Blidworth CWCC teen picked for Dubai cricket tour
Blidworth Colliery Welfare Cricket Club player Harriet Vella is set to head to Dubai this month after being selected for a Lincolnshire County Cricket Club tour, a significant step in a journey that began with junior cricket at the village club when she was six.
Harriet will travel with the Lincs CCC U18 squad on a nine-day trip beginning on 14th February 2026, with matches scheduled against ECB-selected teams. The tour is expected to provide high-level opposition and valuable experience in overseas conditions.
She first joined Blidworth Colliery Welfare Cricket Club in 2014, progressing through every stage of the junior pathway, from Kwik Cricket through U11, U13 and U15. Along the way, she featured on county pathways with Nottinghamshire, represented the Mansfield Youth League, and earned her league cap.
Now representing Lincolnshire across U15, U16 and U18 age groups, Harriet also stepped into senior cricket for Blidworth in 2022. During the 2025 season, she took on the responsibility of opening the batting for the club’s Sunday XI for around half of the campaign, a role that demands discipline and composure against more experienced bowlers.
Her selection follows a winter spent in the Lincolnshire CCC winter training programme. Her progress is seen locally as a strong example of the opportunities community clubs can provide, from first sessions and junior fixtures through to senior cricket and county recognition.
As Harriet prepares to represent Lincolnshire CCC overseas, attention will also fall on Blidworth Colliery Welfare CC’s junior pathway, the grassroots setup that has helped develop a player now preparing for an international tour.