LONDON — The England and Wales Cricket Board has made its biggest ever investment in the women's game by bankrolling a new six-team Super League to the tune of three million pounds, it was announced Thursday. Starting next year, the new tournament will mirror the women's Big Bash League, which begins in Australia later this year, and will initially employ the Twenty20 game but from 2017 onwards will develop to both T20 and 50-over formats.
The three million pound ($4.78 million) funding will pay for coaching and facilities as well as providing prize money over four years.
It will be the first time there has ever been prize money for women's domestic cricket in England and the ECB hopes to attract the world's best players to compete alongside England's leading female cricketers.
“We are already very proud of the achievements of the England women's team and the growth of the game for women and girls over the past decade,” ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said in a statement.
“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.”
Potential teams will be invited to make expressions of interest.
Topley and Vince in T20 squad
Uncapped Reece Topley and James Vince have been named in England's 13-man Twenty20 squad to face New Zealand at Old Trafford next Tuesday.
Essex left-arm seamer Topley and Hampshire batsman Vince join fellow T20 international newcomers Sam Billings, David Willey and Mark Wood in the squad for the one-off match on June 23.
Billings, Willey and Wood are all currently involved in the five-match one-day international series against New Zealand.
Eoin Morgan will captain the side but there is no place for former England T20 captain Stuart Broad.
“This match against New Zealand allows us another opportunity to look at players relatively new to international cricket as we look to build a squad for the World T20 in India this winter,” national selector James Whitaker said on the ECB website (www.ecb.co.uk).
“The squad is made up of players who have demonstrated their ability in domestic cricket and fully deserve a chance to continue their progress against a very good New Zealand side.
“We have already seen our limited overs cricket begin to move in the right direction which is exciting but we are all aware that we have plenty more to do if we are going to challenge the very best sides in the world on a regular basis.”
England and New Zealand are currently tied 2-2 in a pulsating ODI series, with the decider to come in Durham at Chester-le-Street Saturday.
England squad: Eoin Morgan, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood.
Ronchi signs for Somerset
New Zealand wicket-keeper/batsman Luke Ronchi will play five domestic Twenty20 fixtures for Somerset, the English county announced Thursday.
Ronchi, currently taking part in the World Cup finalist one-day series with England, is a replacement at Taunton for compatriot Corey Anderson, whose tour was cut short by a back injury.
The 34-year-old Ronchi, a big-hitting batsman and reliable keeper, helped New Zealand reach the final of this year's 50-over World Cup, where it was beaten by fellow co-host Australia in Melbourne.
“Luke is a quality player with plenty of international experience,” said Somerset director of cricket Matthew Maynard. “He is an excellent wicketkeeper, an explosive batsman, and I am sure our members and supporters will enjoy the brand of cricket that he plays,” the former England batsman added.
Ronchi will be available to play his first match for Somerset against Middlesex next week after the conclusion of New Zealand's tour of England. — Agencies
