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| Surrey Stars | |
|---|---|
| Name | Surrey Stars |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Dissolved | 2019 |
| Ground | The Oval, Woodbridge Road, County Ground, Guildford |
| Capacity | 25,500 (The Oval) |
| Colours | Pink and blue |
| Coach | Richard Bedbrook |
| Captain | Nat Sciver-Brunt |
| Competitions | Women's Cricket Super League |
Surrey Stars were a women's Twenty20 cricket franchise based in Surrey that competed in the Women's Cricket Super League from 2016 to 2019. The team combined professional and semi-professional players drawn from county and international setups, attracting talent associated with England women's cricket team, Australia women's national cricket team, and New Zealand women's national cricket team. Surrey Stars won the 2018 Super League title before the tournament's restructuring led to their replacement in the regional domestic setup.
Surrey Stars were formed ahead of the inaugural 2016 season of the Women's Cricket Super League, a new regional franchise competition initiated by England and Wales Cricket Board to boost elite women's Twenty20 cricket alongside existing county frameworks such as Surrey County Cricket Club and Middlesex County Cricket Club. The franchise recruited a mix of domestic talent from county sides including Surrey Women and Kent Women, and overseas stars from franchises affiliated with Big Bash League and other international competitions like Indian Premier League-era interest in women's franchise structures. Coached by Richard Bedbrook, with leadership featuring players who had represented England Lions and national sides, the team progressed from group-stage contenders in 2016 and 2017 to champions in 2018 after a final at Hove against Loughborough Lightning. Following the 2019 season, the ECB's 2020 domestic reforms introduced the regional centers such as South East Stars, resulting in Surrey Stars' dissolution and the migration of personnel to the new regional entity.
Home fixtures were staged primarily at The Oval in Kennington, with additional matches hosted at Woodbridge Road in Guildford and the County Ground, Beckenham. The Oval, shared with Surrey County Cricket Club and known for hosting England national cricket team internationals and The Ashes tests, provided a marquee venue for high-attendance fixtures and broadcast coverage. Smaller county venues like Woodbridge Road offered community access and alignment with county programs such as Surrey Cricket Foundation initiatives and regional youth development matches.
Surrey Stars competed exclusively in the Women's Cricket Super League, a franchise T20 competition contested by teams including Western Storm, Southern Vipers, Loughborough Lightning, Western Storm, Yorkshire Diamonds, Devon Women-adjacent academies, and Lancashire Thunder. The Stars finished in varied positions across seasons: initial group-stage finishes in 2016 and 2017, culminating in the 2018 championship where they defeated Loughborough Lightning in the final; in 2019 they reached the semi-final stages but did not reclaim the title. Their performances contrasted with perennial contenders such as Southern Vipers and Western Storm, reflecting competitive balance fostered by the ECB and player drafts that included allocations from national squads like Australia's touring contingents and New Zealand's White Ferns.
The squad featured international figures such as Nat Sciver-Brunt (captain), who represented England women's cricket team, and overseas signings from Australia women's national cricket team and New Zealand women's national cricket team. Coaching and support staff included Richard Bedbrook, sports scientists linked with Loughborough University partnerships, and physiotherapists who had worked with Surrey County Cricket Club and county development squads. Other notable players who appeared in Stars colours included county standouts with affiliations to Kent Women, Sussex Women, and academies associated with England and Wales Cricket Board National Performance Centre structures. Player movement saw talents transition between franchises within the Super League and later into regional centers such as South East Stars following the 2019 reforms.
Key statistical achievements included leading run-scorers and wicket-takers during the Super League campaigns, with individual innings and bowling figures comparable to top performers from Southern Vipers and Western Storm. The 2018 championship season produced standout performances in both batting and bowling, with players registering high strike rates and economy rates appropriate to Twenty20 metrics used by the England and Wales Cricket Board and broadcast analysts. The team's records encompass highest team totals at venues like The Oval, individual half-centuries and centuries, and notable bowling hauls achieved against rivals such as Loughborough Lightning and Yorkshire Diamonds during league play.
Surrey Stars engaged in community outreach through collaborations with the Surrey Cricket Foundation, local schools, and county-age-group pathways aiming to increase female participation inspired by national campaigns like those run by the England and Wales Cricket Board and backed by initiatives similar to Chance to Shine. The franchise hosted coaching clinics with international players, talent identification camps connected to county academies including Surrey County Cricket Club Academy, and events at community grounds such as Woodbridge Road to strengthen links with grassroots clubs affiliated to Surrey County Cricket League. Post-2019, many community and development activities were absorbed into the regional infrastructure of South East Stars and county programs that continued to promote female cricket development across Surrey and neighbouring counties.
Category:Women's cricket teams in England