Derby selected as bio-secure venue for England Women

Derbyshire's Incora County Ground will be used as the bio-secure venue for England Women this summer. Although plans for England's international schedule are yet to be finalised - they are expected to host South Africa after India pulled out of a proposed tri-series - all of the matches will be held at Derby.

Heather Knight's team will assemble at the ground for a training camp, with ODI and T20I fixtures likely to be arranged for September. Derby is currently being used as a base for the touring Pakistan men's team.

The announcement means that Derbyshire will not play any matches at their usual headquarters when the county season gets underway next month. The squad have been training at Repton School since returning from furlough earlier in July.

"England's international fixtures are massively important to the whole game at all levels and we are pleased to have been chosen to host these high-profile training camps and matches this summer," Derbyshire's chief executive, Ryan Duckett, said. "The Incora County Ground has developed into a prominent venue for international cricket, including hosting the ICC Women's World Cup in 2017 and most recently a bio-secure training camp for the touring Pakistan squad.

"This means that Derbyshire will play all matches away from home once the domestic season starts and this decision has been made with the full support of our coaching and playing staff."

The ECB has been working to salvage its programme of women's cricket in the wake of Covid-19 impacting much of the summer. Centrally contracted England players returned to training last month, with the confirmation of South Africa's tour expected in the coming weeks.