Women's Cricket Super League
| Countries |
 England |
|---|---|
| Administrator | ECB |
| Format | Twenty20 |
| First tournament | 2016 |
| Next tournament | 2016 |
| Tournament format | Round-robin and finals |
| Number of teams | 6 |
The Women's Cricket Super League (WCSL), known as the Kia Super League for sponsorship reasons, is a women's cricket competition in England that is scheduled to play its inaugural season in 2016. It will launch with six teams playing in a Twenty20 format only, with the intention of adding a fifty over competition from 2017 onwards.
History
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced their plans for the Women's Cricket Super League in June 2015, stating they would invest £3 million over four years. The competition would launch with six teams playing in a Twenty20 format, with the intention being to add a fifty over competition in 2017.[1] The ECB received 28 applications to host teams in the first stage of bidding,[2] with the process subsequently moving to an interview stage.[3] The six successful bids were announced in January 2016.[4] The ECB hope that the WCSL will develop as a semi-professional competition, with the intention of bridging the gap between the amateur Women's County Championship and international cricket, for which England players are centrally contracted as professionals.[5]
Teams
The ECB announced the six hosts for the WCSL in January 2016, with hosting rights awarded for the first four years of the competition, 2016 to 2019 inclusive. The hosts and partners include seven First-class counties, five minor counties and three universities.[6] Team names, along with the fixtures and venues for the 2016 season, were announced in February 2016.[7][8] The allocation of England players to the teams was announced in April 2016,[9] with overseas player allocations being announced later that month.[10]
Format
The 2016 season will take place between 30 July and 21 August. The six teams will play each other once in a round robin format; this will be followed by a finals day at the County Cricket Ground, Chelmsford.[8][11]
Media coverage
As of April 2016, the ECB have not announced any details of television or radio broadcasts of the WCSL.[9]
Sponsorship
The ECB announced a two-year title sponsorship agreement for the WCSL with Kia Motors in March 2016. As a result, the competition will be known as the Kia Super League.[12]
References
- ↑ Burnton, Simon (18 June 2015). "ECB announces plan to launch Women’s Cricket Super League next year". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ↑ "Women's Cricket Super League receives 28 bids at first stage". BBC Sport. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ↑ "Women’s Cricket Super League enters next stage of host award process". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ↑ "Women's Cricket Super League: Six successful bids announced for new T20 league". BBC Sport. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ↑ "Women's Cricket Super League 'can produce players for England'". BBC Sport. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ↑ "Women’s Cricket Super League hosts announced". England and Wales Cricket Board. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ↑ "WCSL: Yorkshire Diamonds host Loughborough Lightning in opening game". BBC Sport. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- 1 2 "ECB Women's Cricket Super League 2016 match schedule" (pdf). England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- 1 2 "Charlotte Edwards named Southern Vipers skipper for Women's Super League". BBC Sport. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ↑ "Lanning, Taylor, Bates among WSL overseas stars". ESPNcricinfo. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ↑ "WCSL team names and schedule revealed". England and Wales Cricket Board. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ↑ "Kia Motors to sponsor WCSL". England and Wales Cricket Board. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
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