SOUTHERN Vipers have enhanced their bowling attack with England pace bowler Freya Davies joining the club. 

Davies, 28, was born in Chichester, West Sussex, and made her county debut in 2010 for the Martlets with a regional debut for South East Stars in August 2020. 

The right-arm pace bowler has played 35 times for England, most recently in the IT20 series of the Women’s Ashes, and she has taken 33 international wickets to date, with a best of 4-23 against New Zealand in 2021. 

In the 2023 women’s regional season, Davies picked up 15 wickets for South East Stars with a best of 3-27 coming against Sunrisers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. 

Speaking after signing for Vipers, Davies said: “I am really excited to be joining the Southern Vipers this season.

"I am looking forward to playing cricket back where I first fell in love with the game many years ago. 

“As a group, they have a huge range of experience and youth and I'm looking forward to bringing what I can to this team and hopefully continuing the success they have already achieved. 

“It is an exciting new chapter for me as a cricketer and I cannot wait to get going.” 

Adam Carty, regional director of women’s cricket, added: “Following the retirement of Anya Shrubsole and the increased schedule for 2024, we felt it essential to reinforce our seamer department at the club. 

“To replace an experienced seamer of international pedigree with a bowler of Freya’s ability and experience feels like great business.

"Although we anticipate Freya not being available in the first instance in 2024, we are confident that she will take her place in due course and play a significant role in us attempting the defend both T20 and 50-over trophies. 

“We are delighted to have Freya on board. It feels satisfying that the girl from Chi has found her way back to her home region.

"I sense there are more chapters yet to write in what has been a highly impressive career thus far.” 

Davies made her Hundred debut for London Spirit in 2021, and stayed with the same team the following season, taking 10 wickets in her time at the Lord’s-based team. 

Drafted up into a new-look Welsh Fire side for the 2023 edition, Davies took seven wickets, second only to Shabnim Ismail for the team.

Her best figures were 2-19 as the Fire reached the knockout stages of the competition for the first time.