England women to play men's team

Katherine Brunt and Jenny Gunn, England women cricketers, will feature in a one-off tie between the England women's team and a men's first XI next year. The match is to mark Hoddesdon's 125th anniversary.

Nick Gandon, the Hoddesdon club captain, said that the match, scheduled for May 31, would help promote women's cricket and build interest among women in the sport. "The match is about looking back in the past and also looking forward to the future," Gandon told Mercury Sport, an Essex-based newspaper. "We're concerned that traditionally the game has been played by boys and men at Hoddesdon Cricket Club. We're looking to be more open to other people and we see this as a way of achieving that.

"We're actively looking at how we can provide cricket for girls within our club or other clubs in the area. This match will also be a good opportunity to bring international cricketers to the area whose achievements have perhaps not been noted as much as they should have been. That's the explanation behind it.

"It will be open to everyone to come along and join in the celebrations. It will be one of a few highlights throughout the year and will be right up there as a high profile event. We've certainly got a lot to do before then. You can never start planning these kind of things too early."