ECB 'Super Fours' competition reaches conclusion

Super Fours, the competition for the best 48 women cricketers in England and Wales will reach its conclusion at King's College, Taunton on Saturday 15th June with a thrilling double bill of matches.

The Super Fours table currently stands at:

Team                                                   Points
1. 'V' Team (Captain: Clare Taylor, Yorks)                   40
2. The Braves (Captain: Clare Connor, Sussex)                38
3. Super Strikers (Captain: Claire Taylor, Berkshire)        29
4. The Knight Riders (Captain: Charlotte Edwards, Kent)      26

The four teams have played five matches each over the past five weekends, with The V Team and The Braves having won three. They will face each other this Saturday to determine who wins the inaugural tournament and with 12 points for a win, plus additional bowling and batting points for attacking play, all four teams will be striving for points.

'V' Team Captain Clare Taylor, who has again been named in the England squad this month having retained her place since winning the World Cup in 1993, said "Super Fours has been good, with lots of exciting, competitive cricket and the chance to bowl at England's leading run-scorers every week. We've all improved, in confidence, skills and technique. We got off to a great start, but the other teams seem to be catching up with us now! I'd love to win it, especially as some of the youngsters in the team have done exceptionally well and deserve the success they've had".

Three young England Development squad players Isa Guha (Berkshire), Laura Spragg (Yorks) and Nicki Shaw (Notts) are leading the bowling table with seven wickets each, the later two have just been named in the full England squad to face India and New Zealand this summer. With them is the England opening bowler Lucy Pearson (Staffordshire) who has found consistency and pace throughout the competition.

The batting has been dominated by Claire Taylor (average 54.25) and Charlotte Edwards (average 78.5), both of whom return to England's top order this summer following injury, having scored 374 runs between them in Super Fours. Other players to find form are England Captain, Clare Connor, who has averaged 46.25 and recalled England top order bat Kathryn Leng (Yorks) who has scored 130 runs and taken 4 wickets.

John Harmer, who took over as England Coach following the CricInfo Ashes Series this summer said "top players needed a stronger competition to give them better preparation for international cricket. Their mental and physical skills need to be challenged for progressive development and aptitude, attitude and athleticism can all be developed for the international arena."

Gill McConway, ECB Executive Director for Women's cricket said "this innovative tournament has provided some great cricket and given the domestic game a boost in England, in attracting both new players and spectators. I'm particularly impressed that having given players the chance to prove they are of international quality in this tournament, some who had not played for England for a while seized the opportunity and are now back in the England squad. It's the kind of competitive edge we've been missing".

Players were selected from eleven counties, reflecting the growth in the women's game across the country, and from a range of England Development Squads and beyond. England selectors picked the best 48 players in the country and formed four balanced teams, each coached by an ECB Coach under the guidance of John Harmer.

The tournament will run each year before the international season begins to ensure that England players are as well prepared as possible for international competition.