With just one week to go until the start of the Kia Super League, twelve of the competition’s star players were in Manchester last night to celebrate the launch of the inaugural tournament.
A mixture of the six team captains – Amy Satterthwaite (Lancashire Thunder), Georgia Elwiss (Loughborough Lightning), Charlotte Edwards (Southern Vipers), Natalie Sciver (Surrey Stars), Heather Knight (Western Storm) and Lauren Winfield (Yorkshire Diamonds) – and overseas signings, including Suzie Bates, Marizanne Kapp, Rachel Priest and Sophie Devine, mingled with guests as the cricketing world came together to look forward to the start of the historic competition next weekend.
During the evening, guests were treated to an exclusive live performance of the new England women’s cricket team anthem “Heroes” by critically acclaimed soprano and official Kia Super League Ambassador, Laura Wright. The single “Heroes” has been written especially by Laura for the England women’s team, and has been released as a single on iTunes today.
Western Storm and England women’s captain, Heather Knight, said: “It is so exciting that the start of the Kia Super League is now just one week away. Training with the squad over the last couple of weeks has been great and we now absolutely cannot wait to get things underway next weekend.
“As a dynamic new competition, the Kia Super League ticks every box – it will undoubtedly improve the quality of premier domestic women’s cricket in England, it will grow the game and give women and girls more opportunities to play, and it will create an exciting opportunity to reach a fresh audience and inspire new fans. It’s going to be brilliant.”
Kia Super League Ambassador and soprano, Laura Wright said: “I am totally thrilled and honoured to become the first official Kia Super League Ambassador. I have already thoroughly enjoyed working with the England women’s team throughout the summer, performing at their matches, and hopefully helping to inspire some of their incredible performances against Pakistan with our new song, Heroes. I am now really excited to be involved with the Kia Super League, and I can’t wait to help promote what I know will be another wonderful showcase for women’s cricket.”
As excitement builds ahead of the opening weekend of action next week, the BBC has today confirmed that it will be providing live ball-by-ball radio coverage of up to seven Kia Super League matches this summer, in addition to finals day on Sunday 21st August at the Essex County Ground in Chelmsford. The full BBC Radio schedule of coverage is as follows:
- 30.7.16: Yorkshire Diamonds v Loughborough Lightning, Headingley, 14.30
- 31.7.16: Southern Vipers v Surrey Stars, Ageas Bowl, 14.00
- 4.8.16*: *Surrey Stars v Yorkshire Diamonds, Kia Oval, 18.30
- 8.8.16: Southern Vipers v Yorkshire Diamonds, Ageas Bowl, 14.00
- 9.8.16: Surrey Stars v Lancashire Thunder, Guildford, 14.30
- 12.8.16: Lancashire Thunder v Yorkshire Diamonds, Emirates Old Trafford, 18.00
- 14.8.16*: *Southern Vipers v Loughborough Lightning, Ageas Bowl, 14.00
- 14.8.16*: *Yorkshire Diamonds v Western Storm, Headingley, 14.30
- 21.8.16: Finals Day, Essex County Ground, Chelmsford, 11.00
* To be confirmed
BBC Test Match Special Producer, Adam Mountford, said: “We are very excited about covering what is an historic moment for women’s cricket in this country. BBC Radio has a long-standing commitment to broadcasting the women’s game, and it’s a thrill to add the Kia Super League to our already extensive coverage.”
Report courtesy of the ECB
