Talented young Kent Women’s Academy graduate Ryana MacDonald-Gay has become the 18th cricketer from the county to make her England Women’s One-Day International debut.
Maidstone-born MacDonald-Gay, 20, received her debut cap from Kent icon and England team-mate Tammy Beaumont at Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast, ahead of the first One-Day International of England’s series with Ireland on September 7.
“I have the honour of awarding you cap number 144,” said Beaumont. “I know your parents are here today, incredibly proud of you.
“I know the ‘Kent massive’ are incredibly proud of you. I tried to look up what number Kent player to represent England you were – but they have lost count – so couldn’t find that one!
“I think something that, for me, has always stood out about Kent players is that we show a lot of character, and you have got that in abundance.
“I remember the first time I actually played with you, up at Durham against India [during a tour match in 2022], and it just struck me how much character you had, how calm you were and how much you wanted to be in the battle, how assured you were and how you knew exactly what you wanted to execute.
“I think, at about 17 or 18, that was incredibly impressive.
“We have seen that again and again – with England under-19s and Oval Invincibles – and we’re going to see it again today at what is the start of the next chapter of what is going to be a great journey.
“That character is going to hold you in such great stead.”
MacDonald-Gay took her first international wicket by bowling Rebecca Stokell and ended with figures of 1-30 from eight overs as England earned a four-wicket win.
In the three-game series, which England edged 2-1, she contributed 17 with the bat and figures of 0-22 in last Wednesday’s Duckworth-Lewis-Stern three-wicket loss in Belfast.
MacDonald-Gay also returned 1-25 as England went down by five wickets to Ireland in a T20 game in Dublin on Sunday. That series ended 1-1.
She has made 22 appearances for Kent Women since making her debut in June 2019, taking 14 wickets at 12.50 and scoring 223 runs at 27.87.
Playing for South East Stars, MacDonald-Gay was PCA player-of-the-month for April taking 12 wickets at 7.90, earning 59 MVP points.
