County Championship provides chance for players to impress new England Coach

England players will rejoin their counties this week to compete in the Women's Cricket County Championship, following the disappointment of losing the CricInfo Women's Ashes series. The 20th Women's County Championship runs from Saturday 28 July - 1 August at University Grounds, Cambridge.

The County Championship provides women cricketers with a chance to impress new England Coach, the Australian John Harmer, who is attending for the first time. With the rebuilding process now underway, Harmer is seeking to establish the England team which will ultimately compete for the next World Cup in South Africa, 2005.

John Harmer said "One of the things which attracted me to this job was the abundance of talented young players in England. I think there is massive potential for the national side and I have already spent some time with the England squad. This tournament gives me the opportunity to see a lot of good players in one place".

Current champions Yorkshire return to Cambridge to defend their title with England's most experienced player, Clare Taylor MBE, taking on England's highest runscorer this year and namesake, Claire Taylor, when Yorkshire meet Berkshire in the opening game at Kings College. Yorkshire have dominated the Championships in the last decade, winning nine of the past ten titles.

Nottinghamshire welcome back wicket keeper Jane Cassar, left-arm spin bowler Dawn Holden, batsman Kate Lowe and fast bowler Nicki Shaw; all of whom played for England this summer.

One of the most exciting teams to watch will be promotion chasing Somerset, aided by England's young stars Laura Harper, Jackie Hawker and Hannah Lloyd. England Captain, Clare Connor, will lead Sussex against them on Tuesday 31 July in what could be the promotion decider.

There are three divisions of six teams in the tournament, which is run on a round robin basis within each division. Division I consists of Berkshire, Kent, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Staffordshire and Yorkshire.

The growth of the women's game, which has seen numbers of participants double in the past two years, means there will be an inaugural emerging counties competition this year. Cumbria, Durham and Northamptonshire will compete to join Division III. The County finishing bottom of Division III will be relegated.

For further information, please contact Andrea Wiggins, Media Relations Officer, ECB 020 7432 1272 or 07774 476400. e-mail: andrea.wiggins@ecb.co.uk

The schedule of matches is as follows:

Saturday 28 July - Division I
Staffordshire v Surrey, Queen's College Ground
Kent v Nottinghamshire, Downing College Ground
Berkshire v Yorkshire, King's College Ground

Division II
Cheshire v Sussex, Clare College Ground
Lancashire v Somerset, Fitzwilliam College Ground
Derbyshire v Hertfordshire, Pembroke College Ground

Division III
Essex v Hampshire, Churchill College Ground
Warwickshire v Wiltshire, Hills Road Ground

Sunday 29 July - Division I
Berkshire v Surrey, Pembroke
Kent v Staffordshire, Kings
Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire, Clare

Division II
Cheshire v Somerset, Gonville & Caius
Derbyshire v Lancashire, Queens
Herfordshire v Sussex, Churchill

Division III
Essex v Warwickshire, Fitzwilliam
Middlesex v Wiltshire, St John's

Monday 30 July - Division I
Kent v Surrey, Downing
Staffordshire v Yorkshire, Pembroke
Berkshire v Nottinghamshire, Queens

Division II
Lancashire v Sussex, Kings
Cheshire v Hertfordshire, St Johns
Derbyshire v Somerset, Clare

Division III
Hampshire v Wiltshire, Gonville & Caius
Middlesex v Warwickshire, Churchill

Tuesday 31 July - Division I
Surrey v Yorkshire, St Johns
Berkshire v Kent, Clare
Nottinghamshire v Staffordshire, Downing

Division II
Derbyshire v Cheshire, Queens
Hertfordshire v Lancashire, Kings
Somerset v Sussex, Pembroke

Division III
Essex v Middlesex, Gonville & Caius
Hampshire v Warwickshire, Fitzwilliam

Wednesday 1 August - Division I
Nottinghamshire v Surrey, Kings
Kent v Yorkshire, Queens
Berkshire v Staffordshire, St Johns

Division II
Cheshire v Lancashire, Churchill
Derbyshire v Sussex, Fitzwilliam
Hertfordshire v Somerset, Downing

Division III
Hampshire v Middlesex, Clare
Essex v Wiltshire, St Catherines