Liberty Nicole Heap (born 16 September 2003) is an English cricketer who currently plays for Lancashire. An all-rounder, she is a right-handed batter and right-arm off break bowler. She previously played for Cumbria, North Representative XI and North West Thunder.[1][2]
Heap was born on 16 September 2003 in Burnley, Lancashire.[2]
Heap made her county debut in 2019, for Cumbria against Lincolnshire, in which she scored 17 runs and took 2/23 from 10 overs.[3] This was the only Championship game she played that season, whilst also appearing in two Twenty20 Cup matches.[4][5] In 2021, Heap was named as part of the Lancashire contingent of the North Representative XI squad for the Twenty20 Cup, playing four matches, scoring 55 runs and taking 2 wickets.[6][7][8] She played for Cumbria in the 2022 Women's Twenty20 Cup, taking one wicket.[9]
In 2020, Heap played for North West Thunder in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. She appeared in four matches, scoring 28 runs and taking 5 wickets at an average of 18.20.[10] Her best bowling performance came against Lightning, where she took 3/34.[11] She played one match in 2021, scoring 19 and taking 1/41.[12] She played two matches for the side in 2022, both in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, taking one wicket as well as hitting 36* from 18 deliveries against Western Storm.[13][14] In February 2023, it was announced that Heap had signed her first professional contract with North West Thunder.[15] That season, she played 18 matches for the side, across the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Charlotte Edwards Cup, with a top score of 46 against Sunrisers.[16][17][18] She was also signed by Manchester Originals for The Hundred, but did not play a match.[19] In 2024, she played five matches for North West Thunder, all in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.[20][21]
In October 2022, Heap was selected in the England Under-19 squad for the 2023 ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup.[22] She was ever-present throughout the tournament, scoring 149 runs at an average of 21.28.[23] She made one half-century, scoring 64 from 35 deliveries against Rwanda.[24]
