England women's cricket team to turn professional

The England women’s Ashes winning team pose on February 3, 2014, in Sydney, Australia.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced that the England women’s team will be turning professional, thanks to a national investment made available by the International Cricket Council to ‘restructure’ the game.

The team’s success in the Ashes series was convincing enough to get the ECB’s approval over the implementation of the new policy, by which the players will be highly compensated in terms of salary and bonuses.

An official statement released by the board on Thursday read:

“In a ground-breaking decision by the ECB directors, it was agreed that a portion of the increased revenues ECB are likely to receive from future ICC events should be re-invested in urban areas and the women’s game.

“Under these proposals the England women’s team will receive a major pay rise and also a bonus following their Ashes success in Australia this winter.”

The national captain Charlotte Edwards expressed her delight through Twitter.

“The success of the England women’s team was a real bright spot during an otherwise disappointing winter,” said ECB chairman Giles Clarke.

“Over successive years, the women’s team have produced not only excellent results but have also been outstanding role models for a generation of girls and women who have been inspired to take up the game.”

“These pay rises are significant – and as a result, we are proudly creating the first group of full-time women’s professional cricketers.

“We hope that they will become some of the best paid sportswomen in Britain – certainly the best in British women’s team sports.”

Thanks everyone for all your support. Today is a day I never thought I’d see in my time as a player!

— Charlotte Edwards (@Lottie2323) February 13, 2014