First woman 'proud' to lead cricket pitch prep

Yorkshire County Cricket Club's (YCCC) only full-time female member of ground staff has said she was "proud" to prepare the pitch at Headingley for the first time.

Jasmine Nicholls, 28, led the team at the stadium to cultivate conditions for the England v Pakistan women's game on Sunday 19 May.

She has also played a part in priming the field for the England men's T20 which is set to take place on Wednesday.

Club chief executive Stephen Vaughan said Ms Nicholls' involvement was "ground-breaking" as it was the first time a woman had led preparations for play at YCCC or Headingley.

Mr Vaughan applauded her "tireless efforts behind the scenes" and called her role overseeing the pitch a "significant milestone, highlighting the evolving landscape of cricket in Yorkshire".

Ms Nicholls has worked as part of the ground staff at Headingley for just over a year but this is the first time she has taken the lead behind the scenes.

Ahead of every match, the seven-strong team mow, press, dehydrate and flood the field, influencing the conditions and pace of play.

"There was a little bit of pressure, it's a very big first to have your first pitch be an international pitch," she said.

As the first woman to be employed as a full-time member of ground staff at YCCC, Ms Nicholls had set a personal target to lead the work, describing the challenge as a "definite milestone".

"To be the first female here at Headingley, and to create my first international pitch, you can't get much better than that.

"I'm actually trying not to think about being the first female, it can be a little bit overwhelming."

She thanked her "incredible" team for being "so supportive".

Mr Vaughan added: “There are so many incredible women, like Jasmine, working not only throughout cricket, but across many other industries too, and it’s great that we have been able to have Jasmine lead, alongside an equally incredible ground staff team, here at Headingley, and play such a crucial role for such a stellar fixture in Yorkshire’s calendar.

“I hope the girls watching from the stands will be inspired to get involved in cricket – whether that’s enjoying rewarding careers in the sport or picking up a bat and a ball and giving it a go.”

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