Rubies, previously known as Braves, were an English women's

cricket Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...

team that competed in the

Super Fours The Super Fours was a women's limited overs cricket competition which was played annually in England between 2002 Super Fours, 2002 and 2013 Super Fours, 2013, with a break in 2009 and 2010. Designed to bring together the leading 48 players in Eng ...

. The squad varied from season to season, but was made up of some of the top players in English cricket. They were captained by

Clare Connor Clare Joanne Connor (born 1 September 1976) is an English former cricketer who batted right-handed and bowled Left-arm orthodox spin, slow left arm spin. She held the presidency of Marylebone Cricket Club from 2021 until 2022. She made her Engl ...

for their first four seasons, and were subsequently captained by various

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

players such as

Lydia Greenway Lydia Sophie Greenway (born 6 August 1985) is an English cricket commentator and former cricketer who played as a left-handed batter and occasional right-arm off break bowler. She was also regarded as one of the best outfielders in the women' ...

. They won four Super Fours titles in their history: two 50-over tournaments and two

Twenty20 Twenty20 (abbreviated T20) is a shortened format of cricket. At the professional level, it was introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2003 for the county cricket, inter-county competition. In a Twenty20 game, the two t ...

tournaments.

History

2002–2005: Braves

The

was established in

2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...

as a way of bridging the gap between women's county cricket and international cricket, bringing together the top players in

. Braves was one of the teams established, and was captained by

. They won the first 50 over tournament that took place, winning 4 out of 6 games. Braves failed to replicate this form over the next few seasons, however, finishing 3rd, 2nd and 4th in

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

, respectively. The did reach the inaugural Twenty20 final in 2004, but lost to V Team by 8 wickets.

2006–2013: Rubies

2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...

the side was renamed Rubies and a season later, in

2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...

, they achieved their second title, winning all six of their games to win the 50 over tournament. Rubies batter

was the tournament leading run-scorer, and bowler Holly Colvin was the leading wicket-taker, including taking 5/7 against Sapphires. Whilst they did not win the 50 over title again, they did add two

titles to their honours list, winning in

2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...

and

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

History

2002–2005: Braves

2006–2013: Rubies

Seasons

Super Fours

Super Fours Twenty20

References