In Sophie Ecclestone Hundred to taste the opportunity to make history

 

 

England's Sophie Ecclestone hailed the decision to kick the opening Hundred with a women's game as a "massive" moment in the game.

 

The KIA Oval will host the opening game on July 21, with the Oval undefeated against the Manchester Originals. This will be the first time a women's match has been featured in a major UK team-sporting event.

 

Ecclestone will be part of the Manchester Originals squad for this first match, with the new format designed to attract new fans and appeal to younger audiences.

 

"I think it's a big deal that women's sports are living with men," the 21-year-old told the PA News Agency.

 

"Obviously this will be a competition that is going on with men and women together so I think it would be great to go to the women's sport first and hopefully get a lot of publicity around this."

 

"It's really fun to play in the first game of the hundred, I think we're all excited to go to Hundred. And I think playing in this first game will be quite historic and it's going to be a great game.

 

"I would love to bowl first but. I think Kate Cross is the captain, and a seven bowler, I'm not sure. I really got the choice."

 

Ecclestone is no stranger to overcoming obstacles as the world's number one International Twenty20 bowler in March ahead of his 21st birthday.

 

Spinner also featured in the first edition of the women's Indian Premier League tournament called T20 Challenge in the UAE last year.

 

"Playing in the IPL was a great experience for me and I think playing as a player abroad was just a great experience," he said. "It would be great if we could hope that in the next few years - it goes hand in hand with men - not just for women's cricket but for cricket in general."