The Silsden-based cricket gear producer helping female players 'reach their potential'

Hollie Armitage, who captains the Northern Diamonds regional women’s cricket team, said she believes girls and women are playing with far more confidence in the game now they have kit that fits.

The 25-year-old professional cricketer from Golcar noted her belief that for too long, girls have had to put up with hand-me-down cricket gear, ill-fitting pads and bats that were either too heavy or too long.

Ms Armitage, who has three bats made specifically for her by Viking, said: “I’ve got pads, gloves and thigh pads and the fine dimensions such as a few millimetres in the design stage can make all the difference.”

Viking has also worked closely with Jenny Gunn MBE to fine tune the designs for gloves and pads.

Ms Gunn played for England for 15 years until 2019.

Viking owner Jeff Wilson noted his belief that a lack of fitting cricketing gear had held up the women’s game in the past.

He said: “In the past, female cricketers have just been given youths or men’s hand-me-downs, which isn’t ideal at all because they don’t fit properly.

“You would find players’ struggling to bat properly or running in batting pads that were too big for them.

“All of this meant that female cricketers weren’t reaching their potential.”

England opening bat Emma Lamb, who scored her first century in international cricket against South Africa in the Summer, also noted the benefits brought to women's cricket through specifically designed equipment.

She said: “When I began playing I used to get a lot of my brother’s hand-me-down kit and it just didn’t fit. There really was nothing available for girls and women and Viking Cricket has helped to change all that.

“The bats I used were so heavy and long they even left an indent in my arm every time I hit the ball. Women’s cricket has really lagged behind when it comes to equipment such as bats, pads and gloves that needed to be specifically designed for women.”

Viking now also works with the online Female Cricket Store set up by former England international Lydia Greenway.

Mr Wilson added: “Both Lydia and I can’t believe how many parents still comment on social media saying they can’t get female gear.

“They can now, and It’s something we’ll continue to develop.

“To have top professionals like Hollie, Emma and all the others wanting to work with us is an honour because they are trusting us to provide them with the best equipment available.”

Ms Armitage noted how the development of women’s cricket gear has had a major impact on the confidence of girls and women.

“I was lucky in that I’m quite tall, so I could get away with bats and pads that were too big for most girls,” she said. “But now everything is designed for the female body shape and build it’s made a big difference.

“Just to look inside the gear and see the label Girls or Women’s is so important. The sport is growing at a phenomenal rate and it’s great to see a Yorkshire company at the forefront of that.”