ENGLAND women are expected to field a full-strength team when Charlotte Edwards and Co visit Constable Country next Friday.

East Bergholt Cricket Club have had confirmation from England captain Edwards that she is planning to bring a full-strength side to Gandish Road to face a Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship XI led by ex-Essex and England bowler Neil Foster.

Andy Fairchild, the event organiser, said: “It is great for East Bergholt as a club and great for women’s cricket in Suffolk and Essex.

“And let’s not forget that England women are the best team in the world as well as the current England men’s team.”

Fairchild said that confirmation that the reigning world Twenty20 champions would be fielding a full-strength side had heightened interest in the match, which starts at 12.30pm.

“The interest was fairly high already, but it has increased since we had confirmation from Charlotte that they will be fielding all their star players. We are hoping to get a really good crowd along to watch, although we don’t know how many will attend on the day.

“Radio 5 Live and the Daily Telegraph have both expressed an interest in covering the match, but we will have to wait and see whether they do on the day.”

The match will be the showpiece of the five-day East Bergholt Cricket Club Festival, and follows on from the success of the 2009 event staged by the Two Counties side.

That included the ‘Unofficial Sixth Ashes Test’ when an Old England XI skippered by Foster took on an Australian Pro XI mainly of club cricketers and captained by Stuart Law, the former Australian and Essex batsman.

In the side led by Foster were guest players Charlotte Edwards and her England international colleague Isa Guha, and it was their appearance two years ago that led bo the invitation to bring the whole England side this year.

Foster, who has appeared for East Bergholt in Division Two of the Two Counties Championship this season alongside his sons, and Edwards will be on opposie sides this time, with Foster leading a team made up of players picked from Division One and Division Two of the competition.

The Sunday of the Festival is designated Ladies’ Day, when ex-Essex cricketer Peter Such and former Ipswich Town captain Matt Holland are scheduled to play.

Nearly 500 dining spectators will be enjoying a four-course lunch in a luxury marquee during the Festival, whilst others will be able to turn up and watch any of the games for free, including the England Women’s match.

England Women Team: Charlotte Edwards (capt), Sarah Taylor (wkt), Laura Marsh, Lydia Greenway, Caroline Atkins, Holy Colvin, Danni Wyatt, Fran Wilson, Amy Jones, Isa Guha, Katherine Brunt.

FESTIVAL DATES

Thursday, August 25: East Bergholt Club XI v Linton Park, Kent.

Friday, August 26: England Women v Two Counties XI.

Saturday, August 27: East Bergholt v Brightlingsea.

Sunday, August 28: Ladies’ Day - Sir John Barran President’s XI v Keith Alcoe Memorial XI.

Monday, August 29: East Bergholt Junior Club Kwik Cricket Tournament and East Bergholt U15 XI v Hadleigh XI.