A RISING cricket star could make her England ODI debut on home turf.
Charis Pavely, 21, from Redditch, has been tipped to play against Ireland at Worcestershire’s New Road on Sunday.
It would mark a dream return to the ground where her cricket journey began just three years ago.
Ms Pavely made her Worcestershire debut in 2021 and quickly established herself as a talented left-arm spinner and powerful batter.
She said: “I was a Bromsgrove junior and started playing when I was about 12 and then from there I got put on the county system after about two weeks of playing hardball cricket.
“They (Worcestershire) were short for a game in Wales, it was in the middle of summer and no one else wanted to go or could go, so I took the chance.
“Once I got started, that was kind of it really.
“I have loved it ever since.”
Her rapid rise through the ranks saw her make her England T20 international debut in September 2024.
She impressed with figures of 3-19 and is now being considered for her first 50-over appearance.
Ms Pavely has since moved to Warwickshire and Central Sparks, where she took 20 wickets in the 2024 Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup.
She also enjoyed a strong season with London Spirit in The Hundred.
Her form earned her a call-up to the England ODI squad and a contract extension with Warwickshire until 2028.
Reflecting on her early days, Ms Pavely said: “If I look back, when we started playing women’s County cricket before it got a bit more on the map, it was a bit different.
“We had a finals day at Falkland Cricket Club a few years ago now, and in that team was Sarah Glenn, Em Arlott, Clare Boycott and Hannah Hardwick.
“If you look at it, it’s probably a credit to coaches at the time, given how many have gone onto play professional cricket from then.”
The England-Ireland ODI series begins on Tuesday in Leicestershire before moving to Derbyshire and then concluding at New Road.
For Ms Pavely, making her ODI debut at New Road would be especially meaningful.
She said: “It’d probably be one of the highlights of my career if that was to happen next week and I could add to all of the memories by playing at New Road for England.
“It’s my bucket list to play at New Road.”