Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones, Priyanaz Chatterji, and Charlotte Lambert have been added to the South East Stars senior squad on Pay As You Play (PAYP) contracts.
The contracts will start on 1 November and see the players have full-time access to the Stars training facilities and coaches whilst giving them the flexibility to continue with other interests in work or further education.
Top-order batter Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones, 20, has been part of the Stars Academy programme for the last two years and made her debut for the Stars in 2022 and has had a breakthrough year in 2023 for both Surrey and the Stars. Blinkhorn-Jones made a fluent 77 in a losing cause against the Central Sparks as well as scoring her first century for Surrey against Middlesex at Guildford.
Scotland international Priyanaz Chatterji, 26, made her Stars debut against the Northern Diamonds in July. The all-rounder has played Second XI cricket for the Stars for the past two seasons as well as regularly representing Surrey alongside her international duties – where she has represented her country 44 times.
Surrey seamer Charlotte Lambert, 17, is an exciting player who has been part of the Stars Academy programme as well as regularly playing for Surrey. Lambert has yet to make a First Team appearance for the Stars but was selected to take part in an England Development XI against Sri Lanka earlier in the summer.
Players will receive match fees once the season starts and these new contracts are being funded directly by the South East Stars.
Surrey’s Claudie Cooper and Bethan Miles are also joined by Jemima Spence and Kirstie White to have their existing PAYP deals extended. This brings the squad to 19 Stars-contracted players with an additional three on England Central Contracts.
Emma Calvert, Regional Director of Women’s Cricket, said “We are very excited to have four new players joining the South East Stars this winter on PAYP contracts. This is an important step in the growth of our squad and will allow more players than ever access to the amazing coaching and support we now have in place.
“Last year we became the first regional team with 11 professionally contracted players and this year we will be the first to move to a senior squad of 19 players at the start of winter. This shows our commitment to driving the women and girls game forward.
“It is incredible to see two of our academy players graduate into the senior set up. Both Maddie and Charlotte had an amazing season this summer and we are excited to give them the opportunity to step up into our senior squad.
“Another exciting addition to the squad is Priyanaz Chatterji. Priyanaz is a Scotland international who has shown her skills in the Second XI this summer. It is incredible to be able to afford a more experienced player the opportunity to give professional cricket and go and should show to everyone else out there that the door is never closed. No cricketing journey is the same and Priyanaz will hopefully provide inspiration to many other cricketers still looking to progress in the game.”
