Following on from four successful years in the Kia Super League, Western Storm has proudly become a household name across the South West. With existing strong links across the region, Western Storm has left an excellent legacy of programmes encouraging participation and support for women’s and girl’s cricket.
As we enter the post-Super League era, Western Storm will play a key part in delivering the ‘Transform Women & Girls Cricket’ section of the new ECB strategy, ‘Inspiring Generations’.
Western Storm proudly represents the South West & Wales region, working collaboratively with Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Cricket Wales, Somerset and Wiltshire to lead the way in driving forward both performance and recreational cricket.
Western Storm is the host of one of 8 regional centres that will, for the first time, enable a number of domestic cricketers the opportunity to train and play as a professional cricketer in what is a huge step forward in the evolution of the female game. Recently Wales' own Alex Griffiths, Dani Gibson (both Storm) and Gwenan Davies (Central Sparks) signed their first professional contracts.
Within the new regional structure, a new Academy system will also be created to provide top quality support to high-potential players across the region providing an accessible and inclusive player pathway for females in the South West & Wales.
“It is a really exciting time to be a female cricketer within the South West and Wales. For the first time, a number of players will have the opportunity to earn a living playing cricket and be part of a top-quality performance environment with year-round support. The region has already achieved many brilliant things within the female game, but I’m really excited that now we will be able to provide the most talented players the support they deserve to help them fulfil their potential – through both the main Western Storm programme and the Western Storm Academy. Hopefully young girls will look up and see some brilliant role models in the Western Storm and Welsh Fire players and see that there are lots of opportunities for cricket to be a game for them”.
Lisa Pagett, Regional Director of Women’s Cricket, Western Storm
For any general queries around the pathway in Wales contact the Cricket Wales Head of Talent Pathway Matt Thompson on [email protected]