Women's Cricket - Midlands the place to watch!!

There are no County Championship games this weekend, so the players' focus turns to club cricket to try and get a few overs under their belts, or a bit of time at the crease.

Women's club cricket is now split into five regional leagues - Midlands, South, South West, Yorkshire and Cheshire - now financially supported by the ECB. In previous years there had been a North and South Premier League, but this involved too much travelling for those involved.

The standard of games can vary enormously with many clubs, even in the Premier Divisions, struggling to put out a team on occasions. But early in the season, and when there are key games, you will find many of the England and County girls are keen to pitch up and represent their clubs.

In the South Premier League the pick of the games will probably be the clash between Hayes and Finchley. Hayes are led by Lydia Greenway and number many of the Kent team amongst their ranks, including Tash Farrant. Finchley are led by Beth Morgan and have many of the MCC Academy girls at their disposal, not to mention the England captain, Charlotte Edwards, who may be back in action after a couple of month's break after the World Cup in India.

In the Midlands Premier League Walmley take on Sheffield United Ladies and Meir Heath are at Clifton Village in Nottingham. Making her debut for Walmley will be Sussex and England star Sarah Taylor, who hopes to be selected for the men's team during the season. She will be taking on many of the England Academy/Loughborough Students who turn out for Sheffield United, including Lauren Winfield, Nat Sciver and Tammy Beaumont. Meir Heath can not only boast of England stars in Danni Wyatt and Georgia Elwiss, but also newly flown in West Indian Shanel Daley. Clifton Village may have their work cut out.

There are just two matches in the South West Premier League with last year's South West League champions Bristol Phoenix travelling into Wales to take on Newport, and St Austell hosting Plympton. Both Newport and St Austell are new to the league this year.

In the North it appears no games are scheduled for this weekend theYorkshire Women's Regional League and Division One games in the Cheshire league start a week on Sunday.

We'll check out all the scorecards next week and bring you the highlights - if you think you or a team mate should get a mention then email us at cricket@lawdox.co.uk or tweet @wmnscricketblog.

Cheers

MD
18/IV/13