Suzie Bates excited to play in inaugural T20 Super League

Wisden's best female player in world cricket, Suzie Bates, expects this summer’s inaugural Kia Super League to be a "massive" success.

The New Zealand captain has signed up to play alongside England skipper Charlotte Edwards at the Southern Vipers in the six-team T20 tournament which brings together some of the world's best players.

Bates, as well as nine England players including Edwards, played in the inaugural Women's Big Bash League in Australia over the winter, and the White Ferns skipper expects the Kia Super League to prove similarly successful.

"It's massive and it's just such an exciting time to be a female cricketer," Bates told Sky Sports News HQ.

"The Big Bash was such a massive success and to have this so soon after and to have as much talent involved in the competition is going to be great for cricket globally.

"Players can now play all year round and actually ply their trade as cricketers. For the likes of the New Zealand girls it gives them the opportunity to be full-time cricketers which is only going to make those girls better.

"Women's cricket is becoming a much more popular sport for people to watch globally. People can now follow the players from their country all year round so who know know where this could take the game.

"That's probably the most exciting thing. It's so new but I think it's going to go off like the Big Bash did."

Australia's Alex Blackwell, who will turn out for the Yorkshire Diamonds, added: "It's amazing to get an opportunity to play in the inaugural Kia Super League.