Welsh Fire women aim to inspire next generation

Hayley Matthews has been one of Welsh Fire's star performers in recent years

Welsh Fire bosses are hoping the side's success in The Hundred can help inspire the next generation of young girls to become professional cricketers.

The women's team topped the group in this year's competition and will face London Spirit in Sunday's final at Lords.

Aimee Rees, who is Glamorgan head of women and girls cricket and Welsh Fire assistant coach, hopes the success can flow down to the grassroots and the next generation of female cricketers.

"We have lots of international experience who have played in lots of tournaments around the world and that's the type of thing you can't accelerate," said Rees.

"The next generation have real role models now.

"That is massive because they can see it, so they can believe they can be it.

"Every time we come to Sophia Gardens I see so many young girls who are in the pathway watching, waiting for the autographs and pictures.

"The Hundred has contributed to the rise of women's and girls' cricket massively, probably more than anything else.

"We had the 2017 World Cup which England won when we saw a huge boost in numbers, but The Hundred is having the same affect.

"I have been coaching girls and they have been asking me what is Shabnim Ismail like or what does Jess Jonassen have for breakfast?

"This is what you have with young boys when they say, 'what is it like to play for Manchester United?'

"It is getting to that stage."

Rees hopes this interest translates into young Welsh women coming through.

"We want to make sure we develop some young Welsh players who come through into that," said Rees.

"We have established players Alex Griffiths, Sophia Smale and Kate Coppack, and we have previously had Claire Nicholas.

"It is important we have these role models for these girls and show there is an opportunity for them to start playing cricket and they can play at the highest level in front of the biggest crowds and become a professional.

"That wasn't the case a couple of years ago."

Glamorgan ready for 'exciting' professionalism

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced eight counties will host professional women's teams as part of a major restructure of the domestic game from 2025.

Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey and Warwickshire have all been awarded Tier 1 status.

Glamorgan and Yorkshire join them in 2027 as part of an expansion.

"It's so exciting," said Rees.

"These young girls have an opportunity to make a career out of this and become the next generation that inspires.

"For somebody who has been working in Welsh cricket for more than 20 years, I [was] not sure this day would come, that we would see women's professional cricket here.

"Two thousand and twenty seven will be here before we know it and we have a huge job to do in the next couple of years to make sure we have enough local talent going into that side as well as recruiting players from outside.

"I would love to think there will be some young Welsh female cricketers doing exactly the same as the rugby and football players and having that opportunity."