Essex CCC join list of bidders to host professional women's team

Chelmsford has staged home games for Sunrisers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup

Essex have joined the list of counties hoping to run one of eight professional women's teams in 2025.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is looking to change the structure for professional women's cricket.

At present, regional teams compete in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup competitions.

"It's something really special when you pull on your county shirt in any sport," bowler Catherine Dalton told BBC Essex Sport.

"It's also breaking down a lot of barriers, we've never seen a female professional team that is just Essex in cricket.

"It will be hugely inspiring. I was certainly inspired growing up through the age groups and going to watch England Women at the County Ground."

Dalton first joined Essex at under-11 level and went on to play international cricket for Ireland.

She has recently been working for Multan Sultans as the first female fast-bowling coach in the Pakistan Super League.

"I was never paid to play cricket at any level, even international level, I had expenses, but never got paid to play," she added.

"To see it as a profession now, you don't have to make it as an international cricketer in England to be paid any more, that's a massive difference."

• Listen to full BBC Essex interview with Catherine Dalton

The ECB plans to invest £4m-£5m per year into the women's game from 2025 to 2028.

The eight professional teams will operate for an initial five-year period and take part in revamped 50-over and T20 competitions, with unsuccessful applicants and National Counties filling second and third tiers of teams on a semi-professional and amateur basis.

It is understood that 16 of the 18 first-class counties have submitted bids and the ECB expect to confirm the eight successful ones by mid-April.

"With the full knowledge that a successful bid allows us a once-in-a-generation chance to transform women's cricket in our region, we are incredibly excited by this opportunity and proud to submit a bid," said Essex chief executive John Stephenson.

"We are delighted to have received so much support from eminent individuals and organisations throughout Essex and the region, and we are eagerly anticipating the outcome of the process."

England Women, meanwhile, will face Pakistan in a one-day match at Chelmsford on 29 May and already have more international fixtures in the schedule for odd-numbered years from 2025 to 2031.