Maia Bouchier

Maia Bouchier
Personal information
Full name
Maia Emily Bouchier
Born (1998-12-05) 5 December 1998 (age 26)
Kensington, Greater London, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
RoleBatter
International information
National side
Only Test (cap 169)15 December 2024 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 142)9 September 2023 v Sri Lanka
Last ODI30 June 2024 v New Zealand
T20I debut (cap 52)4 September 2021 v New Zealand
Last T20I11 July 2024 v New Zealand
T20I shirt no.14
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2014–2018Middlesex
2017/18Auckland
2018–2024Southern Vipers
2019–presentHampshire
2021–presentSouthern Brave
2021/22Melbourne Stars
2021/22Western Australia
2023/24–presentMelbourne Stars
Career statistics
Competition WODI WT20I WLA WT20
Matches 12 39 82 192
Runs scored 542 645 2,180 3,140
Batting average 52.37 24.80 33.03 21.36
100s/50s 2/3 0/3 1/14 0/9
Top score 123* 91 100* 93
Balls bowled – – 568 234
Wickets – – 16 12
Bowling average – – 24.31 19.66
5 wickets in innings – – 0 0
10 wickets in match – – 0 0
Best bowling – – 3/24 3/18
Catches/stumpings 3/– 9/– 33/– 81/–
Source: CricketArchive, 18 October 2024

Maia Emily Bouchier (/ˈbuːʃieɪ/ BOO-shee-ay;[1] born 5 December 1998) is an English cricketer who currently plays for Hampshire, Southern Brave and Melbourne Stars. She plays as a right-handed batter and bowls occasional right-arm medium pace. She has previously played for Middlesex, Southern Vipers, Auckland and Western Australia.[2][3] She made her international debut for the England women's cricket team in September 2021.

Early life

Bouchier was born in Kensington, Greater London.[3] Her mother is Iranian.[4] She attended Rugby School and then Oxford Brookes University.[3]

Domestic career

County cricket

Bouchier made her county debut for Middlesex in 2014, against Warwickshire. The 3/24 she took on her debut remains her List A best bowling.[5] She became a regular in the side from 2016, and had her most successful season for Middlesex in 2018: she was their leading run-scorer in the Championship, with 172 runs at 34.40, and was ever-present as her side won the Twenty20 Cup.[6][7] She also hit what was at the time her List A high score in the Championship, scoring 76 against Somerset.[8]

In 2019, Bouchier moved to Hampshire. She had a successful first season with the club, hitting two half-centuries and ending the season as the side's highest run-scorer in the Twenty20 Cup.[9][10] In 2021, she scored just 28 runs in four innings in the 2021 Women's Twenty20 Cup.[11] In the 2022 Women's Twenty20 Cup, she was Hampshire's leading run-scorer, with 149 runs including 73 made against Sussex.[12][13]

Regional cricket

Bouchier also played for Southern Vipers in the Women's Cricket Super League in 2018 and 2019. She played all 11 matches for the side in 2019, helping them reach Finals Day and hitting 114 runs overall, with a best of 40 against Lancashire Thunder.[14][15]

Bouchier continued playing for Southern Vipers in the 2020 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. She appeared in all 7 matches, including her side's 38-run victory in the Final over Northern Diamonds. She scored 183 runs at an average of 30.50, as well as taking 1 wicket, the key dismissal of Lauren Winfield-Hill in the Final.[16][17][18] She scored one half-century, 50* in a victory over Western Storm.[19] In October 2020, it was announced that Bouchier had been suspended from bowling due to an illegal elbow extension in her action, and would have to undergo remedial work.[18] She was cleared to resume bowling in competitive cricket in July 2021.[20]

In 2021, Bouchier scored 195 runs at an average of 32.50 in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy as her side defended their title, as well as scoring 104 runs at an average of 52.00 in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.[21][22] She also played for Southern Brave in The Hundred, scoring 92 runs with a strike rate of 143.75.[23] In 2022, she was ever-present in Southern Vipers' victorious Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign, scoring 176 runs in seven matches.[24] She also played five matches for the side in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, scoring 128 runs including one half-century.[25] In The Hundred, she was ever-present for Southern Brave, scoring 88 runs in 8 matches.[26]

In 2023, she played 15 matches for Southern Vipers, across the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Charlotte Edwards Cup, making five half-centuries.[27][28] She also scored 268 runs at an average of 38.28, including one half-century, for Southern Brave in The Hundred.[29] In 2024, she played eight matches for Southern Vipers, across the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Charlotte Edwards Cup, scoring one half-century.[30][31]

Overseas cricket

Bouchier spent one season, 2017/18, playing for Auckland. She was most successful in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, scoring 273 runs at an average of 45.50 with two half-centuries.[32] Her side also won the competition.[33]

In September 2021, Bouchier signed for the Melbourne Stars for the 2021–22 Women's Big Bash League season.[34] She played all 12 matches for the side, scoring 185 runs with a high score of 42, made against Hobart Hurricanes.[35] In February 2022, it was announced that Bouchier had joined Western Australia for their Women's National Cricket League campaign.[36] She played six matches for the side in the tournament, scoring 130 runs including making her List A high score, with 79 against Queensland.[37][38] She re-joined Melbourne Stars for the 2023–24 Women's Big Bash League season, scoring 216 runs at an average of 15.42.[39]

International career

In August 2021, Bouchier was named in England's Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) squad for their series against New Zealand.[40] However, Bouchier was ruled out of the first WT20I match of the three-match series after being identified as a possible COVID-19 contact.[41] She made her WT20I debut in the next match, on 4 September 2021, for England against New Zealand, scoring 25 from 24 balls.[42] She went on to play the final match of the series as England secured a 2–1 victory.[43] She was later added to the WODI squad ahead of the third match of the series, but was released before the fifth match to enable her to play in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final.[44]

In December 2021, Bouchier was named in England's squad for their tour to Australia to contest the Women's Ashes.[45] She appeared in one match on the tour, the first WT20I, but did not bat.[46] In July 2022, she was named in England's squad for their T20I series against South Africa and the cricket tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.[47] She played every match across the two series, including making 21* to see England to victory over Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Games.[48][49][50] In December 2022, she played every match in England's T20I series against the West Indies, scoring 31 runs in three innings.[51]

In January 2023, Bouchier was named in England's squad for the 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, although she did not play a match at the tournament.[52][53] She was named in England's squad for the T20I series during the 2023 Women's Ashes, but did not play a match.[54] Later that summer, she was named in England's squad for their series against Sri Lanka.[55] She made her One Day International debut during the 1st ODI of the series, and scored 95 from 65 deliveries during the 3rd ODI.[56] In December 2023, she was awarded her first central contract with England.[57]

She scored her first century in ODIs for England against New Zealand on 30 June 2024.[58] She was named in the England squad for the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.[59]

Bouchier was named in England's travelling party for the their multi-format tour to South Africa in November 2024, including her first inclusion in a Test match squad.[60][61] During the series, she made her Test match debut, scoring 126 in her first innings in the format.[62][63]

Personal life

Bouchier is gay.[64] While at school, she was the target of homophobic bullying.[4] As of June 2023, she is in a relationship with British international beach volleyball athlete and sports therapist Jess Grimson. They met at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. They live together in Bournemouth.[64]

References

  1. ^ Listen to Bouchier pronouncing her own name: "Maia Bouchier 2017 Middlesex Women's Cricket Player Profile". YouTube. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Player Profile: Maia Bouchier". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Player Profile: Maia Bouchier". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Bouchier wants to 'pave way' for future LGBTQ+ cricketers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Warwickshire Women v Middlesex Women, 26 May 2014". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Batting and Fielding for Middlesex Women/Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2018". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Batting and Fielding for Middlesex Women/Vitality Women's Twenty20 Cup 2018". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Somerset Women v Middlesex Women, 20 May 2018". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Batting and Fielding for Hampshire Women/Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2019". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Batting and Fielding for Hampshire Women/Vitality Women's Twenty20 Cup 2019". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Batting and Fielding for Hampshire Women/Vitality Women's County T20 2021". CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Batting and Fielding for Hampshire Women/Vitality Women's County T20 2022". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Sussex Women v Hampshire Women, 24 April 2022". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Batting and Fielding for Southern Vipers/Kia Super League 2019". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Southern Vipers v Lancashire Thunder, 15 August 2019". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Batting and Fielding for Southern Vipers/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2020". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Bowling for Southern Vipers/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2020". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Maia Bouchier suspended from bowling due to illegal action". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Southern Vipers v Western Storm, 13 September 2020". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Bouchier bowling action cleared". ECB Newsroom. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2021 - Southern Vipers/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2021 - Southern Vipers/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  23. ^ "Records/The Hundred Women's Competition, 2021 - Southern Brave (Women)/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  24. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2022 - Southern Vipers/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  25. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2022 - Southern Vipers/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  26. ^ "Records/The Hundred Women's Competition, 2022 - Southern Brave (Women)/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  27. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2023 - Southern Vipers/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2023 - Southern Vipers/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  29. ^ "Records/The Hundred Women's Competition, 2023 - Southern Brave (Women)/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  30. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, 2024 - Southern Vipers/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  31. ^ "Records/Charlotte Edwards Cup, 2024 - Southern Vipers/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  32. ^ "Batting and Fielding for Auckland Women/Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2017/18". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2017/18 Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  34. ^ "Stars sign England young gun for WBBL|07". Cricket.com.au. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  35. ^ "Batting and Fielding for Melbourne Stars Women/Weber Women's Big Bash League 2021/22". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  36. ^ "WNCL Travelling Squad Confirmed". WA Cricket. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  37. ^ "Records/Women's National Cricket League, 2021/22 - Western Australia Women/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  38. ^ "22nd Match, Canberra, Mar 15 2022, Women's National Cricket League: Queensland Women v Western Australia Women". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  39. ^ "Records in Women's Big Bash League, 2023/24 / Melbourne Stars Women Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  40. ^ "Bouchier and Dean earn first England Women call-ups". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  41. ^ "Bouchier and Dean to miss first T20 against New Zealand, Emma Lamb called up as replacement". The Cricketer. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  42. ^ "2nd T20I (N), Hove, Sep 4 2021, New Zealand Women tour of England". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  43. ^ "3rd T20I (N), Taunton, Sep 9 2021, New Zealand Women tour of England". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  44. ^ "Southern Vipers v Northern Diamonds: Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Final 2021 - All you need to know". The Cricketer. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  45. ^ "Heather Knight vows to 'fight fire with fire' during Women's Ashes". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  46. ^ "1st T20I (N), Adelaide, Jan 20 2022, Women's Ashes: Australia Women v England Women". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  47. ^ "Alice Capsey named in England's Commonwealth Games squad, Tammy Beaumont omitted". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  48. ^ "Records/South Africa Women in England T20I Series, 2022 - England Women Averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  49. ^ "Records/Commonwealth Games Women's Cricket Competition, 2022 - England Women/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  50. ^ "Alice Capsey seals deal after Katherine Brunt sets tone for England". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  51. ^ "Records/England Women in West Indies T20I Series, 2022/23 - England Women/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  52. ^ "Alice Capsey named in England Women's T20 World Cup squad". ESPN Cricinfo. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  53. ^ "Records/ICC Women's T20 World Cup, 2022/23 - England Women/Women's Twenty20 Internationals/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  54. ^ "Danielle Gibson called into England's T20I squad for Women's Ashes". ESPNcricinfo. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  55. ^ "England Women name squads for Sri Lanka ODI and IT20 series". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  56. ^ "Nat Sciver-Brunt, Maia Bouchier plunder Sri Lanka before Charlie Dean seals series". ESPNcricinfo. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  57. ^ "England Women 2023/24 Central Contracts announced". ECB. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  58. ^ "Maiden century is just the starter as Maia Bouchier whets England's appetite". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  59. ^ "England Women squad named for ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  60. ^ "Uncapped Bouchier and Kemp in England Test squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  61. ^ "England drop Alice Capsey for South Africa T20Is, include two uncapped players for Test match". Wisden. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  62. ^ "Centuries on women's Test debut, full list: Can Maia Bouchier break the 20-year curse?". Wisden. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  63. ^ "Sciver-Brunt & Bouchier give England upper hand over SA". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  64. ^ a b "Pride Month: Team England's Jess Grimson and Maia Bouchier tell their story". Team England. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.