World Cup winners return to Lord’s for historic match

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Charlotte Edwards will lead an MCC XI against Middlesex Women as part of the inaugural MCC Women’s Day.

Members of England’s 2017 Women’s World Cup-winning squad will return to Lord’s for the first time since their famous win at the ground, when they feature in a special match on Tuesday 24 April.

Fran Wilson, Sarah Taylor and Georgia Elwiss, who were part of the England Women squad that snatched a thrilling nine-run win over India before a sold-out crowd in July last year, will participate in the inaugural MCC Women’s Day events.

The occasion will see two women’s matches on the main grounds. Two teams made up of MCC playing members – the Lord’s Ladies and the Marylebone Maidens – will face off in a T20 match before an MCC XI take on Middlesex Women.


It will be the first time that Middlesex Women have played on the main square of their home ground in their 83-year history.

Charlotte Edwards, the former England captain, will lead an MCC XI squad that includes Taylor and Elwiss.

Wilson has been named in the Middlesex Women squad led by Natasha Miles. The team also includes batter Beth Morgan, who won the 2009 Women's World Cup and World T20 with England.

“Women’s cricket is changing fast,” said Wilson to the Evening Standard. “We are working hard and getting more recognition than ever, and this is testament to that.”

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For the World Cup final, a record crowd of 27,000 turned up. On Tuesday, at least 5000 spectators are expected, a domestic record for the women’s game. “There’s a real momentum in the women’s game at the moment,” said Edwards. “If you’d have said to me five years ago that we’re going to get over 5,000 people here to watch a domestic game, and countless others watching online, I’d never have believed you.”

“It’s 100 per cent a big step for women’s cricket full-stop,” said Naomi Dattani, Middlesex one-day captain. “Lord’s is one of the best grounds in the world, so the fact we get to play here makes a mark onto other counties associated with major grounds.”

The MCC event comes even as stakeholders gather in India for the ICC Women's Cricket Forum to plot the way forward for the fast-growing women's game.

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