The best 48 female cricketers in England and Wales have been selected to play in a new tournament next season organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

'Super Fours' will ensure that elite players face each other in regular and competitive matches and enable the England Coach, John Harmer and England selectors to monitor the development of present and future England stars.

Players have been selected from eleven counties, reflecting the growth in the women's game across the country, and include Charlotte Edwards, the prolific England opening bat who did not play this year due to injury. Also included is Chandrika Khan, the ex-India Captain now playing for Middlesex, ensuring that home grown players have exposure to some of the best bowlers and batters in the world.

Each team will meet with an ECB coach for a weekend training session, followed by the competition, which is organised on a round robin basis with each team playing each other twice.

John Harmer, who took over as England Coach following the CricInfo Ashes Series this summer said "top players need a stronger competition to give them better preparation for international cricket. Their mental and physical skills need to be challenged for progressive development and aptitude, attitude and athleticism can all be developed for the international arena."

Super Fours will run weekly from 18th May to 15th June, with the inaugural women's triangular one-day international tournament starting on Wednesday 10th July against India and current World Champions, New Zealand.

Gill McConway, ECB Executive Director for Women's cricket said "the tournament should provide some great cricket and give domestic women's cricket a boost in England, in attracting both new players and spectators. It's a very innovative and exciting competition."

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