Southern Vipers captain Charlotte Edwards has backed home-grown talent Katie George to fire the Ageas Bowl side to Kia Super League glory.

Former England captain Edwards, 36, has been impressed by local girl George, 17, who plays for Old Tauntonians and Romsey Cricket Club.

The Vipers kick-start their Super League campaign against the Surrey Stars at the Ageas Bowl this afternoon.

Edwards heaped the praise on England Academy all-rounder George. She said: “This is a big stage for her and you can see her excitement. It makes you want to perform alongside her.

“This is not just about winning cricket matches – although that’s important - it’s about developing younger players.

“It’s been nice to have the team together for three months of training – the Ageas Bowl feels like home.

“It’s been incredible how Rod Bransgrove and everyone at the Ageas Bowl have welcomed us into the family, and to have world class facilities has been fantastic. Hopefully we can repay it all with a trophy.

“This competition is all about watching high quality cricket, and hopefully we can create a real family atmosphere. We want as many people as possible to come down here to cheers us on.”

The brand new women’s Twenty20 tournament has created six teams across the country, all containing England stars, overseas aces and domestic players.

The Vipers boast international cricket’s highest run scorer Edwards, England’s Natasha Farrant and Lydia Greenway and New Zealand trio Suzie Bates, Sara McGlashan and Morna Nielsen.

Edwards continued: “I was very keen to get Suzie in for the Vipers. After all, she’s the Wisden Women’s Cricketer of the Year - she gives so much on the field and off it.

“Suzie is giving so much back to the youngsters around here and that’s vitally important for me.”

Women’s cricket has grown substantially in the last decade, with central contracts and separate sponsors from the men’s game both introduced.

And Edwards thinks the Super League will grow the sport even more.

“The women’s game is moving rapidly and it’s nice for me to have a focus, Edwards said. “Women’s cricket needed this competition to bridge the gap between international and domestic cricket.

“I don’t know what I’d have done if I wasn’t involved with this. To be able to train and play at this level means it’s not such a sudden cut off from the international stage.

“I’ll be giving it my all over the next few weeks.”