Essex - Tier 1 .

[bwildered]

Overall, the Tier 1 counties will be required to have a minimum of 15 contracted players with a minimum salary of ?20,000, the same as new male players.
Those counties will be required to invest a minimum of ?500,000 on player salary costs, but not exceed ?800,000.

First game for newly formed Essex is away against newly formed Durham .

[vim]

How are they going to get the income, to pay those salaries.

Still, nice work if you can get it.

[essexfan548]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/ce3qk655g19o

'Essex captain Grace Scrivens hopes a "family feel" will help them to be a competitive force in the inaugural domestic season of fully professional women's cricket.

Eight tier one teams will compete in the One-Day Cup and T20 Blast this season, with a new county-based format replacing the regional structure of recent years.

Several Essex players were part of the Sunrisers squad which won the 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in 2024 and they start their One-Day Cup campaign away to Durham on Wednesday.

"We're all excited and to launch the new Essex team will be really fun," Scrivens told BBC Essex Sport.

"I think it's really important to have the base at Chelmsford, and build the fan base as well. We love playing here, it's always a great home for us.

"Every set-up is very different, but I think we're luck have a real family and home feel around Essex."  ................'

[SirChef26]

Got slaughtered by Durham first game. Bodes well.

[Can the Can]

Seems like a ridiculous burden on the finances of the clubs unless all funding is direct from some women's game magic money tree that the ECB have bestowed upon the counties with Tier 1 status.

Can't see anyway that the club can even get close to breaking even on running costs for this without some very spicy account book cooking.

[Can the Can]

Got slaughtered by Durham first game. Bodes well.

Reckon their first goal is to see if it takes them less than 103 years to win a trophy.

[nat]

Seems like a ridiculous burden on the finances of the clubs unless all funding is direct from some women's game magic money tree that the ECB have bestowed upon the counties with Tier 1 status.

Can't see anyway that the club can even get close to breaking even on running costs for this without some very spicy account book cooking.

Funding comes from the special ECB 'woke' fund.

[vim]

I would dispute that it is a woke fund.

However, a substantial amount is being thrown at Women's Cricket. For what may be little return.

Give it a few years, and it will be, unless you can pay your way. You are not going on the England tour.

[bwildered]

Guess Meteor way is not accessible for the women?s fixtures ?

[vim]

It would be possible for everyone to use the Public Car Park, next door to Meteor Way.

[essexfan548]

I would dispute that it is a woke fund.

However, a substantial amount is being thrown at Women's Cricket. For what may be little return.

Give it a few years, and it will be, unless you can pay your way. You are not going on the England tour.

I worked with Shirley Hodges, England wk in the 1980s - she had to not only lose pay to go on tour but also arrange supply cover.  We also had two NZ test players staying with us because that was the only way the tour could happen. I also scored some of the matches because they did not bring a scorer.

I don't want to go back to those days.

[Perov]

It would be possible for everyone to use the Public Car Park, next door to Meteor Way.

Unlikely  to be available  free to members. Pay the parking fee if you want to attend, or do what I will do.....don't  go.

[Andy]

I would dispute that it is a woke fund.

However, a substantial amount is being thrown at Women's Cricket. For what may be little return.

Give it a few years, and it will be, unless you can pay your way. You are not going on the England tour.

I worked with Shirley Hodges, England wk in the 1980s - she had to not only lose pay to go on tour but also arrange supply cover.  We also had two NZ test players staying with us because that was the only way the tour could happen. I also scored some of the matches because they did not bring a scorer.

I don't want to go back to those days.

I think the major concern is that the men?s game could be hit by these worthy investments in the distaff version. I could seriously see county cricket going semi pro for clubs like ours. That may be what certain administrators ultimately want but it is not like Man City throwing a few million at a women?s team.

[dazedpenguin]

Another thumping defeat, this time to Warwickshire (having had them 123-6 at one point). Essex women conceded 39 extras!

I hope I'm proved wrong, but so far they don't look a great side. Or maybe just an inexperienced one.

[honkytonk]

It's the majority of the Sunrisers side that won the 1 day cup last season.