Surrey’s Laxmi Johal, Hannah Burridge, and Daisy Feast have graduated from the Emerging Player Programme (EPP) and have been added to the South East Stars Academy intake for 2023/24.
Rewarded for the promise they showed in the EPP, the addition of Burridge, Feast, Johal, as well as Kent’s Maddie Richardson, has grown the Stars Academy intake to 14 players for this winter and the following summer.
Wicketkeeper-batter Burridge, 16, represented Surrey four times this season and plays her club cricket at North London CC.
Daisy Feast, 17, is an exciting batter who produced a match-winning knock in Stars Academy’s last-wicket victory against Central Sparks in the Regional Academy Friendlies, which also brought her the EPP Impact Player of the Year award.
Opening batter Johal, 17, featured regularly for South East Stars Academy and Surrey across competitions this season. She also recently claimed the EPP Stars Value award.
There have already been opportunities for Academy players such as Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones and Bethan Miles to make the step up and feature for the Stars’ senior side. Surrey’s 17-year-old seamer Charlotte Lambert, who also is in the Academy, freshly signed her first senior contract with the Stars.
Jennifer Jackson, Senior Regional Talent Manager at South East Stars, said: “After a hugely successful season for the South East Stars Academy, it looks to be a very exciting winter for the newly formed squad.
“Some impressive performances throughout the 2023 winter training programme and summer season have meant that we are welcoming four new players into the squad. It is also great to see academy players demonstrating their skills at a senior level and being awarded for this hard work with senior PAYP contracts.
“This winter will provide the Academy players with the time, opportunity, and input to work towards their individual goals in an environment that encourages exploration and innovation. This is a truly exciting squad of players and I’m looking forward to working with them and supporting them on their journey to become the best cricketers, and people, they can be.”
