Lord’s, 25 July 2021: a relatively unknown 16-year-old strides to the crease and, in the span of an hour, captivates an audience of over 10,000 by scoring a half-century that marks her as a future star. Who is she? Alice Capsey.
That moment occurred during the inaugural women’s Hundred. Now, the fourth edition is set to commence on Tuesday at the Oval, with a new talent aiming to echo Capsey’s achievement: 17-year-old power hitter Davina Perrin.
Perrin is relatively new to the scene. She was part of Birmingham Phoenix’s squad during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Signing with them at just 15, she became the youngest player in the competition, although she didn’t get to play. Now, having relocated 100 miles north to join the Leeds-based Northern Superchargers, she is eager to display her skills on one of women’s cricket’s grandest platforms.
In 2023, a remarkable total of 310,751 fans attended the women’s Hundred, a rise from 267,000 in its first year. Each edition thus far has shattered its own record for attendance at a women’s cricket event globally. Although there are apprehensions regarding the future ownership model—since the England and Wales Cricket Board appears intent on selling its interest in the eight franchises to private investors—organizers are optimistic that another stellar year will overshadow these worries.
Like Capsey, Perrin aspires to attract large crowds, but her motivations dig deeper than mere personal ambition. She is one of only three Black cricketers in the professional women’s circuit. “There’s so much more to me than just being a cricketer,” she expresses. “When I step onto that pitch, I represent girls of ethnic minorities who are often overlooked in the sport, particularly in the professional realm.”
This is a weighty expectation for a 17-year-old, yet Perrin is acutely cognizant of the scarcity of Black role models in women’s cricket. A 2023 report from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket declared that racism is “widespread and deep-rooted” within English cricket, ultimately concluding that Black players have been “failed” by the ECB. When she signed her first contract with Central Sparks after the 2022 season, Perrin became just the third Black female professional cricketer in England.
Perrin grew up in a cricket-loving family with her dad, David, a former Staffordshire player, and fondly recalls her local club, Fordhouses in Wolverhampton. Her recent participation in Ebony Rainford-Brent’s ACE (African Caribbean Engagement) program—which offers mentoring to elite Black cricketers in light of concerns about early departures from the sport—has given her clarity about the broader issues at play.
“Figures like Ebony served as inspirations for me. I hope that as my game progresses, I can become a role model for many more Black girls. I want them to love cricket just as I do, without having to worry about the surrounding politics.”
After receiving an unexpected call-up to the Central Sparks just before her 15th birthday—“I only realized halfway through the match that it was a competitive game!”—Perrin balanced cricket with a sports BTec at Edgbaston. Recently graduating, she now enjoys the experience of being a full-time cricketer for the first time and is evidently thriving. This season, she was promoted to open for the Sparks in 20-over matches, playing a pivotal role in their journey to the finals day of the Charlotte Edwards Cup. “Not too shabby,” she remarks about her 32 off 19 in the semi-final against Blaze.
after newsletter promotion
Similar to Capsey, Perrin has aspirations for England—but she has the added distinction of already having represented her country at the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa in January 2023. “We approached it with no expectations, and it definitely surpassed what we anticipated. For many of us, it was our first experience playing overseas.
“I never imagined I would sit with girls from Rwanda, learning about their lives, their cricket journeys, and how different they are from mine. And beating the Aussies in the semis? You really can’t ask for more!”
She is expected to play a prominent role in the next tournament, set for January 2025 in Malaysia and Thailand. Beyond that? “I’m realizing that I have a voice. I don’t just express myself through my batting; I can also speak out to raise awareness about issues. My goal is to excel to my utmost potential at the highest level possible while contributing to the growth of the game.”
