Biography

Sophie Ecclestone is an English professional cricketer widely regarded as the premier left-arm orthodox spinner in the world. Known for her height, accuracy, and repeatable action, she has held the ICC No. 1 ranking in both WODI and WT20I bowling for significant periods.

Born in Chester and raised in Helsby, Ecclestone grew up in a sports-loving family. She credits her brother, James, as a major influence on her career; she originally played in the Alvanley boys' first team alongside him.

Standing at 6 feet tall, Ecclestone uses her height to generate extra bounce and a challenging trajectory that drifts and dips. Her approach is characterized by a minimalistic, efficient action. She is known for her ability to hold up one end with an economical economy rate while remaining an aggressive wicket-taker. Her arm ball is a noted weapon in her arsenal.

Ecclestone has been a frequent award-winner and record-breaker since her teen years. In the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup, she finished as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps, including a career-best 6/36 in the semi-final against South Africa. She was also named one of the five cricketers of the year for her performances in 2024 by Wisden Cricketer of the Year.

Sophie is a highly sought-after player in domestic leagues across the globe. She has been a part of the UP Warriorz franchise in the Women's Premier League since the inaugural 2023 season, a season in which she was the highest wicket-taker as well. Apart from this, she has also captained Manchester Originals in The Hundred and has been a regular appearance maker in the Women's Big Bash League, having played for Sydney Sixers and most recently Adelaide Strikers.