MacLeod: “I cringe at England playing days compared to today’s stars”

Bears Head of Women’s Cricket and ex-England opener Laura MacLeod admits “cringing” at clips of her international days and says there’s no comparison to today’s explosive batters.

MacLeod scored more than 1,800 runs in 89 England appearances between 1997 and 2007 and was part of the Ashes winning 2005 squad.

But the 46-year-old admits highlights of her England innings are a tough watch when viewed in the context of today’s free-flowing, big-hitting women’s game.

“We were more risk averse,” said MacLeod, who leads the newly-formed Bears Women into an exciting era of cricket next season.

“The style of play was more cautious, especially at the start of an innings. Even if there was a looser ball early on not many players were brave enough to put their bat through it as they didn’t want to risk being out. We would often tick along at around three runs an over.

“But in women’s cricket today, if the first ball is there to be hit, it gets hit. There’s no settling in for the first few overs. The power and creativity of shot making is a world away from my playing days.

“There was more fear of failure in my day but I want Bears Women to be brave and always look to play positively.

“That’s why it’s so exciting to see where the women’s game will go over the next few years.

“If I was given this opportunity, if I were starting my career in my late teens now, I’d have grasped it with everything I had. It’s the most amazing time ever to play cricket as a female, both in this country and globally.”

Bears Women have announced their 15-player squad ahead of their first season as a Tier 1 side in a new-look, full- professional national women’s structure.

To find out more about the players and register your interest in Bears Women visit Bears Women 2025 – Edgbaston.