LANCASHIRE Thunder top-order bat Laura Marshall has described as ‘insane’ the prospect of playing alongside the world’s top players this summer.

Marshall is one of two South Cumbrians – alongside Haverigg pace bowler Georgia Holmes – named in the Lancs squad for the inaugural Kia Super League.

The new competition will pit six teams – Lancashire, Southern Vipers, Surrey Stars, Western Storm, Loughborough Lightning and Yorkshire Diamonds – against each other in a Twenty20 format.

Matches will be played between July 30 and finals day on August 21, with Marshall and Holmes playing alongside the likes of England great Sarah Taylor and Australian international Sarah Coyte.

It is a scenario Lindal Moor player Marshall is struggling to get her head around, and she said: “It’s really exciting.

“It’s the first one and you’ve been picked for a team which is full of internationals, players who have won World Cups. You have Sarah Taylor as your captain – it’s mind-blowing really and the fact I have been picked for it is insane. I’m really looking forward to playing.”

Matshall, who works as a women and girls development officer for Cumbria Cricket and helps coach the South Lakes Maidens girls team at Lindal, knows there will be some tough games on the horizon.

Each team in the Super League has at least three England squad members in their number, as well as a handful of overseas players.

The hope is to produce the highest-quality women’s cricket event the country has seen, and Marshall said: “It’s going to be very competitive. I think it will live up to the women’s Big Bash they had out in Australia and hopefully it will live up to the men’s Twenty20 over here as well.

“We get to play at grounds like Old Trafford and that’s going to be amazing.

“Hopefully we can win the competition. From looking at the rest of the teams, I think we’ve got a good chance of being up there and winning. We have a good opportunity.”

She added: “I’m hoping to score runs.

“Hopefully I can contribute to the team and put some runs on the board.

“It’s definitely the highest level I have played at and I think it will be a good test for the county girls who have never played in a scenario like what we will be playing in. It will show what characters we are.

“It will definitely help develop my game, 100 per cent. You are going to learn from the international players like Kate Cross, Hayley Matthews, from West Indies and the lass from Australia (Sarah Coyte).”

Marshall and Holmes have both been members of the county squad at Lancashire for the past few seasons.

They have each represented the Red Rose county on several occasions, and Marshall sees it as significant that both have been included for the Super League squad.

“It’s amazing to have two Cumbrians in the squad,” she said. “We have come from such a minor county and now we’re playing at a top-class county like Lancashire.

“I think it proves that people from counties like Cumbria can work their way up to play top-level cricket.”

Cumbria Cricket development director Bob Simpson hailed the inclusion of the South Cumbrian duo in the Lancashire Thunder squad.

He said: “To have two Cumbrians in the squad demonstrates there is a pathway and career opportunity for our girls.

“Both Laura and Georgia will be fantastic role models for any aspiring girls and they both played in our local Kwik Cricket festivals and have moved through to represent Cumbria and now Lancashire. It supports our strong commitment to the women’s and girls’ game.”