The American Cricketer Starring In India’s Lucrative Women’s Premier League

Hustling batters with her menacing left-arm seam bowling, American Tara Norris has been a breakout player at the lucrative Women’s Premier League in India.

And her spectacular performances, in a momentous competition hoped to inspire females globally, could well prove an important moment for U.S. cricket amid a decisive juncture for the sport in the world’s biggest sports market.

The 24-year-old created history when she claimed the first five-wicket haul in the WPL after tearing through the Royal Challengers Bangalore line-up to start the tournament in spectacular fashion.

While she hasn’t maintained those heady heights, Norris has been one of the success stories after being the only Associate cricketer – players not from the 12 countries with exclusive Full Membership – bought in the WPL auction.

Norris was able to play due to WPL rules allowing teams a fifth overseas player if one came from the Associates.

She was bought by Delhi at the lowest base price of around $12,000 in a far cry of the top contracts worth $400,000 – a landmark figure for women’s cricket.

But as her dynamic performance showed against RCB, Norris has proven she more than belongs at this elite level and it could well lead to further opportunities – and potential riches – in the future.

“I never thought I’d have an opportunity like this in my career, so just to be here has been absolutely amazing,” Norris said after her player of the match performance of 5 for 29 in four overs.

As can be detected from her accent, with distinct tones emanating from across the Atlantic, Philadelphia born Norris has strong ties to the U.K. with her father from Middlesborough.

Her parents had been working in the pharmaceutical industry in Philadelphia before leaving for Spain when Norris was an infant. They stayed there a few years before a move to England saw Norris connect with cricket during her formative years.

She came through the English junior pathways and received contracts in the pro cricket leagues over there. Norris enjoyed success which eventually led to U.S. national coach Julia Price sounding her out to play for her country of birth.

“(Price) just saw on my personal player’s page that I was born in the U.S,” Norris told the Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast in 2021. “In the space of about 10 days they said: ‘look, if you can get your passport renewed, we want you to come out and play for us in these competitions’.

“So I went to the U.S. embassy a week later and got it all signed off.”

Norris made her mark playing five of U.S’ six games at the 2021 Women’s T20 World Cup Regional Qualifiers Americas, claiming four wickets at just 1.72 runs an over.

Those matches were enough for Norris to qualify for the WPL, which looms as a game-changing event for her and many other players.

Norris has expressed her desire to still one day play for England, which is understandable given they are a cricket powerhouse and ensures considerably more opportunities in a sport that can be unfortunately elitist.

But the red, white and blue does loom as an enticing option for Norris, whose heroics in the WPL enshrined her in American cricket lore.