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Women's cricket is a 'dream you can pursue'

Georgia Eadiein Bristol
News imageBBC A women is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a Gloucestershire County Cricket Club branded t-shirt which is black with yellow stripes across the shoulders and around the neck. She has mid-length, light brown hair. She is stood on a cricket ground. BBC
Melissa Story remembers watching international cricket in Bristol as a young girl

Hosting the Women's World Cup could inspire the next generation of players, according to a Gloucestershire cricketer.

Melissa Story said she remembers watching the 2017 competition in Bristol as a young girl.

Today marks 100 days until the ICC Women's T20 Cricket World Cup gets under way with Bristol as one of the host cities and Story hopes this tournament will have a lasting impact on young players.

Six games will be played at the County Ground in June, including the match-up between reigning champions, New Zealand and Scotland.

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News imageThree Gloucestershire county cricket club players pose for a photo in front of a large screen which has '100 days to go' in large yellow text on it to mark the countdown to the women's T20 world cup starting. All three players and smiling at the camera and wearing black Gloucestershire kit with yellow stripes across the shoulders.
Today marks 100 days until the ICC women's T20 cricket World Cup gets under way with Bristol as one of the host cities

Story, 25, from Chippenham started playing the sport in Wiltshire before joining Gloucestershire in 2023.

She said women's cricket has seen "really dramatic growth" since the last time the world cup was hosted in England and that fans should expect "unpredictable, fast and exciting" cricket again this summer.

Former player and now Women's Head Coach at Gloucestershire, Fran Wilson, played in the last home world cup.

"Knowing you've got so much support and the grounds are gonna be full, it's really, really special," said Wilson.

Bristol hosted four Women's Rugby World Cup games at Ashton Gate last year which deputy leader of Bristol City council Heather Mack said was "incredible for the city".

A report commissioned by World Rugby found the tournament generated £47.7m for Bristol's economy.

Mack said: "We are honoured to keep getting these events which champion our women in sport".

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