Middlesex confirm women's tier-one bid, with MCC offering their support

The Cricketer reported the county's intention to bid last month, but they have now confirmed their submission, while MCC – who were offeredt the chance to bid themselves – are instead offering their support to their partners, Middlesex

Middlesex have bid for a tier-one women's team as part of the regional tender process.

The Cricketer reported the county's intention to bid last month, but they have now confirmed their submission.

The deadline for entries was originally set at March 10 but, The Cricketer understands, was extended to midday on March 11 to allow for the initial date being a Sunday.

MCC were also offered the opportunity to bid by the ECB but, as reported on Monday by The Cricketer as part of a wider article about the process, they have not taken up that offer.

Instead, they have agreed to support the bid, in line with their relationship with Middlesex in the men's game and with Sunrisers in the women's game.

"We are extremely grateful for the support we are receiving from our partners MCC in our bid, who share our vision to see as much professional women's cricket played at Lord's as possible," said Middlesex chief executive Andrew Cornish.

"We are hopeful that we are able to carry on the incredible amount of work that has already gone into developing the professional women's game to this point.

"To see professional men's and women's sides out on the field, playing in Middlesex colours, is something we all aspire to, and we hope to be able to bring that vision to life in the coming few years."

^{Sunrisers have played at Lord's intermittently (David Rogers/Getty Images)}

Middlesex are currently one of nine counties affiliated to the Sunrisers regional team, which has caused its own challenges, given the vast expanse of the area, with the club's training bases spanning at times from Billericay to Cambridge.

Essex and Northamptonshire, the other first-class counties involved in the region, are both believed to have submitted an application for a tier-one team as well.

Middlesex received a timely boost last week in their ongoing quest for new facilities around London, securing the freehold of GSK's Swyncombe Avenue Sports Ground. There are plans for that ground to become the home of the county's women and girls' pathway development programme, but The Cricketer has been told that it is not quite large enough to host women's professional cricket.

Hence, Middlesex's bid is believed to have included conversations with their men's teams' traditional out-grounds – Radlett and Merchant Taylors' – as well as with MCC around use of Lord's.

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