Women's Cricket Super League receives 28 bids at first stage

The England women's team have been full-time professionals since last year

Twenty-eight organisations have told the England and Wales Cricket Board they are interested in forming teams for the inaugural Women's Cricket Super League.

The league begins next summer with six teams and will receive a £3m investment from the ECB over the next four years.

In its first season the competition will include only T20 cricket, but from 2017 will add 50-over matches.

The six team hosts are expected to be announced in December.

ECB Women's Cricket Super League general manager Jo Kirk said: "The variety of the organisations involved and the extent of collaborative work outlined within the 'expressions of interest' received is really exciting.

"We are now looking forward to seeing how each of the 28 plans develop through the invitation-to-tender window."

ECB director of England women's cricket Clare Connor said: "Despite levels of participation in sport and exercise being a concern across the UK, participation in women's and girls' cricket has seen pleasing growth in recent years.

"We are really excited about the innovative opportunity that the Women's Cricket Super League gives us to reach new participants and attract new fans to the game."