ECB names hosts for WCSL

The ECB has confirmed six hosts for as yet unnamed teams, with the Roses counties joined by Surrey, Loughborough University, Hampshire Cricket, and a South West consortium (Somerset, Gloucestershire and University of Exeter).

The idea of the WCSL began gaining momentum last year, with the ECB's director of England women's cricket Clare Connor confirming there had been nearly 30 expressions of interest since the initial announcement.

Connor said the competition would run from July 30 to August 14 and - much like the men's T20 Blast - a finals day would be set up to determine the winner.

While expressing the belief that the WCSL would be a "fresh chapter for the sport", Connor added: "We have already started the player allocation process and expect to have final squads by Easter.

"One of the principal objectives for the Women's Cricket Super League is to ensure a 'best v best' experience is established, so we need to make sure that teams are evenly matched.

"We will also aim to try and maintain local relationships and allegiances wherever possible, so it is foreseeable for example that the likes of Katherine Brunt, Danielle Hazell and Lauren Winfield will play for the Yorkshire team, while Kate Cross and Natalie Sciver will play for the Lancashire and Surrey teams respectively."