Holly Colvin

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Holly Colvin
female = true


country = England
fullname = Holly Louise Colvin
nickname =
living = true
dayofbirth = 7
monthofbirth = 9
yearofbirth = 1989
placeofbirth = Chichester, Sussex
countryofbirth = England
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm =
batting = Right-handed
bowling = Slow left arm orthodox
role = Bowler
international = true
testdebutdate = 9 August
testdebutyear = 2005
testdebutagainst = Australia women
testc

lasttestdate = 15 February
lasttestyear = 2008
lasttestagainst = Australia women
odidebutdate = 14 August
odidebutyear = 2006
odidebutagainst = India women
odic

lastodidate = 11 February
lastodiyear = 2008
lastodiagainst = Australia women
club1 = Sussex women
year1 = 2005 – present
deliveries = balls
columns = 3
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 3
runs1 = 6
bat avg1 = 3.00
100s/50s1 = 0/0
top score1 = 4
deliveries1 = 480
wickets1 = 10
bowl avg1 = 24.10
fivefor1 = 0
tenfor1 = 0
best bowling1 = 3/42
catches/stumpings1 = 1/–
column2 = ODI
matches2 = 20
runs2 = 21
bat avg2 = 10.50
100s/50s2 = 0/0
top score2 = 13*
deliveries2 = 1025
wickets2 = 23
bowl avg2 = 28.47
fivefor2 = 0
tenfor2 = n/a
best bowling2 = 3/31
catches/stumpings2 = 7/–
column3 = T20I
matches3 = 3
runs3 = –
bat avg3 = –
100s/50s3 = –
top score3 = –
deliveries3 = 48
wickets3 = 3
bowl avg3 = 17.00
fivefor3 = –
tenfor3 = n/a
best bowling3 = 1/14
catches/stumpings3 = 2/–
date = 18 February
year = 2008
source = http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/215501.html Cricinfo

Holly Louise Colvin (born 7 September 1989 in Chichester) is an English cricketer and member of the current England women's cricket team.

She currently holds the record of being the youngest Test cricketer of either sex to play for England.

Playing career

chool level

A right-hand bat and slow left arm bowler, Colvin followed in the footsteps of England women's captain Clare Connor by playing in the boys' team at Brighton College. Competing in the Lord's Taverners under-15 Cup in 2004, Colvin and fellow Brightonian Sarah Taylor were the only girls amongst the 1,000 participating teams.cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2004/jun/20/cricket.theobserver1|accessdate=2008-08-17|title=Girl power alters school of thought|author=Clare Connor|publisher="The Observer"|date=2004-06-20] Colvin and Taylor's involvement in the competition caused controversy within the MCC, with president Robin Marlar calling their inclusion "absolutely outrageous".cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1524663/Cricket-girls-defy-their-MCC-critic.html|title= Cricket girls defy their MCC critic|work=Telegraph.co.uk|author=Liz Lightfoot|date=2006-07-25|accessdate=2008-08-17] He proceeded to argue that, "if there's an 18-year-old who can bowl at 80mph and he's been brought up properly then he shouldn't want to hurt a lady at any cost". Richard Cairns, headmaster of Brighton College, dismissed the comments as "show [ing] a huge generation gap"; Colvin herself commented that "we just thought it was funny... [they] don't treat me any different. They bowl at me just as fast and hit the ball just as hard".cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/feb/03/cricket.womenscricket|accessdate=2008-08-17|title=Observer sport monthly|publisher="The Observer"|date=2008-02-13|first=Emma|last=John] Colvin continued to play for the College 1^st XI in subsequent years, topping the boys' 1^st XI averages at Westbourne House School. On a cricket tour to Sri Lanka in December 2004, she was one of the last people to play at the Galle International Stadium before it was flattened by the tsunami of Boxing Day that year.cite news|url=http://archive.theargus.co.uk/2004/12/29/106660.html|accessdate=2008-07-17|title=I swam under killer waves|date=2008-12-29|publisher="The Argus"] In December 2006, Colvin was named as 'Female Pupil of the Year' by "The Telegraph's" 'School Sport Matters' campaign, receiving the award at Lord's from Olympic gold-medallist Kelly Holmes.cite web|url=http://www.sussexcricket.co.uk/news-events/news-archive/Star+pupil+Colvin+gets+Telegraph+award/|accessdate=2008-08-17|date=2006-12-12|publisher=Sussex county cricket club|title=Star pupil Colvin gets "Telegraph" award]

County level

Colvin played for Sussex County Cricket Club from May 2005 to July 2008. [cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/88/88054/Other_matches.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|title=Other matches played by Holly Colvin|publisher=CricketArchive] She was part of the Sussex teams that won the women's County Championship in 2005, and again in 2008.cite web|url=http://www.sussexcricket.co.uk/news-events/news-archive/Sussex+Women+win+the+County+Championship+at+Taunton/|accessdate=2008-08-18|date=2008-08-01|title=Sussex Women win the County Championship at Taunton|publisher=Sussex County Cricket Club] The West Sussex Cricket League has named a trophy after her, awarded annually to the most-improved young female cricketer in the county.cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-171242012.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|date=2007-11-13|title=Sophie eyes senior Sussex squad|publisher="Littlehampton Gazette"]

International

Colvin's first involvement with international cricket came in August 2005, when the England team was preparing to face the Australian womens' international team at the Hove County Cricket Ground. She was invited to bowl against the English team in the nets to give them practice against a left-arm spinner, who the Australian team was fielding in the form of Shelley Nitschke. After the practice session, Colvin was asked to be available for the four-day by team coach Richard Bates. Team captain Clare Connor admitted that her inclusion was "pure hunch", believing that the dry, dusty wicket would be favourable to spin bowling. Bates explained to "The Times" that "the pitch [was] a little worn, and we felt that Holly could help us exploit it". Colvin made her England debut on 9 August, 2005, becoming at 15 years and 336 days the youngest cricketer (of either sex) to play Test cricket for England.cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/215501.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|title=Players and Officials - Holly Colvin|publisher=CricInfo.com|month=December|year=2006] She took three wickets in her inaugural game,cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/womens_cricket/6933774.stm|accessdate=2008-08-18|title=Star pupil Colvin eyes new tests|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2007-08-07|first=David|last=Gavrilovic] dismissing Kate Blackwell and Julia Price in two consecutive balls and nearly taking Julie Hayes for a hat-trick.cite news|publisher="The Times"|date=2008-08-10|title=England schoolgirl passes test but fightback earns top marks|first=Sarah|last=Potter|page=p. 66] Reminiscing over the experience in February 2008, Colvin remarked that "I think I was fortunate... I had no idea who I was playing against – all these big names that were coming up against me and I had pretty much no idea". She described her near-hat-trick as a "pretty special [moment] ".

Although Bates said that "she might have to wait a few years before she gets another chance [to play for England] ", Colvin became a regular member of England's international teams. By August 2007, she had two Test matches and eleven One Day Internationals to her credit. In the Women's Quadrangular Series in India in 2006, Colvin took three wickets for 47 against New Zealand, [cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/114/114907.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|date=2007-03-03|title=England Women v New Zealand Women in 2006/07|publisher=CricketArchive] and then 3 for 50 in the 3^rd–4^th playoff to secure the England team 3^rd place. [cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/114/114909.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|date=2007-03-05|title=India Women v England Women in 2006/07|publisher=CricketArchive]

On 10 August, 2007, Colvin took a wicket and a catch in her inaugural Twenty20 match, against New Zealand at Taunton. [cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/125/125887.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|date=2007-08-10|title=England Women v South Africa Women in 2006/07|publisher=CricketArchive] Despite being the smallest member of the squad – a photograph published by the BBC shows her fitting comfortably inside a cricket bagcite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/womens_cricket/5242136.stm|accessdate=2008-08-18|title=Rosalie Birch column|date=2006-08-04|first=Rosalie|last=Birch|publisher=BBC Sport] – she proved her worth in the three-match series, taking wickets in both subsequent games. [cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/114/114865.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|date=2007-08-12|title=England Women v New Zealand Women in 2007|publisher=CricketArchive] [cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/114/114866.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|date=2007-08-13|title=England Women v New Zealand Women in 2007|publisher=CricketArchive]

In February 2008, Colvin played her third international Test match, on tour in Australia,cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/129/129766.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|date=2008-03-18|title=England Women v New Zealand Women in 2007|publisher=CricketArchive] as part of the England Women's Team defending the Ashes won in 2005. Colvin admitted that she felt "a little under pressure" before the one-match series;cite news|url=http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/womens/international/colvin,16313,EN.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|date=2008-02-14|title=Colvin holds ashes hope|publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board] England had not won the Women's Ashes for 42 years prior to the victory in 2005. She claimed that the team were "definitely looking to win... we’ve got more to lose". The England Team won the match by six wickets, successfully retaining the Ashes trophy. Colvin set a new personal best for Test matches, taking three for 42 during the second innings. Her best bowling analysis in ODI cricket was exceeded on September 1 2008 when she took 4 for 20 against India in the second match of the series at Taunton. [cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/engine/match/320233.html|title=2nd Women's ODI: England Women v India Women|date=2008-09-01|publisher=Cricinfo]

As of|2008|August, Colvin has participated in three test matches, [cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/88/88054/Womens_Test_Matches.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|title=Women's Test Matches played by Holly Colvin|publisher=CricketArchive] 25 One Day Internationals, [cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/88/88054/Womens_One-Day_International_Matches.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|title=Women's One-Day International Matches played by Holly Colvin|publisher=CricketArchive] and three Twenty20 matches. [cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/88/88054/Womens_International_Twenty20_Matches.html|accessdate=2008-08-18|title=Women's Test Matches played by Holly Colvin|publisher=CricketArchive]

Personal life

Colvin gained 10 A* GCSE passes and three As in AS-level exams. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/southern_counties/5280162.stm|title=Cricketing star passes GCSE test|work=BBC News|date=2006-08-24|accessdate=2007-08-11]

References

External links

*cricinfo|ref=ci/content/player/215501.html
* [http://www.ecb.co.uk/stats/players/england-women/holly-colvin,387,PP.html ECB profile]