Bowler Sophia Turner swaps Thunder for Northern Diamonds

Turner has taken four wickets in five 50-over appearances and 15 wickets in 23 T20 matches over her senior career, and spent the end of the 2023 season on loan at Diamonds

Northern Diamonds have signed Sophia Turner from rivals Thunder, with the seam bowler moving across the Pennines on a pay-to-play contract for the 2024 season.

Turner made her debut for Thunder during the 2020 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, going on to take seven wickets in 11 appearances.

However, she didn't feature for her home region in 2023, with her two appearances coming during a loan spell with Northern Diamonds in September. She picked up two wicket in two List A outings, impressing on debut with figures of 1 for 31 from seven overs against Western Storm.

^{Turner took seven wickets in 11 appearances for Thunder [Naomi Baker/Getty Images]}

^{Turner spent two matches on loan at Northern Diamonds in 2023 [SWpix.com]}

Over the course of her senior career, Turner, who has also played for Lancashire and a North Representative XI at county level, has taken four wickets in five 50-over appearances and 15 wickets in 23 T20 matches.

Diamonds head coach, Dani Hazell, said: "We're really pleased to have secured Sophia for the season and I'm looking forward to her getting involved. She is a brilliant addition to the team and impressed during her loan spell with the team.

"We are so pleased that Sophia is staying with us, and we have a good mix of youth and experience in the squad as we look ahead to next season.

"She is the kind of player and person who will continue to add so much to our dressing room."