Somerset are offering free admission to the England Women Test Match against India to all youngsters up to the age of sixteen.

Interest in girls and women's cricket in the county is at an all time high, with the Somerset player Hannah Lloyd being named in the England squad and Somerset Under 15's girls team winning through to the latter stages of the ECB national competition.

There is also a healthy interest from girls of all age groups in the game, as demonstrated by the numbers who took part in the interactive activity at the Bath and West Show recently.

Andrew Moulding the Somerset Cricket Development Officer told me: "Girl's cricket has really taken off in the county and there are an increasing number of girls who are taking up the game, and we want even more to get involved."

He continued: "With this in mind we have written to all clubs and schools inviting them to come along to watch the Women's Test Match against India free of charge. In addition there will be free coaching for the Under 11 girls for two hours during the morning, with a Kwik Cricket competition for them on the pitch at lunchtime. During the afternoon there will be a free two hour coaching session for the 12 – 16 year old's."

The Women's Test Match against India takes place at the County Ground between August 14th and 17th, and anyone who would like to find out more about the coaching sessions should contact Mr Moulding on 01823 352266.

Meanwhile Martock School won the first ever Girl's Under 11's Kwik Cricket competition that was held at Millfield School recently. A large number of schools entered the competition, and the four schools that made it through to the finals were Ash, Ilchester, Kingsmoor (Bawdrip) and Martock.

Martock, and the runners up Kingsmoor now go through to represent Somerset in the south west regional final at Kings College in Taunton that will be held on July 15th.

© SOMERSET