Taunton, now the Home of Women's Cricket

There was a 27 per cent increase in participation in club and school cricket during 2006/07, with women’s and girls' cricket recording the sharpest rise of 45 per cent.

The ECB’s new head of women’s cricket, and former England captain, Clare Connor, said: “This is a massive boost for the women’s game. It provides a great foundation on which to build future England teams."

Ansty CC in Sussex are indicative of clubs embracing the women's game: while reporting a 20 per cent increase in overall membership, they were also able to set up a new Under-13 girls section with 20 girls being regularly coached and plans in place for a summer match programme in 2008.

Background

Women's cricket reached an important milestone in March 1998 when members of the Women's Cricket Association, for 72 years the sport's governing body, voted to become part of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

England have largely led the development of women's cricket from the very first Test - their defeat of Australia in Brisbane in 1934 - through World Cup triumph in the inaugural championship in 1973, to the appointment in 1996 of England vice-captain, Barbara Daniels as the WCA's first full-time Executive Director.

Records of women's cricket date back to the 18th century. Pictorial evidence suggests women played as long ago as the 1300s, however, although the first club for women, the White Heather Club, was not formed until 1887.

The Women's Cricket Association was formed in 1926 by a group of enthusiasts after a cricket holiday in Malvern. In 1927 there were 10 clubs, within seven years there were 80 and in 1938, 123 had been formed.

England played their first game against The Rest at Leicester in 1933. The first international tour, to Australia and New Zealand, took place a year later with only two players unable to afford the £80 cost.

Sir Jack Hayward, who funded England tours to the West Indies in 1970 and 1971, also financed the first women's World Cup in 1973, prompted by then England captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint. England beat Australia in the final by 92 runs.

England won their second world title in 1993, beating New Zealand at Lord's when Jan Brittin took the winning catch off Suzie Kitson's bowling.