MARIA SHARAPOVA has officially joined the field for this summer's Edgbaston Priory Club tournament in Birmingham.

Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Michael Downey caused ructions, not least in his own organisation, last year with his decision to offer Sharapova a wild card following her return to the sport after a 15-month doping ban.

Sharapova subsequently had to pull out through injury but signed a two-year agreement and joins a strong field including Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza, British No 1 Johanna Konta and Petra Kvitova, who claimed an emotional victory here last June.