Team manager Lin Martin looking forward to big year for women’s cricket

As Kent Women continue their bid for a record-breaking seventh county championship title next weekend, Lin Martin will play a key role in supporting the squad on and off the pitch.

The team manager works closely with head coach Stuart Eddicott to prepare the players to perform with organising kit, registration, transport and fixtures.

Lin is also the team’s scorer and is confident that the team can cope with international call-ups during the Ashes series with five Kent players contracted by England.

Kent and England captain Charlotte Edwards will lead the side as they start the season among the favourites to retain the Royal London Women’s One-Day County Championship and challenge for the NatWest T20 title.

The Kent team have been crowned county champions in six of the last nine seasons and they have no intention of relinquishing their hard earned crown.

This winter, women’s cricket came under the administration of a single Kent Cricket body as the Kent Cricket Board joined with the county club to promote the game from grassroots to elite level for men and women.

All four home County Championship matches in 2015 will be played at first-class venues (click here for fixtures) and in September 2014, the women joined the men for the Spitfire Kent Cricket Awards for the first time.

The women now share the facilities the men use including the new state-of-the-art indoor school at The County Ground, Beckenham.

Lin said: “The facilities at Beckenham are brilliant. As well as playing there we have been able to train and have coaching in the indoor school.

"We have a great new Samurai Sportswear kit and the club have been much more supportive than most counties in ensuring the squad gets the best preparation and promotion."

In March, attended the signing of a new sponsorship deal with Canterbury Christ Church University to underline the commitment women’s cricket.

The side have already played two matches there: a win against Yorkshire and a controversial tie versus Sussex in the 50 over competition.

For Kent supporters not be travelling to Beckenham for the LV= County championship match against Surrey over the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend, there will be an opportunity to see the Women’s team in action on Sunday and Monday at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in 50-over games against Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

2015 is a special year for Kent women’s cricket with the only Kia Women’s Test at Canterbury starting on August 11.

Five of the Kent team, captain Charlotte Edwards, Laura Marsh, Lydia Greenway, Tammy Beaumont and Natasha Farrant, who are all on ECB central contracts, could feature in the England side for this prestigious match, televised live on Sky Sports TV.

Team manager Lin Martin said: “It will put women’s cricket and especially the Kent players back in the spotlight. All of them will be in schools promoting cricket through the Chance To Shine charity before the series start and the added exposure in the media can only be good for the game.”

When she is not involved in cricket, Lin is a freelance piano teacher and she will be hoping that the team will once again enjoy the sweet music of success in what is possibly the biggest season in the history of Kent women’s cricket.

Peter Burrowes