Here is the link to the ACS Women’s International Cricket Year Book 2026, which is in a “Flip Book” style.
ACS Women’s International Cricket Year Book 2026
Bargain Hunt comes to the Somerset Cricket Museum
The BBC television cameras were at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton all day on Monday March 16th, filming some scenes for a future edition of the hugely popular Bargain Hunt programme that will focus on women’s cricket.
Auctioneer, Christina Trevanion will present this special episode of Bargain Hunt.
Somerset Women / The West kit
We are very grateful to Kath Wilkins, who represented the West (which preceded Somerset) from 1991 – 1999, Somerset (2000 -2003), was Captain for the first season 2000-2001 and gained 3 England Caps for this collection of cricket clothing.
Notes on the Blue Cricket Ball.
Victorian men did not formally “ban” the red cricket ball for women, but rather experimented with a blue ball in 1897 to prevent female players from allegedly fainting at the sight of the red colour, which was seen as too reminiscent of blood. The blue ball was largely unsuccessful as it was hard to see against the green grass and sky.
- The primary motivation, according to historical accounts, was a condescending belief, by Victorian men, that women would be frightened or faint upon seeing the traditional red ball.
- A blue ball was produced by Alfred Reader for Gamages Ltd. in 1897 specifically for women to use, which was considered a “curious experiment”. However the blue ball did not perform well in terms of visibility, making it difficult to use in actual games.
The history of the blue “St Ivel” cricket ball that is in the Women’s Cricket display, as described in Wisden 1977 is as follows:-
“Preparations for the fiftieth birthday of the Women’s Cricket Association were started over two years ago and were stepped up when it became known that the Australians had accepted the invitation to tour England for a Test series as part of the celebrations…
The most memorable event in a Golden Jubilee season packed with cricket, as well as social functions, was the falling, to women cricketers, of the last stronghold of cricket, Lord’s, and with the blessing of the MCC.
England played Australia on Wednesday, August 4 in a 60-over match and history was made. A centrally pitched wicket was provided and countless press, broadcasting and television personnel took an active interest
England celebrated the day fittingly with an eight wicket victory but forfeited the St. Ivel Jug, Australia having achieved the faster scoring rate in the combined Canterbury and Lord’s limited-over matches.
The scene in the Long Room afterwards was one to be remembered. Many spectators, most of them women, stood there to watch the President of the MCC, present the trophy to Australia and players of both teams received from the sponsors a specially manufactured blue cricket ball in commemoration of the historic occasion.”
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Somerset Women former Players join Somerset Former Players Association (FPA)
The Somerset Cricket Museum volunteers were delighted to be invited to the event on Friday 23rd January 2026 in the 1875 Room when former Somerset Women players were formally enrolled into the Somerset Former Players Association (FPA).
Continue reading “Somerset Women former Players join Somerset Former Players Association (FPA)”Women’s Cricket Data Base
This article introduces the Women’s County Cricket History Project – a website that provides details of all recorded women’s county cricket matches that took place under the Women’s Cricket Association
The database has been compiled by Matt Kingdom, primarily using womenscrickethistory.org and CricketArchive, amalgamating the sources into searchable spreadsheets, with basic statistics/sorting by team also available.
A Brief History of Women’s Cricket in England
An article contributed by Mr David Lausen.
The history of women’s cricket goes back at least three hundred years and it is certainly not a story of steady progression. There were times when there were many barriers to women and girls playing, claims that women playing cricket was either unnatural or unhealthy, and open resentment that women were transgressing into the male ‘domain’. The following is my take on the changes over three hundred years. One of my grandmothers played the game in 1890s and one of my daughters played from 2000 to 2013.
Continue reading “A Brief History of Women’s Cricket in England”West Women’s Cricket
An article contributed by Matthew Kingdom.
Early Years (1930-1946)
In the early 20th century, domestic women’s cricket in England was organised regionally. In the 1930s, five “Territories” were defined by the Women’s Cricket Association (WCA): North, Midlands, South, East and West. West Women (sometimes referred to as West of England or Western Counties Women), played their first recorded match on 23rdJune 1930, against Midlands Women at Bournville Cricket Ground in Birmingham – the match was drawn after “deluges of rain delayed the start”.
An audio version of this article can be heard here
Somerset Women – International Players
Included in this article are players who both played List A/T20 cricket for Somerset, and played international cricket during their careers. Article contributed by Matt Kingdom.
An audio version of this article is shown here
The Past and Future of Women’s Cricket in Somerset
Reflections from interviews with Kieran Peters and Jan Godman – article contributed by Matt Kingdom
An audio version of this article is added here
In September 2023, I sat down with Kieran Peters and Jan Godman to discuss the history and state of the Somerset Women’s cricket team, and the wider themes of their careers and cricket in the South West.
Continue reading “The Past and Future of Women’s Cricket in Somerset”Women’s Cricket in the West – Historical Dates
Statistics compiled by Matthew Kingdom
Continue reading “Women’s Cricket in the West – Historical Dates”Somerset Women’s Cricket – league positions
Statistics contributed by Matthew Kingdom
Taunton – The Home of Women’s Cricket
Article contributed by Matthew Kingdom
An audio version of this article has been added here
On 29th August 2006, on Day 1 of the England v India Women’s Test match at the County Ground, Taunton, it was announced that Taunton would become the new “Home of England Women’s Cricket”, with the aim of hosting at least one women’s international match at the ground each year, as well as key domestic matches and training camps.
Somerset Women
Article contributed by Matthew Kingdom
An audio version of this article has been added here
Women’s cricket in England developed throughout the 20thcentury under the auspices of the Women’s Cricket Association (WCA). In the 1930s, the first “County Associations” were formed, each affiliating to one of five Territorial Associations: North, Midlands, South, East and West.
Continue reading “Somerset Women”Western Storm
Article contributed by Matthew Kingdom
The Kia Super League era (2016-2019)
In 2016, the Kia Super League (KSL) was created, a semi-professional T20 league consisting of six teams, reflecting the increasing popularity of women’s cricket and aiming to drive up standards in the women’s game. Somerset CCC partnered with Gloucestershire CCC and the University of Exeter to form Western Storm, representing the South West of England and led by England captain Heather Knight. Sophie Luff, Anya Shrubsole and overseas player Lizelle Lee were the three [Somerset] representatives in the squad alongside former players Izzy Westbury and Fran Wilson.
Continue reading “Western Storm”Somerset Wanderers Ladies Cricket Club – Club History
Article contributed by Nicky Tranter.
I started teaching Physical Education in Bath September 1966, and offered cricket as an optional extra sport.
Somerset had a Ladies County Team at that time, and I went to the County Trials in 1967 taking 3 girls from the school with me. However there were very few matches and the last straw was one weekend when I travelled to Weston-super-Mare from Bath – by public transport – only to find the ground deserted: no-one told me the match had been cancelled! The County Team folded in 1968 and I decided that if I wanted to play the only way forward was to form my own team.
Audio version of Article
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