If you work hard, you will be rewarded: Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy opening the door to international cricket

ALEXANDRA PEREIRA - WOMEN'S CRICKET CHAT COLUMN: The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy is proving to be a catalyst for change - genuine, impactful change. Take Emily Arlott - before her hat-trick few people knew who she was, now she's in the England squad

Emily Arlott emerges as an example to follow

England pick uncapped Emily Arlott in squad for India Test

Sophia Dunkley among 17 players handed central contracts by England Women

The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy has shown that if you work hard, you will be rewarded - and with England's players now off on international duty, the stage is set for the next group of aspiring pros to take the spotlight.

The advent of professionalism in the women's domestic structure is producing chances for unheralded cricketers to push themselves to the front of the queue.

There are signs that the landscape of the national team may soon change more freely.

Take Emily Arlott, for instance. Before Saturday's hat-trick heroics, very few people would have known who she was but a stand-out start to the season caught the England captain's eye, on Sunday she received a call from ECB director of women's cricket Jonathan Finch informing her of her selection in the Test squad, and by Wednesday she was speaking to the national media.

That opportunity comes hand in hand with the restructure of the women's game in England and Wales.

The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy is proving to be a catalyst for change - genuine, impactful change.

Already, players can see that it is a more viable way to chase the England dream.

And so, with 15 prominent figures in the competition absent from round four, another opportunity presents itself.

So who will step up?

Southern Vipers spinner Charlotte Taylor is in sublime form and has picked up where she left off last season.
She has already claimed eight wickets and is on her way to eclipsing her tally from last season. Every time she's asked to do a job for her side, she performs. But not only that, she's taking wickets and not going for a lot of runs.

England are blessed with spinners, including the best in the world in the shape of Sophie Ecclestones, and Taylor's path to national selection may appear quite daunting. But without the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, it would never have even had a chance to breathe.

The opening weekend of the Heyhoe Flint Trophy was a middle finger in the face of misogynist trolls

Bryony Smith has come into her own this season opening for the Stars. Last season didn’t go to plan, as she made just 19 runs in three matches. However, the responsibility of the vice-captaincy has coincided with a return to form. The opening batter has become more consistent at the top of the order, scoring 59 in the opening match, top-scoring with 41 against Southern Vipers side and 21 against Western Storm. Smith is also contributing with the ball and has taken six wickets so far.

Kirstie Gordon looks to have really come into herself as a bowler this year, starting her campaign with four wickets against defending champions Southern Vipers. And although the spinner didn't play as big a role as she would've liked last year, in 2021 she appears rejuvenated, as a second four-wicket haul against Thunder showed. Having recently lost her central contract with England, she'll be keen to get back in contention for selection.

Issy Wong certainly did enough last season to impress the England selectors and she was taken to New Zealand at the start of the year. She is in wicket-taking form for Central Sparks and her raw pace is among the most electrifying sights in the competition. At just 18 years old, there's still time for Wong to get faster and stronger and be at the top of the women’s game for many years to come.

^{Kirstie Gordon (centre) is congratulated by her teammates after taking the wicket of Thunder's Ellie Threlkeld}

Sunrisers have had a tough time in the competition since its inception, but Amara Carr looked good in pre-season and although it hasn’t quite translated into match form so far, her experience and captaincy will be crucial to her side hauling themselves out of their slump. Being bowled out for 53 in their third game won't have helped morale but Carr can take some satisfaction from top scoring with 17 against Northern Diamonds. For Carr it's now a case of putting her pre-season form and captaincy together to become a real weapon for the Sunrisers.

Emma Lamb has been in terrific form for North West Thunder. She hit her first century of the season against Western Storm and followed that with a well-made 42 against Lightning. It seems to be a thing for opening batters to dabble with the ball and Lamb has picked wickets. including Sunrisers’ Fran Wilson and Lightning's Sonia Odedra.

Sophie Luff hasn’t quite hit the form that she was in last season for Western Storm but has at least made starts in all three of her innings - 35 and 27 as well as a half-century against the Stars. With Heather Knight and Anya Shrubsole now missing for Storm, this is the perfect opportunity for Luff to take charge

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy team of the week: round three