Set to run in 2016
The very first Women’s Super League has been announced by the ECB and is set to run in the 2016 season. This huge leap forwards for women’s cricket will see a league featuring six teams and will receive £3 million investment from the England and Wales Cricket Board over the next four years following unanimous approval.
The investment will enable each and every team to provide high quality coaching, facilities training environments and community development and engagement plans. It will also allow promotion of the competition and for the first time in the women’s game – prize money.
This major development for the game will help support greater participation, encourage higher levels of performance and create new commercial partnerships by;
“We now have the opportunity to build on this, inspiring more women and girls to take part and offering players a domestic structure that gives the best cricketers the chance to play against each other in the most competitive environment.”
“The new Women’s Cricket Super League will take standards to a new level and show more women and girls the opportunities that cricket can give.”
Clare Connor, ECB Director of England Women’s Cricket, said: “The Women’s Cricket Super league is the next stage in the evolution of women’s cricket in the country.”
“Competition for places will be strong with the best up against the best, creating opportunities for high potential players, who aspire to play for England, to perform and impress. We also have the chance to invite the world’s finest players into the Women’s Cricket Super League to drive ever higher standards.”
“We will soon be seeking potential hosts and a big part of that process will be their drive to grow the game in communities, working with County Boards, the existing cricket network, and creating fresh partnerships. As such we see the Women’s Cricket Super League as a catalyst to drive female participation.”
Last year brought the introduction of central contracts for 18 England women’s players, two of which were Nottinghamshire’s own pairing of Jenny Gunn and Danielle Wyatt. Hopefully the new Super League can boost participation levels amongst women and girls in the county.
Nottinghamshire Women's Senior Coach, Gary Lambert hopes that the Super League will put a “greater emphasis on clubs to produce more female talent” as “the best players will be selected for one of the super league sides” meaning more of a chance to shine for younger players coming through.
Gary also hopes that it will set England up “to continue to compete with Australia” – the first nation with a professional women’s league – with the aim of “dominating the international scene for the next ten years”.
For information on how to get involved go to http://www.nottscricket.co.uk/development/women-and-
girls.html