Kia Super League: Which side should YOU support?

The inaugural Kia Super League gets underway on Saturday, July 30, when Yorkshire Diamonds take on Loughborough Lightning.

There are six franchises battling it out for the 20-over title, with the top three from the group stage progressing to Finals Day at Chelmsford on Sunday, August 21.

But who should you support? We try to make that decision a little bit easier for you with a run through of the sides below...

LANCASHIRE THUNDER

You should support them because… of their commitment to bad weather

Someone in the Lancashire marketing team deserves a pay rise, as we now have Thunder to go with the men's Lightning. In fact, we have three teams with names of hazardous weather forecasts taking part in the inaugural KSL, meaning it will be a wonder if we get any play at all.

If and when play does start, the Thunder have some line-up, with England interest in Lancashire local, Kate Cross, plus 17-year-old spinner Sophie Ecclestone who impressed on her T20I debut against Pakistan earlier in the summer, and Danielle Wyatt. West Indies World T20 champions Deandra Dottin and 18-year-old sensation, Hayley Matthews - who scored 69 off 45 balls in the final - add to the firepower, while New Zealand's Amy Satterthwaite skippers the side. Sarah Taylor's absence will be sorely felt, though.

Captain: Amy Satterthwaite
England stars: Kate Cross, Danielle Wyatt, Sophie Ecclestone
Overseas players: Amy Satterthwaite (New Zealand), Deandra Dottin (West Indies), Hayley Matthews (WI)
Host details: Lancashire Cricket Board with partners

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

You should support them because… of Ellyse Perry

Did you know Ellyse Perry, Australia's star all-rounder, also plays football? If you did not already, then you surely will do by the end of the KSL, as her multi-sport skills are mentioned at almost every opportunity including in this article.

Perry has played as a defender for both Sydney FC and Australia, making her debut for the national team in both football and cricket at the tender age of 16, and becoming the first woman to represent their country in World Cups in two different sports. Perry now focuses mainly on cricket, much to the benefit of the Southern Stars, with Perry named player of the series as Australia regained the Ashes in 2015.

Captain: Georgia Elwiss
England stars: Georgia Elwiss, Rebecca Grundy, Amy Jones, Beth Langston
Overseas players: Ellyse Perry (Australia), Dane van Nierkerk (South Africa), Sophie Devine (NZ)
Host details: Loughborough University

SOUTHERN VIPERS

You should support them because… they have 'Lottie'

Still going strong at 36 years old (sorry to bring that up, Charlotte), England's former captain is now tasked with captaining the Southern Vipers. Although she has left the international game, Lottie proved she still has plenty of runs left in her while playing in her final tournament for England, finishing second-top scorer in the 2016 World T20, notching two fifties in her five games, and holding a more than healthy strike-rate of 114.77.

Edwards is joined by her also recently retired England and Kent team-mate Lydia Greenway at the Vipers, as well as current England international, Natasha Farrant, who will be blogging exclusively for Sky Sports during the tournament. There's also Lottie's long-time foe for New Zealand - on the cricket field, and the tennis court - Suzie Bates, plus further White Ferns in the form of Sara McGlashan and Morna Nielsen.

Captain: Charlotte Edwards
England stars: Charlotte Edwards, Lydia Greenway, Natasha Farrant
Overseas players: Suzie Bates (NZ), Sara McGlashan (NZ), Morna Nielsen (NZ)
Host details: Hampshire Cricket with partners

SURREY STARS

You should support them because… of England's summer star, Tammy Beaumont

Australian captain Meg Lanning was a huge coup for the team, but has sadly since pulled out due to an injury to her right shoulder. Lanning averages over fifty (50.57) in ODI cricket - the only active female cricketer to do so - and is one of only two women with a T20I hundred to their name, West Indies' Dottin being the other.

Left to pick up the run-scoring burden is Tammy Beaumont, so impressive at the top of the order for England this summer when scoring back-to-back hundreds in the ODI series win over Pakistan, including a massive 168 not out. England are further represented at Surrey, with Natalie Sciver skippering the side and Laura Marsh also with the Stars.

Captain: Natalie Sciver
England stars: Natalie Sciver, Tammy Beaumont, Laura Marsh, Alex Hartley
Overseas players: Rene Farrell (Aus), Marizanne Kapp (SA), Lea Tahuhu (NZ)
Host details: Surrey CCC

WESTERN STORM

You should support them because… you might see the Champion dance!

The West Indies dancing along to Dwayne Bravo's 'Champion' tune was one of the most indelible images of the World T20, but it wasn't just DJ Bravo and the men seen boogieing away, as the women showed off their moves after their triumph in the final, too. Fresh from that success, captain Stafanie Taylor is the star attraction for the Western Storm.

But it is England's new captain Heather Knight who leads this side. Will Super League success see Knighty throwing some shapes at the end of the tournament?

Captain: Heather Knight
England stars: Heather Knight, Anya Shrubsole, Fran Wilson
Overseas players: Stafanie Taylor (WI), Rachel Priest (NZ), Lizelle Lee (SA)
Host details: Somerset CCC, Gloucestershire CCC, University of Exeter

YORKSHIRE DIAMONDS

You should support them because… of hometown hero Katherine Brunt

Born in Barnsley, England quick Katherine Brunt is someone the home crowd can really rally around. Twice she has been named England women's Cricketer of the Year; in 2006, and in 2010, plus displayed nerves of steel in the 2009 World T20 final, recording sensational figures of 3-6 as England beat Australia to the title.

Brunt is just one short of 100 ODI wickets, trailing only Isa Guha, Clare Taylor and Jenny Gunn as leading wicket-taker for England. Gunn, top of the pile with 120, joins Brunt in a strong looking Yorkshire Diamonds attack that also features spinner Danielle Hazell.

Captain: Lauren Winfield
England stars: Lauren Winfield, Katherine Brunt, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell
Overseas players: Alex Blackwell (Aus), Beth Mooney (Aus), Shabnim Ismail (SA)
Host details: Yorkshire CCC