Girls and women set for a busy summer

Women’s and girls’ cricket continues to thrive in Sussex and the summer of 2021 looks jam packed.

Sussex women and girls development officer Charlotte Burton said there were more opportunities for female players to play cricket than ever before, whether soft ball or hard ball, fun, social or competitive cricket.

She said: “Despite not having a proper season of cricket in 2020, the number of clubs developing women and girls’ sections in the county continues to grow with 44 clubs now with either a women’s or girls’ team and some with both, running cricket for girls from U10 through to adult level.

“For girls this summer, we have had increased numbers of girls’ club sides entering our soft ball festivals at U11, U13 and U15, as well as a huge uptake for the two Aldridge Foundation Girls’ Cup competition.

“All these festivals will be played across the summer at cricket clubs and any new players or clubs wanting to get involved are most welcome.

“It is a great introduction for players who are new to cricket, as it is played with a soft ball. The games are sixa-side, with batting in pairs, cricket you can play four to five games in a morning, giving everyone loads of opportunities to take part.

“There will also be our girls club leagues which will run during the week, with the U11 soft ball league, U13 & U15 hard ball leagues, as well as a new U11 hard ball league and a U19 T20 competition.”

There are plenty of opportunities for women too. See sussexcricket.co.uk for a full 2021 programme.