling-most-wickets-career/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2024-16046 | title=The Hundred Women's Competition, 2024 bowling most wickets career Records }} with the fourth best economy rate, despite bowling the majority of her deliveries in the powerplay and at the death.{{cite web | url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/bowling-best-career-economy-rate/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2024-16046 | title=The Hundred Women's Competition, 2024 bowling best career economy rate Records }}

She finished as the highest placed England bowler in the PCA's Women's Hundred Bowlers' Standings, second only to Marizanne Kapp.{{cite web | url=https://www.thepca.co.uk/womens-hundred-mvp/ | title=Women's Hundred MVP }}

Welsh Fire finished top of the league stage of the 2024 Hundred.{{cite web | url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2024-1417780/points-table-standings | title=Women's Hundred Points Table | Women's Hundred Standings | Women's Hundred Ranking }} They lost in the final to London Spirit with two balls left.{{cite web | url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-hundred-women-s-competition-2024-1417780/london-spirit-women-vs-welsh-fire-women-final-1417857/full-scorecard | title=LS-W vs WF-W Cricket Scorecard, Final at London, August 18, 2024 }}

In December 2023, it was announced that Davies had joined Southern Vipers from South East Stars.{{cite news|url=https://www.ageasbowl.com/cricket/news/england-star-freya-davies-bolsters-southern-vipers-bowling-attack/ |title=England Star Freya Davies Bolsters Southern Vipers' Bowling Attack |work=The Ageas Bowl |date=6 December 2023 |access-date=6 December 2023}}

International career

In February 2019, although uncapped at the time, Davies was one of twenty-one cricketers to be awarded a central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/47144111 |title=Freya Davies among players handed central contract with England Women |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220003442/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/47144111 |archive-date=20 February 2019 |url-status=live}} Later the same month, she was named in the England squad for their tours to India and Sri Lanka.{{cite web |url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/women/news/1048970/england-women-name-squad-for-india-and-sri-lanka |title=England Women name squad for India and Sri Lanka |publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209130024/https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/women/news/1048970/england-women-name-squad-for-india-and-sri-lanka |archive-date=9 February 2019 |url-status=live}} She made her Women's Twenty20 International cricket (WT20I) debut for England against Sri Lanka on 24 March 2019, and recorded figures of 2/28 from her four overs.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1176435.html |title=1st T20I, England Women tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo, Mar 24 2019 |access-date=24 March 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} She played all three T20Is on the tour, and returned an economy rate of just 4.58.

The following month, she made her Women's One Day International (WODI) debut for England, against Pakistan on 14 December 2019, and finished with figures of 0/19 from her seven overs.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1208346.html |title=3rd ODI, ICC Women's Championship at Kuala Lumpur, Dec 14 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=14 December 2019}} She also played two T20Is on the tour, taking three wickets at an average of 14.66.{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=13490;team=1026;type=series |title=RECORDS / PAKISTAN WOMEN V ENGLAND WOMEN T20I SERIES, 2019/20 - ENGLAND WOMEN / BATTING AND BOWLING AVERAGES |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=7 February 2021}}

Davies played two matches in the 2020 Australia women's Tri-Nation Series, and was in England's squad for the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, but did not play a match.{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/women/news/1573896/england-women-announce-t20-world-cup-squad-and-summer-fixtures |title=England Women announce T20 World Cup squad and summer fixtures |publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=17 January 2020}}

On 18 June 2020, Davies was named in a squad of 24 players to begin training ahead of international women's fixtures starting in England following the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/women/news/1685005/england-women-confirm-back-to-training-plans |title=England Women confirm back to training plans |publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=18 June 2020}} She played one T20I in the subsequent series against the West Indies, taking 1/11 from one over in a rain-reduced 5-over match.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/west-indies-women-in-eng-2020-1230848/england-women-vs-west-indies-women-5th-t20i-1230859/full-scorecard |title=5th T20I, West Indies tour of England at Derby, Sep 30 2020 |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}

In 2021, Davies was named in the squad for England's tour of New Zealand.{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/1972633 |title=England Women squad named for New Zealand tour |publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=29 January 2021}} Davies played five matches on the tour, and was most successful in the T20 series, where she took her T20I best bowling figures of 4/23 in the second match and ended the series as the joint-leading wicket-taker.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-women-in-new-zealand-2020-21-1249221/new-zealand-women-vs-england-women-2nd-t20i-1249236/match-report |title=Freya Davies and Tammy Beaumont star as England seal series |access-date=8 March 2021 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=13843;type=series |title=Records/England Women in New Zealand T20I Series, 2020/21/Most Wickets |access-date=8 March 2021 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} In June 2021, Davies was named in England's Test squad for their one-off match against India.{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/2167865/emily-arlott-earns-call-up-to-england-women-test-squad |title=Emily Arlott earns call-up to England Women Test squad |publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=9 June 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.womenscriczone.com/england-announce-17-member-squad-for-test-against-india |title=Emily Arlott earns maiden call-up as England announce squad for India Test |work=Women's CricZone |access-date=9 June 2021}} However, she was later released from the squad, allowing her to play in the 2021 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy ahead of England's one-day matches.{{cite web|url=https://www.womenscriczone.com/england-release-sarah-glenn-freya-davies-from-the-test-squad |title=England release Sarah Glenn, Freya Davies ahead of India Test |work=Women's CricZone |access-date=11 June 2021}}

In December 2021, Davies was named in England's squad for their tour to Australia to contest the Women's Ashes.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/heather-knight-vows-to-fight-fire-with-fire-during-womens-ashes-1293638 |title=Heather Knight vows to 'fight fire with fire' during Women's Ashes |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=17 December 2021}} In February 2022, she was named in England's team for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/womens-odi-world-cup-2022-charlie-dean-emma-lamb-in-englands-odi-world-cup-squad-1300522 |title=Charlie Dean, Emma Lamb in England's ODI World Cup squad |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=10 February 2022}} In June 2022, Davies was named in England's Women's Test squad for their one-off match against South Africa.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61792243 |title=England v South Africa: Emma Lamb one of five uncapped players chosen |work=BBC Sport |access-date=20 June 2022}} In July 2022, she was named in England's team for the cricket tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/alice-capsey-named-in-england-s-commonwealth-games-squad-tammy-beaumont-omitted-1324921 |title=Alice Capsey named in England's Commonwealth Games squad, Tammy Beaumont omitted |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=15 July 2022}}