The new-look professional Essex Women are proud to unveil the first players to sign professional contracts ahead of their inaugural 2025 season.
Andy Tennant, Essex Women’s Team Director, said: “We’re thrilled to announce the founding players of the Essex Women’s squad as we embark on this exciting new chapter.
“These players represent the future of Essex Cricket, and I’m incredibly proud of the talent we’ve assembled.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work closely and achieve success with most of the group last season, and we’ve built a strong foundation to compete at the highest level and inspire the next generation of cricketers.”
Our latest player news comes after the announcement of Danni Warren as the team’s Performance Director, who is joined by Andy Tennant as Team Director. Read the full story here.
Discover more about each of these exciting new additions below, which will be updated live as the new signings are unveiled.
Kelly Castle
Squad number 7
Born in Southend, 27-year-old seam bowler Castle is Essex born-and-bred, spending the past five years as captain of the previous semi-professional iteration of the Eagles’ women’s side.
She was signed by Sunrisers in the autumn of 2020 after playing for them in the inaugural Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, and went on to total 48 appearances in both formats, taking 38 wickets at 29.79.
Castle, who made her Essex debut at the age of just 14 and was Sunrisers captain from 2021 to 2024, is also handy with the bat, scoring 380 runs for the regional side with a top score of 52.
Jo Gardner
Squad number 14
Gardner is another one-club player, having turned out exclusively for Sunrisers since 2020, scoring 1,228 runs and taking 27 wickets for the team across both formats.
Born on the Isle of Wight, she came through the Northamptonshire pathway before going on to play for Warwickshire, as well as Loughborough Lightning in the old Kia Super League.
Although predominantly a batter, Gardner offers a handy off-spin option too, and her performances for Sunrisers saw her earn contracts to play for Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets in The Hundred.
Eva Gray
Squad number 10
A 24-year-old all-rounder, Gray began her cricketing journey with Surrey in 2014 before becoming one of South East Stars’ first signings six years later.
After spending three seasons with the Stars, she moved to Sunrisers in November 2022, going on to take 39 wickets in 37 appearances with a best return of 4/31.
Gray has featured in The Hundred for Oval Invincibles and London Spirit, as well as appearing for England A and England Development in both white- and red-ball formats.
Cordelia Griffith
Squad number 6
A London-born top-order batter, Griffith will come full circle next summer, having learned her trade on the Essex pathway, as well as playing for the Eagles between 2010 and 2017.
The 29-year-old has only ever represented Sunrisers under the regional model, but at county level has also played for Middlesex, as well as Yorkshire Diamonds and Surrey Stars in the Kia Super League.
She scored 1,586 runs for Sunrisers at an average of 30.50 with ten fifties, and has also turned out for three different sides in The Hundred.
Abtaha Maqsood
Squad number 18
A Glasgow-born Scottish international leg-spinner, Maqsood spent three seasons with Sunrisers after first joining in 2022, claiming 23 wickets.
She made her international debut in 2018, playing a T20I against Uganda, and has gone on to collect 73 scalps in 63 combined ODIs and T20Is, as well as playing in The Hundred for Birmingham Phoenix.
Maqsood has also played for Middlesex, but is best-known on the regional circuit for her 5/30 against Southern Vipers in 2023 that saw Sunrisers win their first game in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
Sophie Munro
Squad number 22
A white-ball specialist seamer, 23-year-old Lincoln-born Munro signed for Sunrisers on loan from The Blaze for the majority of the 2024 season, before agreeing a permanent deal with Essex.
Having started out with Nottinghamshire before signing for Lightning in 2020 – the side that became known as The Blaze in 2023 – she has also represented London Spirit and Trent Rockets in The Hundred.
Munro was prolific with the ball in her debut season with Sunrisers, claiming 26 wickets in just 16 games, including a return of 5/25 in just 6.2 overs against Thunder at The Cloud County Ground.
Enter the ballot for international tickets
The 2025 international fixture list has been revealed, with Chelmsford braced for high-octane action as England Women take on West Indies Women on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.
In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.
What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.
Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.
You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.
The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.
