England women take on India at Taunton

The England women's cricket team will face the India women's team in a four day test match at the County Ground, Taunton starting this morning at 11am.

The teams, ranked fourth and third in the world respectively have a tradition for playing close and competitive Test matches and England will be full of confidence having defeated India in the recent one-day international series which saw England contest the final with World Champions, New Zealand.

England Captain, Clare Connor, said: "We're looking forward to the Test series, especially as we had to abandon the first Test at Shenley due to rain, so this becomes a one-off decider".

Local girl Laura Harper, who lives in Cornwall and plays for Somerset has been named in the squad. At 16, she became the youngest girl to represent England whilst playing at Taunton against South Africa in 2000.

Laura has since retained her place and the 18-year-old spinner is looking forward to returning to home ground: "It's fantastic to be playing at such a beautiful ground, and for once, my friends and family don't have to drive for hours to see me play especially as the final stages of the one-day triangular tournament were in Durham!"

Entry to the match is £3 per day, with youngsters up to the age of sixteen and Somerset CCC members gaining free entry.

Ahead of the big match at Taunton on Tuesday the County Ground was a very busy place to be.

Whilst head groundsman Phil Frost and his team were putting the finishing touches to the wicket, the England squad were being put through their paces in the nets this morning, and then after lunch it was the turn of their Indian counterparts.

Somerset are expecting good crowds on each day for this high profile match, and with the chance to partake in some free coaching a lot of girls are expected to come along to swell the numbers.