Last summer, there were set to be 7 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Group games, with the addition of a semi-final and final. One round of group games was called off due to the death of the Queen. This meant most teams played 6, 50-over matches. In the Charlotte Edwards Cup, each team played at least 6 games, split into two groups which made the tournament arguably a bit uneven, some teams facing Southern Vipers (the winner) twice while others played Sunrisers (who did not win a game) twice.
This season there will be 14 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Games for each team split into the time periods across the summer. There will also be 7 Charlotte Edwards Cup games, and all the teams will play each other once, making it fairer. Teams will play 8 more games than they did last summer and will play 21 group games in total.
The scheduling has meant that some games will be midweek but that will always happen if you add more group games. With most games not interfering with the international schedule, the 10 domestically contracted players may be joined by centrally contracted players, meaning the full squad may all be professional cricketers.
Midlands-based, Central Sparks will be playing at two different grounds: Wormsley and Moseley where they will play one Rachael Heyhoe Flint fixture. Their other games will take place at Edgbaston Stadium, three, Portland Road, one, and New Road where they will play four fixtures and will also be the venue for the Charlotte Edwards Cup semi-final and final.
Sunrisers will be playing at Lords for the first time, playing in the Charlotte Edwards Cup in a doubleheader with Middlesex. Five of their games in the summer will be held at Chelmsford, with Radlett hosting 2 and Northampton hosting two, as well as the final of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
Northern Diamonds are playing a remarkable five games at Yorkshire’s home, Headingley. The Riverside in Durham will host three games with Scarborough hosting just one. Two of their games’ venues are still to be confirmed.
South East Stars return to the Oval after two years to play in the Charlotte Edwards Cup in a double-header with Surrey. The majority of their fixtures across both competitions will be held at Beckenham while they will also play two games in Guilford and one in Canterbury.
Western Storm will play in Wales twice next summer, with two games at Sophia Gardens. Four matches will be held at Taunton and three will be played in Bristol. As it stands, there will be one game in Cheltenham with a game still to be confirmed.
Southern Vipers are yet to confirm two fixture venues however, they are set to play three games over the summer at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. Hove will host three matches and Arundel will host two. Newclose, in the Isle of Wight will be the venue for one Rachael Heyhoe Flint fixture — the Vipers’ first match on the island.
Thunder have expanded their venues and will be playing twice at Blackpool CC for the first time. Lancashire’s home, Old Trafford will host four games while Sedbergh and Sale with both host two each. One venue is still outstanding.
Newly branded, Blaze, who are based at Trent Bridge, will only play two games in Nottingham. Two games will be played in Leicester, one in Derby and for the first time, two in Welbeck. Three games are yet to confirm their venues.
The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy will kick off the Saturday 22 April. It will pause from the 10th May to make way for the Charlotte Edwards Cup. It will commence again on Sunday 2nd July but will pause again for the Hundred from Monday 24th July. The last leg of games will start on Tuesday 5th September and the final will be held on Sunday 24th September in Northampton. The Charlotte Edwards Cup will start on Thursday 18th May, with the final on Saturday 10th June.
The full schedules can be found here:
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