Lightning names four current Loughborough students for the final KSL campaign

Four current Loughborough students Abbey Freeborn, Lucy Higham, Tara Norris and Alice Monaghan have all confirmed their commitment to Lightning for the 2019 Kia Super League season.

Starting in August this year, the players will have a wealth of season experience with both the Royal London One-Day Cup and T20 competitions finishing ahead of the KSL season.

Abbey Freeborn made the move from Sussex to Yorkshire for her Royal London One-Day Cup campaign, paying off in a top two finish and making 58 off 40 on debut. Representing Loughborough Students MCCU, Abbey is a key player both on pitch retaining BUCS Gold and off the pitch supporting the growth of women’s cricket on campus in her role as Vice-Chair of the student club. Freeborn has been with Lightning since 2017 making this her third successive season.

Fellow MCCU BUCS Gold winner Tara Norris returns for her second season with Lightning and has proven herself well in recent county performances. The Sussex left arm medium pace bowler will be gunning for a spot in the regular eleven.

Nottinghamshire’s Lucy Higham also returns, the spinner like Freeborn has been with Lightning since 2017 and continues to play a key part for Loughborough Students captaining the side to continued BUCS dominance. The Leicestershire born student was a regular KSL starter in last season’s second place finish and will be hoping to maintain her presence as a go-to spinner.

New to the team from rival KSL side Yorkshire Diamonds is 19-year-old Alice Monaghan who featured against Lightning twice last season. Monaghan made her senior debut for her county side Hampshire at just 16 years old and has impressed throughout her youthful career as a natural allrounder and brings welcomed energy and excellence in the field.

 Rob Taylor, Lightning Head Coach commented on the signings:

"Tara, Lucy, Alice and Abbey are really good players to have within our squad and each offer us a different skill set. As current students and players in our MCCU programme, we have been able to focus their training, to get them ready for the KSL this year.

Lucy has a good amount of KSL experience and offers options for us with bat and ball, while setting very high standards in the field.

Abbey and Tara, will both be pushing for a place in the team this summer after a strong winter and starts to their county seasons and both are dynamic in their skill set.  

It’s Alice’s first season with Lightning and we look forward to support her development in the squad as she emerges as a player to watch.

I cannot fault their focus and drive to become better players and its now about how they go in the remainder of the county matches and warmup games, so they can carry confidence and momentum into the start of the competition."

Lightning’s first game of the KSL season is agaisnt Western Storm on Tuesday 6 August at Haslegrave Cricket Ground.

Tickets are on sale now by clicking here.