FORWARD thinking Ribblesdale League outfit Read are aiming to attract new females to cricket – and will hold an open day in a bid to unearth the next Charlotte Edwards or Arran Brindle.

Read are progressive with their ideas for women’s cricket and are also looking for players who can slot into the Women’s team which won the Northern Women’s League last year.

And club chairman Steve Lowes is looking forward to Sunday’s event, which will lead to a regular Sunday session for women and girls – and possibly the discovery of players in the mold of England skipper Edwards or rising star Brindle, who recently hit the headllines by playing in the Lincolnshire ECB Men’s Premier League for Louth and becoming the first woman to score a century in men’s semi-pro cricket thanks to 128 against Market Deeping.

“Read’s had women cricketers in its open teams for the last 20 years or more,” said Lowes.

“Currently, 17-year-old Alex Hartley is one of the stars of Women’s XI and is also one of the few women playing in a Ribblesdale League senior team.

“In a recent second team match, Alex took seven wickets and scored 22 runs. She also plays for Lancashire Ladies 1XI and is part of the England Women’s Academy.

“We want to find more Alex’s.

“The age range is basically from a keen-to-learn six-year-old right through to adults of any age. We will have drills, practice skills and then have a game at the end of it.

Anyone who thinks they might like to try cricket is invited tyo go along to Whalley Road between 9.30am and noon, and anyone who has played cricket before and would like to play more seriously is welcome on Sunday.