Wyatt joins Sussex; Birmingham stage double-headers

Sussex Women have signed England allrounder Danielle Wyatt. They hope that Wyatt, who was previously with Nottinghamshire, will fill the spin-bowling hole left by the recently-retired Holly Colvin.

Wyatt, an off-spinning batsman who enjoyed an impressive Big Bash season, is currently a member of the England squad that has made it to the semi-final of the World T20.

"Playing with and against the best players in the country can only benefit me and it's going to be great fun playing alongside the likes of Sarah Taylor, Georgia Elwiss and Georgia Adams," she said. "Hopefully I can add to the spin and batting department and help push for the Championship with this brilliant side we've got."

Sussex's director of women's cricket Charlotte Burton said: "It is fantastic news that Danni will be joining the Sussex Women. Danni is a talented all-rounder who will strengthen all departments for us, and will be a great addition with the ball, having lost Holly Colvin to retirement.

"Danni will fit in perfectly with the squad, especially as she played Junior County Age Group cricket with Georgia Elwiss at Staffordshire, and she knows many of the players already through the county set-up and at England level."

Meanwhile, underlying the increased importance of the women's game to counties, Warwickshire have announced that some of their home T20 fixtures will take place as double-headers before games involving the men's team.

Birmingham Bears Women will take on Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston on Sunday 19 June, before Birmingham play Lancashire Lightning, while on Sunday July 17, the women's side will play Lancashire followed by the men's team playing Leicestershire Foxes.

"Not only will it provide our women's team with a chance to play in-front of a big crowd at an international venue, but it gives our Members and supporters an opportunity to watch an additional match at no extra cost," Warwickshire chief executive Neil Snowball said.

"Whilst we were disappointed to recently miss out on hosting a team in the new Women's Super League, we're committed to growing the women's game and we hope that this initiative and our grassroots development of the game will inspire more women and girls to get involved in cricket."