Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and Middlesex Cricket have today announced that a match between teams representing the two clubs will take place at Lord’s next month on ‘MCC Women’s Day’.
It will be the first time that Middlesex Women have played on the main ground at the Home of Cricket.
They will take to the field on Tuesday 24th April against an MCC Women’s team captained by former England skipper Charlotte Edwards.
Edwards will captain the MCC side that also includes World Cup winners Sarah Taylor and Georgia Elwiss.
The match will be in the T20 format, with two games taking place on the same day. The encounter between Middlesex and MCC will be preceded by another T20 match contested by MCC Women’s playing members, between teams named the Lord’s Ladies and the Marylebone Maidens.
In what will be the first women’s match at Lord’s since last summer’s ICC Women’s World Cup Final, when a crowd of over 25,000 watched England defeat India in thrilling fashion, the Home of Cricket is aiming to break the attendance record for domestic women’s cricket in England.
The current record stands at 3,413 for last year’s Kia Super League Finals Day, when Western Storm defeated Southern Vipers at Hove. However, around 4,000 schoolchildren are expected at Lord’s for the MCC event and will take part in many different activities during the day.
The day falls within a milestone year for MCC and women’s cricket. 2018 marks the first year that women become full Members after graduating from the Club’s legendary waiting list as well as the first full year of operation for the MCC and Middlesex Performance Academy for Women and Girls. The Academy, which was launched in September 2017, gives female players aged between 16 and 24 a link between county age group cricket and the higher end of the pathway.
The matches on MCC Women’s Day will be streamed live on the internet via Middlesex’s website, which marks another first for women’s cricket at Lord’s.
Head of Women’s Cricket for MCC and Middlesex, Danni Warren, said: “This day will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase women’s cricket at Lord’s. Both MCC and Middlesex are currently undertaking some fantastic work in this area, and to have two T20 matches on the main ground at Lord’s is a real boost to this work.
“We really want the local community to get involved in this event and, with thousands of schoolchildren taking part in cricket-based activities on the day, we are sure that a fantastic atmosphere is in store.”
England wicketkeeper-batsman, Sarah Taylor, said, “To be returning to play at Lord's after that special day last summer is a real privilege.
“Winning the World Cup at such an iconic venue last year was a massive boost to the profile of women's cricket, and MCC Women's Day further goes to show the impact that England's win is having.
“I'm looking to forward to walking out at Lord's again for what is set to be a great day for players and spectators alike.”
Middlesex Women’s Captain, Natasha Miles, said: “I am super excited to be leading the Middlesex girls on this momentous occasion on our first outing at Lord’s.
“To have the opportunity to play on such an historic and famous ground, here at the Home of Cricket, is amazing and it’s going to be a really special and memorable day.”
The MCC versus Middlesex Women's T20 clash begins at 1.30pm, and is scheduled to finish at 4.15pm.
Middlesex Cricket would like to pass on thanks to our sponsors and partners, Perfect Smile, Kingspan, Chestertons, Rabo Bank and the Felix Project for their support of Middlesex Women's Cricket. We look forward to working with you all over the coming season and on the 24th April on what will be a truly special, memorable and historic day for the club at the Home of Cricket.
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