Leading woman cricketer could become first to play in men’s county competition

LONDON – One of England’s top female cricketers could become the first woman to play for a men’s English county side after holding talks with Sussex about being the backup wicketkeeper for its second team.

Sarah Taylor says Sussex contacted the women’s national-team coach Mark Lane about using her next season.

Taylor told the Guardian newspaper on Monday that “there’s part of me doubting myself … but I would love to do it.”

Taylor will play for a men’s club team in Birmingham this year but could be on standby if Sussex needed a wicketkeeper at short notice.

The 23-year-old Taylor, who is about to leave for the 50-over World Cup in India, says it is a “daunting” prospect but “it’s brilliant that (Lane) backs me to do it in men’s cricket.”