If you’ve ever eyed up the famous Kia Oval for a sun-soaked day of sport in South London, there’s even more to look forward to this summer. For the first time in its history, Surrey has launched a fully professional women’s team, marking a major milestone for cricket in the capital.
Women’s cricket at this historic ground has been revolutionised with the addition of a brand-new professional women’s squad led by captain Bryony Smith, bringing fresh talent and a whole new energy.
The Kia Oval is Surrey Cricket Club’s home ground and is known as ‘The Home of T20 Cricket’, where 100,000 descend on South London throughout June and July.
The team will play in a series of T20 double headers and standalone matches against county teams from all over the country, as part of the Vitality T20 Blast.
The 2025 season got off to a strong start with an away win against Somerset on 30th May. The momentum continued with their first double header appearance on 5th June, taking home the win with an impressive 32-run victory over Hampshire..
We spoke to the 29-year-old Vice Captain, Tash Farrant, who got her debut wicket in Thursday’s match.
Her cricket journey began at just eight-years-old, playing for the boy’s teams throughout her schooling in Kent.
Tash currently plays for the Oval Invincibles and England, and has made numerous international appearances.
“The Oval definitely feels like my home ground,” Tash told us, “I think it’s the best ground in the world, without fail.”
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Although women’s cricket isn’t new to the Oval, with the Oval Invincibles and The South East Stars playing there over the years, this season marks a transformation in the world of women’s cricket.
“The girls that have played for Surrey before have definitely laid the foundations for us.” Tash said. “Although, it definitely is a new era and it’s great to be one single club with the lads as well.”
Tash reminisced on the transformational journey women’s cricket has had throughout her career, with the ECB first providing professional contracts to just eighteen women’s England players in 2014.
She said: “It’s honestly hard to put into words the change in women’s cricket, especially within the last five or ten years. It’s incredible and it’s definitely a fast-growing sport.”
Every player in the new squad brings their own story woven to the Surrey badge and the lineup features exciting names in the world of cricket.
Captain Bryony Smith Captain, who has played for Surrey since she was nine, became the first professional signing of this new era. She’s joined by the likes of 17-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman, the youngest player to debut in The Hundred and is certainly one to watch.
“We’ve got an eclectic mix of players,” said Tash. “We really pride ourselves on making sure everyone can be themselves.
“We’re a very high performing team and we want to be the highest performing side in the country in women’s Tier 1 Cricket.”
Tash urged local fans and to support the women’s fixtures throughout summer.
Matchday at the Oval is exciting and budget friendly, with food stands, mascots and interval entertainment. For a standalone women’s match, tickets are priced at £10 for adults and just £1 for under 16s.
For Double Header days, £30 per ticket gains you access to both the Women’s and Men’s matches.
“We’re as talented as the boys but obviously they are very different games,” Tash added.
“It’s really important to us that people come down to our standalone games at the Kia Oval as well and even if you don’t love cricket, it’s just a great day out.”
The Surrey Women’s team’s next appearances at the Kia Oval:
Sunday 8th June 2pm- Surrey Women V Durham
Wednesday 11th June 6:30pm- Surrey Women V The Blaze (Nottinghamshire)
Wednesday 18th June 2pm- Surrey Women V Lancashire
Sunday 6th July 12pm- Surrey Women V Essex
Sunday 13th July 11am- Surrey Women V Somerset
Friday 18th July 6:30pm- Surrey Women V Birmingham Bears
Sunday 27th July 12:30pm- Women’s Finals Day
To book tickets to see the women play: https://www.kiaoval.com/tickets/
For those wanting to get involved in cricket in the area, visit: https://www.surreycricketfoundation.org/
