The cricketing summer is coming up with the start of the Charlotte Edwards Cup coming soon. England internationals, and young talent, are set to feature in the Twenty20 competition.
Although many of the more notable events in cricket are associated with the male side of the game, there has been a significant upturn in fortunes in recent years as the sport begins to gain popularity. No, it’s not quite at the level of women’s football, but women’s cricket appears to be gaining popularity. In fact, some of the brand new casino sites are offering sports betting sections like this page in which you can bet on female cricket.
So, how does this cup work?
The Charlotte Edwards Cup is running for the second time in a row. The South East Stars won the inaugural edition last year, with eight regional teams competing across a month-long tournament. In this cup, teams are split into two groups of four and they play the other three teams in the groups in home and away games.
The winner will automatically qualify for the final at the County Ground, Northampton that will happen on Saturday 11th June. The other group winner and the second-placed team will compete in an eliminator game on Finals Day in order to progress to the final.
Who to look out for?
Ten of the group stage matches will be double headers, happening on the day at the same location as the men’s T20 Blast fixtures, including at large Test grounds such as Emirates Old Trafford, Headingley, and Trent Bridge.
The players who led England to the World Cup final last month will all be present, along with the top domestic talent and a few international players.
Tammy Beaumont will open for Lightning against Northern Diamonds this weekend, while Thunder spinner Kate Cross, Central Sparks wicketkeeper Amy Jones, Northern Diamonds batter Lauren Winfield-Hill, and Southern Vipers all-rounder Charlie Dean are also eligible.
Heather Knight (Western Storm), Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder), Danni Wyatt (Southern Vipers), Sophia Dunkley and Tash Farrant (all South East Stars) are all competing in the Fairbreak Invitational, which culminates on Sunday in Dubai.
Nat Sciver and Katherine Brunt, both of Northern Diamonds, are being handled after their World Cup and Ashes heroics but will play – Sciver maybe as early as the second round of fixtures.
Following her international retirement, bowler Anya Shrubsole has transferred to the Southern Vipers from the Western Storm.
Issy Wong (Central Sparks) and Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers) are two exciting bowling prospects vying for Shrubsole’s spot in the England XI.
Alice Capsey, the standout talent of the domestic summer of 2021, will play for South East Stars while studying for her A-levels.
What’s new
After spinner Alex Hartley stepped down, Thunder announced this week that wicketkeeper Ellie Threlkeld will captain the team this year.
In place of Trevor Griffin, the Sunrisers have hired Laura Marsh, a former England spinner, as interim coach. Abtaha Maqsood, a Scotland spinner who played for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, has also been signed.
Fran Wilson, the 2017 World Cup winner for England, has returned to Western Storm after retiring from international rugby, while Leigh Kasperek of New Zealand has joined a Northern Diamonds group that also includes Sciver, Brunt, and Winfield-Hill.
The Lightning have a new coach in Chris Guest after going winless last season.
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