AN elite partnership has been established between top women’s cricket team Western Storm and Taunton School for the 2017 season.

The school hopes to inspire young female cricketers with this sponsorship.

Western Storm will offer training sessions with pupils from Taunton School and across the South West, as well as the chance to watch some big games at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

Western Storm, who compete in the Kia Super League, are made up of the best female cricketers from Somerset, Gloucestershire and Exeter University, many also playing internationally.

These include England World Cup winners Heather Knight, Anya Shrubsole and Fran Wilson, plus Shrubsole's Somerset team-mate Sophie Luff and West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor.

Former Taunton School pupil and England cricketer Jodie Dibble is also part of the Western Storm squad, and has already had the chance to work with the pupils from Taunton Preparatory School.

Recently, the Taunton School Under-15s Girls made the finals of the Lady Taverners cricket competition, just missing out on the top spot to King’s College.

Western Storm will be playing at the County Ground on Saturday, August 12, with pupils from Taunton School creating a Guard of Honour.

On Friday, August 4 (10.30am-3pm), they will run a ‘Be a Little Stormer Girls Camp’ at the County Ground in Taunton, with coaching by Western Storm Players – you can find more details and book a place here.