SOMERSET are part of a consortium bid alongside Gloucestershire CCC and the University of Exeter to secure a South West team to compete in the ECB Women’s Super League, which will commence in 2016.

The Super League is being created to develop talent and create a performance programme around the country that will feed directly into the England Women’s team, where Somerset have had great success in providing players over the years who have represented their country, including fast bowler Anya Shrubsole.

Chief Executive Guy Lavender said: “Our support of the women’s game has been significant over many years and the County Ground has played a key role in the development of the national team and we are delighted to see them thriving.

“Somerset’s support for women’s cricket is significant both from a performance and a recreational perspective and we are determined that as many girls and women get the opportunity to play cricket, a sport that is much loved across the west country.

“To this end we are in the process of submitting a bid to be one of the venues for a Women’s Super League franchise and I am delighted to say that we are doing this in partnership with Gloucestershire, our first class neighbours and with the University of Exeter, who will be providing a potential training base for the team.

“Our objective is to have a south west based Women’s Super League team and to play those matches both at Taunton, Bristol and other venues around the region.

The chief executive added: “We not only want to produce an outstanding team but use this as a vehicle to engage more participation for women and girls right across the region.”

A decision is expected by the end of January 2016.