England · Bowler

Josie Groves: Age, 4/14 Record & 2026 Career

Josie Groves is an English leg-spinner for The Blaze who played two matches for London Spirit in The Hundred 2026. Born in Milton Keynes on 5 September 2004, she was 21 on 30 August 2026. Her current career snapshot records 33 wickets in 34 Women's List A matches and 57 wickets in 69 recognised women's T20 matches, with a T20 best of five for 19. That snapshot predates her four for 14 against Lancashire Thunder on 23 August, so the later spell is reported separately rather than added to an incomplete aggregate. Groves has captained England Women Under-19s, helped The Blaze win the 2024 Charlotte Edwards Cup and 2026 Women's Vitality Blast, and is contracted to the club through 2028.

By StumpScope Cricket Desk · Edited by StumpScope Editorial Team

Right-handedRight-arm leg break and googly bowlerBorn 5 September 2004

Current squadLondon SpiritThe Hundred · Two London Spirit appearances in The Hundred 2026; contracted to The Blaze through 2028

Open team page →

Full nameJosephine Paige Groves

Age21As of 30 August 2026

Date of birth5 September 2004Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England

Batting styleRight-handed

Bowling styleRight-arm leg break and googly

Career overview

Josie Groves cricket career

Born on 5 September 2004 in Milton Keynes; age 21 on 30 August 2026.

Right-handed batter and right-arm leg-break and googly bowler.

Current snapshot: 33 Women's List A and 57 women's T20 wickets.

Took five for 19 against Oxfordshire in the 2025 County Cup.

Took four for 14 against Lancashire Thunder on 23 August 2026.

England U19 captain, ECB Development XI captain and two-time Blaze T20 title winner.

Career story

Josie Groves career and playing journey

Who is Josie Groves?

Josie Groves, whose full name is Josephine Paige Groves, is an English wrist-spinner from Milton Keynes. She plays domestic cricket for The Blaze and joined London Spirit for The Hundred in 2026. CricketArchive describes her bowling as leg-break and googly, while The Hundred lists her primary position as bowler.

Her batting has produced two senior half-centuries, but bowling remains the main role. The Blaze have sometimes called her an all-rounder because she can contribute lower-order runs. This profile keeps the catalog role as bowler while explaining those batting performances rather than overstating a small batting sample.

Josie Groves's age, date of birth and birthplace

Groves was born on 5 September 2004 in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. She was 21 on 30 August 2026 and was due to turn 22 six days later. The age is tied to a cutoff so it does not silently remain 21 after her birthday.

The exact date and place appear consistently in current statistical and competition records. A birthplace does not establish a current home address, and this profile does not infer residence or publish private location details from her early county pathway.

How did Josie Groves begin her senior cricket career?

Groves made her Northamptonshire senior county debut in 2019. She took five wickets in that season's Women's Twenty20 Cup at 15.20, then collected another five in 2021 and seven in 2022. Those early returns established a repeat role as a wicket-taking leg-spinner rather than a one-match selection.

She also entered the Lightning academy system and moved into senior regional cricket. The pathway joined county appearances with a professional regional programme, which is why Northamptonshire, Lightning and later The Blaze all appear in her record without representing duplicate player identities.

Josie Groves's first senior half-century

Playing for Lightning against Southern Vipers in 2022, Groves scored 55 from 39 balls. It was her first Women's List A half-century and remains part of her current 249-run List A career total.

The innings matters because it showed she could do more than occupy the lower order. It does not, by itself, change her primary role. Her List A batting average at the current cutoff was 16.60, while her greater volume and impact still came through leg-spin.

When did Josie Groves receive her first professional contract?

The Blaze awarded Groves a senior contract in February 2023 after eight senior Lightning appearances in 2022. The club linked the decision to her dedication, wrist-spin skill and performances for England at the Under-19 World Cup.

A professional contract confirms her status within the domestic programme, not a public salary. The announcement did not disclose take-home pay, bonuses or private commercial income, so those figures cannot be reconstructed from the existence of the deal.

What did Josie Groves achieve at the 2023 Under-19 World Cup?

Groves was part of the England team that reached the final of the inaugural ICC Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup in 2023. The Blaze recorded three wickets for her during the tournament, while The Hundred's player page also identifies the finalist campaign as a major part of her pathway.

England Under-19 appearances are youth internationals, not senior England caps. Groves had not made a senior England debut by 30 August 2026, so the profile does not create a WODI or WT20I row or call her a senior international.

Josie Groves as England Under-19 captain

England appointed Groves captain for a Sri Lanka tri-series in March and April 2024. She scored 57 from 41 balls in a T20 win over Australia Under-19s and led a group that won three of four matches in the T20 leg before losing both one-day games.

Her complete England U19 T20 record was eight matches, 93 runs and five wickets, with a batting high of 57 and best bowling of two for five. The captaincy and record show leadership experience without being upgraded into senior national selection.

How Josie Groves helped The Blaze win the 2024 Charlotte Edwards Cup

Groves played a direct role in The Blaze's first trophy at the 2024 Charlotte Edwards Cup Finals Day. She took two for 16 and scored an unbeaten 14 from four balls in the semi-final, then took three for 33 against South East Stars in the final.

The sequence combines pressure batting with five wickets across the two knockout matches. It is stronger evidence of a title contribution than simply listing her in the squad. The Blaze won the competition, and Groves's figures belong to the completed semi-final and final scorecards.

Why did The Blaze give Josie Groves a four-year contract?

The Blaze announced a four-year deal in June 2024 that keeps Groves at Trent Bridge through 2028. Head coach Chris Guest cited her all-round ability, the point of difference provided by leg-spin and her development potential after the title-winning campaign.

The length of the contract offers continuity but does not guarantee selection in every match through 2028. Team combinations, injuries and form still affect appearances. The agreement is best read as a long-term club commitment, not a promise of a fixed role or salary.

Josie Groves's five for 19 against Oxfordshire

Groves took five wickets for 19 runs from four overs against Oxfordshire in the Women's T20 County Cup on 17 May 2025. The Blaze won by 10 wickets, and the spell stands as her recognised T20 career best.

The five-for should not be confused with an international record. It came in domestic county competition and is already included in the dated 57-wicket T20 snapshot. Her later four for 14 conceded fewer runs but contained one fewer wicket, so five for 19 remains the better wicket return.

What did Josie Groves's 50th Blaze cap represent?

The Blaze presented Groves with her 50th regional cap before the tied Vitality Blast match against Bears Women on 30 May 2025. The milestone counted her appearances for the East Midlands regional side rather than every Northamptonshire, England U19 or Hundred match.

Cap milestones depend on a team's own competition scope. They should not be used as a career match total because her record also contains county, youth and franchise appearances outside The Blaze.

How did Josie Groves start the 2026 season?

Groves made her first Blaze appearance of 2026 in a Bank Holiday win over Surrey. She was then chosen to captain an ECB Development XI against New Zealand in a 50-over warm-up match on 6 May.

The Development XI role was another leadership assignment, not a senior England cap. The team existed to provide competitive preparation and pathway experience. Keeping that distinction clear avoids turning a representative development fixture into an international debut.

What injury affected Josie Groves in 2026?

The Blaze reported Groves missing the Vitality Blast match against Durham on 31 May through injury. The club did not publish a detailed diagnosis in that match report, so this page does not name a body part or invent a recovery timetable.

She returned to the side later in the competition and contributed during the knockout phase. The dated absence establishes a short-season interruption, but it says nothing about her fitness after she resumed playing.

Josie Groves's role in the 2026 Women's Vitality Blast

Groves took two for 17 against Hampshire in July and then two for 18 in the semi-final against Surrey. The semi-final wickets removed Alice Davidson-Richards and Kalea Moore as Surrey were dismissed for 105 and The Blaze reached the target with 21 balls left.

She bowled four overs for 25 without a wicket in the final, where The Blaze beat Durham to win the title. A wicketless final does not erase the semi-final contribution, just as the team trophy should not be used to claim she dominated every match.

What did Josie Groves contribute with the bat in the 2026 Blast?

Against Durham on 5 July, Groves struck two sixes in the final over and finished with 18 from 11 balls. The late hitting lifted The Blaze to 147 for nine, although Durham completed the chase and won the match.

The innings is useful evidence of lower-order power because it has an exact score and match context. It should not be converted into a broader batting-form claim: her entire 2026 Blast batting return was only 19 runs from a small number of deliveries.

How did Josie Groves join London Spirit?

London Spirit secured Groves for £15,000 at The Hundred's inaugural player auction in March 2026. The price was published by both The Hundred and The Blaze and placed her alongside Blaze teammates Amy Jones, Marie Kelly and Lucy Higham at Lord's.

The £15,000 figure is an auction contract value for the 2026 competition. It is not a net-worth estimate, a statement of after-tax income or proof of all earnings during the year.

How did Josie Groves perform in The Hundred 2026?

Groves played two matches for London Spirit, against Manchester Super Giants on 23 July and Trent Rockets on 26 July. Across the two appearances she bowled nine balls for 24 runs without taking a wicket and scored two runs from three balls.

It was a very small sample. The first match ended in a seven-wicket defeat after Spirit made 80, while the second produced a win at Trent Bridge. Two games do not support a strong conclusion about her Hundred ceiling, and London Spirit's sixth-place finish was a team result.

Josie Groves's four for 14 against Lancashire Thunder

Groves took four for 14 as The Blaze beat defending County Cup champions Lancashire Thunder by 65 runs on 23 August 2026. The Blaze defended 160 for eight and dismissed Thunder for 95 after their openers had reached 52 without loss.

Her spell drove the collapse by helping reduce Lancashire from a strong start to 68 for five. It came after the current career snapshot was compiled, so the four wickets are not manually added to the 57-wicket row without a complete updated database total.

How current are Josie Groves's career statistics?

The locked career rows cover recognised matches through The Hundred 2026 and record 34 Women's List A matches and 69 women's T20 matches. They are newer than the old Wikipedia table dated 19 October 2024, which stopped at 22 List A and 47 T20 appearances.

The 23 August four for 14 is reported separately because it occurred after that snapshot. This avoids two common errors: presenting the 2024 table as current, or adding one known match to an aggregate that may be missing other later matches.

Josie Groves's Women's List A statistics

Through the current 2026 snapshot, Groves had played 34 Women's List A matches, scoring 249 runs at 16.60 with a highest score of 62 not out. She had taken 33 wickets at 32.27, with best figures of three for 39, an economy rate of 5.25 and 12 catches.

The batting and bowling records answer different questions. Two fifties show occasional lower-order value, while 33 wickets from 1,215 balls describe her main workload. Neither the 2026 Development XI warm-up nor youth one-day record is silently added to the senior domestic row.

Josie Groves's women's T20 statistics

The current snapshot records 69 recognised women's T20 matches, 320 runs and 57 wickets. Groves averaged 15.42 with the ball, conceded 6.08 runs per over and struck every 15.21 balls, with five for 19 as her best return.

Her batting total included one fifty, a highest score of 68 and an average of 12.30. The aggregate includes domestic and franchise T20 cricket but not a senior WT20I, because she had not debuted for England's senior team by the cutoff.

What makes Josie Groves's leg-spin different?

Groves bowls leg-breaks and a googly, giving The Blaze a wrist-spin option that turns the ball in both directions. The club has repeatedly described that skill as a point of difference because consistent wrist-spin is difficult to execute under limited-overs pressure.

Her career economy of 6.08 in women's T20 cricket is particularly useful context. Wickets show attacking value, while economy shows control. The 5/19 and 4/14 spells demonstrate peak impact, but the long-run rates explain why teams keep using her beyond those headline performances.

Did Josie Groves also play netball?

The Hundred's official profile says Groves previously played netball for the England Academy. That is a documented multi-sport pathway detail, not evidence of a senior England netball appearance or a professional netball career.

The background helps explain the athletic fielding and coordination noted by The Blaze coaches. It remains secondary to her cricket record and is not expanded with unsupported teams, dates or statistics.

Josie Groves's ECB winter internship

Groves completed a four-week ECB winter internship announced in February 2026. She worked inside the governing body's Lord's offices on live administrative projects as part of a PCA personal-development programme for current and former players.

The internship does not signal retirement. Groves said cricket remained plan A and described the placement as a way to understand off-field roles. It adds career-development context without pretending she has moved into a permanent ECB job.

Josie Groves records

Josie Groves career statistics and records

Batting, bowling and fielding figures are kept separate by competition and format.

Women's List A (through current 2026 snapshot)34matches

Batting

Innings: 20
Runs: 249
High score: 62*
Average: 16.60
Strike rate: 81.90
Not outs: 5
100s / 50s: 0/2

Bowling & fielding

Wickets: 33
Best bowling: 3/39
Average: 32.27
Economy: 5.25
Strike rate: 36.81
Balls: 1,215
Catches / stumpings: 12 catches; stumpings not listed
5w / 10w: 0 / 0

Only fields published by the named source are shown; unavailable values are not guessed.

Women's T20 (through The Hundred 2026 snapshot)69matches

Batting

Innings: 37
Runs: 320
High score: 68
Average: 12.30
Strike rate: 110.34
Not outs: 11
100s / 50s: 0/1

Bowling & fielding

Wickets: 57
Best bowling: 5/19
Average: 15.42
Economy: 6.08
Strike rate: 15.21
Balls: 867
Catches / stumpings: 17 catches; stumpings not listed
5w / 10w: 1 five-wicket hauls; ten-wicket hauls not listed

Only fields published by the named source are shown; unavailable values are not guessed.

England U19 T20 (2022/23-2023/24)8matches

Batting

Innings: 5
Runs: 93
High score: 57
Average: 23.25
Strike rate: 110.71
Not outs: 1
100s / 50s: 0/1

Bowling & fielding

Wickets: 5
Best bowling: 2/5
Average: 20.40
Economy: 4.85
Strike rate: 25.20
Balls: 126
Catches / stumpings: 5 catches; stumpings not listed
5w / 10w: 0 five-wicket hauls; ten-wicket hauls not listed

Only fields published by the named source are shown; unavailable values are not guessed.

The Hundred (career through 2026)10matches

Batting

Innings: 4
Runs: 9
High score: 7*
Average: 4.50
Strike rate: 69.23
Not outs: 2
100s / 50s: 0/0

Bowling & fielding

Innings: 2
Wickets: 0
Best bowling: 0/7
Balls: 9
Catches / stumpings: 0 catches; stumpings not listed
5w / 10w: 0 five-wicket hauls; ten-wicket hauls not listed

Only fields published by the named source are shown; unavailable values are not guessed.

Career chronology

Debut and last listed match

Senior county

Debut

Northamptonshire Women, 2019

Last listed match

The Blaze, Women's County Cup, August 2026

England U19 T20

Debut

2023 U19 Women's T20 World Cup pathway

Last listed match

Sri Lanka tri-series, April 2024

The Hundred

Debut

Trent Rockets, 2024 season

Last listed match

London Spirit v Trent Rockets, 26 July 2026

ECB Development XI

Debut

Captain v New Zealand, 6 May 2026

Last listed match

Single recorded development fixture at cutoff

Career achievements

Career achievements and milestones

Took five for 19 against Oxfordshire in May 2025.
Took four for 14 in The Blaze's 2026 County Cup quarter-final win.
Helped The Blaze win the 2024 Charlotte Edwards Cup and 2026 Women's Vitality Blast.
Captained England U19s and an ECB Development XI.
Reached 50 appearances for The Blaze in May 2025.
Signed a four-year Blaze contract through 2028 and joined London Spirit for £15,000 in 2026.

Reader questions

Josie Groves FAQ

How old is Josie Groves?

Josie Groves was born on 5 September 2004 and was 21 years old on 30 August 2026.

Where was Josie Groves born?

She was born in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England.

What is Josie Groves's bowling style?

She bowls right-arm leg-breaks and a googly and is primarily classified as a bowler.

What are Josie Groves's best bowling figures?

Her recognised women's T20 career best is five for 19 against Oxfordshire in May 2025.

Did Josie Groves take four for 14?

Yes. She took four for 14 against Lancashire Thunder in The Blaze's 65-run County Cup quarter-final win on 23 August 2026.

How many T20 wickets does Josie Groves have?

The current snapshot through The Hundred 2026 records 57 wickets in 69 women's T20 matches. Her later four for 14 is reported separately because it postdates that aggregate.

Did Josie Groves play for England?

She represented and captained England Women Under-19s but had not made a senior England debut by 30 August 2026.

Which team does Josie Groves play for?

She is contracted to The Blaze through 2028 and played two matches for London Spirit in The Hundred 2026.

How much did London Spirit pay for Josie Groves?

London Spirit secured her for a published auction value of £15,000 for The Hundred 2026.

What is Josie Groves's net worth?

No audited public evidence reviewed for this profile establishes a reliable net-worth figure for Josie Groves.

Conclusion

Josie Groves has moved from Northamptonshire county cricket into a long-term Blaze contract, England pathway captaincy and franchise opportunities without yet receiving a senior international cap. Her record is strongest in T20 cricket, where a five for 19 career best and an economy close to six runs per over show both wicket-taking and control.

The four for 14 against Lancashire in August 2026 supplies the latest clear performance. Reporting it beside, rather than inside, the earlier 57-wicket snapshot keeps the profile current without pretending that one new scorecard is enough to rebuild a complete career aggregate.