Lydia Greenway with her ICC Women's World Cup Winners Medal

As many of you will know, the Club has been involved with the Cricket Foundation's 'Chance to shine' Scheme for four years now.  The scheme brings cricket coaching to young people around the country and Leeds and Broomfield CC was one of the original 100 Clubs (there are now over 800) chosen to deliver it in their area.

For the last two years, we have been very well supported in the scheme by Kent and England's Lydia Greenway who is a 'Chance to shine' Ambassador.  Lydia is part of the all-conquering England Women side and 2009 has, for her, been a quite remarkable year.

We thought we'd bring you the details of what she has achieved this year.  This story has recently appeared on the Kent Cricket Board website.

The unprecedented success for Kent and England’s Lydia Greenway in the 2009 season means that she holds a unique record for any cricketer, male or female, in the history of the game.  The list of her individual achievements in one year is truly remarkable.

With England, Lydia won the World Cup in Australia in March, where she was the leading fielder with eight catches.  In June, with England on home turf, Lydia was a winner again with the England team as they triumphed in the inaugural Women’s World Twenty20 Cup.  In front of big crowds she enhanced her reputation as being the best fielder in the world.

This was followed up with England retaining the Women’s Ashes, where the twenty-three year old left-handed batsman took on a new role opening the batting for her country.  Then she was a winner again as England beat Australia 4-0 in the NatWest ODI series.

At county level, a fortnight ago Lydia scored 89 not out to help Kent win the LV Women's County Championship.  This was the third time in four years she has been on the winning Kent side.  She was also the leading fielder in this year’s County Championship with 14 dismissals in 10 games (11 catches and 3 run outs).

On the weekend of 20th September 2009, the final piece in the jigsaw of this remarkable success story was achieved at club level, and it came in style.

Lydia with the ICC Women’s World CupLydia top scored with 74 for Hayes Hurricanes, her Kent club, who won the Southern Division, to help beat Northern Division winners Ransome & Marles in the National Premier League Club Final by 212 runs.

Lydia’s astonishing winning record of six titles at international, county and club level in one year may never be achieved by anyone else again.  Yet Lydia, who works as a 'Chance to shine' Ambassador with the Cricket Foundation and ECB, takes it all in her stride so modestly.   "I've not thought about records really.  I just enjoy playing cricket with England, Kent and Hayes.  I am so lucky to be with such good cricketers who are my friends,” she said.

A quite remarkable story and journey for a remarkable cricketer.

Lydia in action for England