Cricket is one of nine focus sports at the University of Exeter.

South West consortium announced as Women’s Cricket Super League host

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that a South West consortium consisting of Somerset County Cricket Club, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and the University of Exeter is one of the six hosts that will compete in the inaugural Women’s Cricket Super League this summer.

The announcement follows a rigorous bidding process over the last six months, which saw 28 different organisations express an interest in becoming a Women’s Cricket Super League host. The award process culminated on Thursday 14 January, when the ECB Board approved the six selected hosts.

The Women’s Cricket Super League will start this summer with the South West team competing in a Twenty20 (T20) event against the other five hosts. Thereafter the competition will include both T20 and 50-over formats. All six teams have been awarded hosting rights for a four year period from 2016-2019 inclusive.

Further details on the format and timing of the Women’s Cricket Super League, along with a confirmed team name and identity for the South West consortium, will be announced in due course.

ECB Director of England Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said: “It is great to have a strong South West partnership – with Somerset CCC, Gloucestershire CCC and the University of Exeter – as one of our six Women’s Cricket Super League hosts for the next four years. For two rival First Class counties and a University with such a renowned sporting reputation to come together and collaborate in this way to help develop the women’s game is an exciting opportunity.

“Our vision for the competition is to create a dynamic and high quality domestic women’s game in England, where the world’s best players come together to drive performance standards and inspire women and girls to love cricket. All six of the hosts have passionately demonstrated that they share this aspiration and we are now really excited to work with them to deliver this next stage in the evolution of women’s cricket in this country.”

The key aims of the Women’s Cricket Super League include the development of ever higher standards for the England women’s team with greater competition for places, alongside inspiring more women and girls to play cricket at all levels. It will offer new opportunities, a new narrative for the game and new role models, as well as a network of host clubs linked to their communities.

Alison Davidson, Director of Sport at the University of Exeter commented, “Being part of the Women’s Super League is a fantastic opportunity to cement the University of Exeter’s position and aspirations around Women’s Cricket. The opportunity for talented cricketers to compete at the highest level in parallel with studies at the University is a huge asset and can create a real pathway for South West cricketers to aspire to. We look forward to working with our consortium members to develop this exciting initiative, and all the Cricket Boards across the region to grow the women’s and girls’ game.”

More information about the prestigious University of Exeter Sports Scholarship Scheme and our Women’s Cricket Club can be found on our webpages.

For information about interview opportunities with a representative from the South West consortium please contact the Chief Executive of Somerset County Cricket Club, Guy Lavender, on 01823 425309 or email guylavender@somersetcountycc.co.uk.

If you have any general questions about the Women’s Cricket Super League, please email the England and Wales Cricket Board at WCSLenquiries@ecb.co.uk.

The University of Exeter has been awarded The Times and The Sunday Times Sports University of the Year 2016, following significant investment and development over the past 10 years. The University has also achieved a Global 100 ranking in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The prestigious rankings, which mean Exeter retains its position as best in the South West, take into account a wide range of factors, including student satisfaction and research excellence. 

Date: 14 January 2016