Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium has been named as host for the final of the inaugural Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, which will be played on Sunday 27 September, live on Sky Sports.
Launching this weekend, the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy will see the eight regional teams in the new women’s domestic structure split into two groups, with the two respective group-winners of the 50-over tournament progressing to the final.
It’s great to support and showcase women’s cricket by hosting a major national final in the city. Particularly with the women’s Commonwealth Games cricket at Edgbaston in 2022. This also means that the two of cricket’s showcase domestic finals are coming to Birmingham as the Vitality Blast Finals Day will take place a few days after the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy finals.
Stuart Cain, Chief Executive of Warwickshire County Cricket Club,
“Everyone at Edgbaston is proud to play a lead part in the inaugural tournament, not just by hosting the final but through hosting the opening two games and in supporting the development of the Central Sparks team alongside our partners Worcestershire and the National Counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire.
Born and educated in Wolverhampton, Rachael Heyhoe Flint was a pioneer of women’s cricket and her husband, Derrick, played for Warwickshire CCC in the 1940s. Added Cain: “I worked with Rachael when she was a Director at Wolves and I was constantly amazed by her energy and enthusiasm for the region as well as cricket. She was also a close friend of Warwickshire CCC so it’s a fitting tribute that the final will be held in the West Midlands.”
Edgbaston hosts two groups games in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, starting on Saturday (29 August) with the Central Sparks opening game versus Northern Diamonds. The Sparks then take on North West Thunder on the Bank Holiday Monday (31 August) with both games played behind closed doors and live streamed via edgbaston.com.
ECB Managing Director of Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said: “Edgbaston is a brilliant venue for the final, with a great track record of hosting domestic finals. It’s also a great fit for this summer because of Rachael’s links to the West Midlands.
“We’re delighted that Sky have chosen to show the final of this special-edition Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. They have for a long time been excellent partners and champions of the women’s game and we’re hugely grateful to them for their continued support.
“The impacts of COVID-19 have demonstrated just how vital it is to have a sustainable and competitive domestic structure that gives our domestic women’s cricketers the chance to make a living from the game and also raises the standard of women’s cricket in England and Wales.
“I think it’s important to thank the eight Regional Directors of Women’s Cricket, their Chief Executives and their wider staff, for their efforts in getting us to this point.”
