ENGLAND batter Sophia Dunkley hopes Surrey’s new professional women’s team can inspire a new generation of cricketers with several fixtures pencilled in at the Oval this season.

For the first time in the club’s history Surrey will have a professional women’s squad after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) gave them permission to become one of eight new professional teams last April.

Both the men’s and women’s teams will share the Oval this season, with the club aiming to provide equal treatment for both sides and the first fixture at the ground for Surrey Women set to be against Hampshire in June.