Sophie Ecclestone is the world’s No 1 bowler throughout the each girls’s white-ball codecs – however, forward of the 2024 Girls’s T20 World Cup, what else do we all know in regards to the England spinner affectionally nicknamed ‘Eccy’?
In an unique interview as a part of the Sky Sports activities Editions collection, Ecclestone – a large Everton fan – reveals it was former England defender and bluenose Phil Jagielka who offered her together with her alter ego.
“At first I hated it, so everyone started calling me it because I hated it,” Ecclestone stated.
“Eccy is someone enjoys life, loves a bit of shopping, loves her shoes.”
And pink. ‘Eccy’ – as her Sky Sports activities Editions can attest to – loves the color pink.
“If I stroll out the lodge and I have not obtained pink on, the women are at all times like ‘are you alright?’ she stated.
“I’m not sure where it comes from. When I was younger I was such a tomboy – never get me a dress, I would never have my hair down, would never go near make up or anything like that – but I feel like I just grew up a little bit.”
Ecclestone’s tomboy roots meant that she was removed from fazed when the one lady taking part in junior cricket at her native membership, Alvanley Cricket Membership in Helsby, Cheshire.
Exhibiting her prodigious potential from a younger age, Ecclestone was then fast-tracked into the England arrange as an adolescent, making her worldwide debut in 2016 when solely 17.
“It happened very fast for me,” she admitted. “When I was 16, I used to play cricket to enjoy myself, for a bit of a laugh.”
And, regardless of now working on the elite degree of the game, that is one thing the now 25-year-old has caried into her England profession.
“I like to enjoy myself,” she stated. “It’s best to get a balance. We work hard, so we play hard.
“If you’re within the limelight, there’s lots of strain conditions, so the women and I prefer to get out as a lot as we are able to.”
Putting the best stability, Ecclestone is England’s all-time main wicket-taker in T20 cricket, her 126 throughout her 86 caps coming at a mean of simply 14.65 apiece.
Earlier this yr, Ecclestone additionally broke the report for the quickest girl to 100 ODI wickets, the left-arm spinner equalling Australian nice Cathryn Fitzpatrick’s 64 matches to the mark however bettering her when it comes to variety of innings bowled (63).
For all her dominance on the worldwide stage, a trophy with England has up to now eluded Eccy, with England’s 50-over World Cup in 2017 coming earlier than she was absolutely embedded throughout the group.
Since, Ecclestone and England have been twice-beaten semi-finalists within the Girls’s T20 World Cup and have additionally completed as runners-up in that event (2018) and within the 50-over format when defending their title (2022).
“We’ve had a few losses in World Cup semi-finals [and finals], and I’ve given myself 24 hours to dwell on it, mope about and be sad about it,” she stated.
“But cricket moves on so fast, you’ve got to move on.”
The primary likelihood to maneuver on comes within the type of one other tilt on the T20 World Cup title within the United Arab Emirates this month – with each match dwell on Sky Sports activities – and the formidable Ecclestone is definitely acutely aware of the legacy she in the end leaves within the recreation.
“Playing cricket, I have one of the best jobs in the world – I get to travel and play my sport,” she stated.
“I want to be remembered as someone who had fun, who enjoys it but who also ends up number one in the world when they finish.”
Eccy is properly on her manner.
Sky Sports activities Editions is a brand new social-first collection that tells the must-know tales of elite sportswomen in a manner that’s distinctive to them, as they’re given the prospect to model and direct their very personal cowl shoot. Watch on the Sky Sports activities YouTube channel.
Watch each match of the 2024 Girls’s T20 World Cup dwell on Sky Sports activities, beginning with the event opener between Bangladesh and Scotland on Thursday October 3 in Sharjah and concluding with the ultimate in Dubai on Sunday October 20. Additionally stream with NOW.