Western Storm are a women's cricket team representing South West England and Wales, one of eight regional hubs in English domestic cricket. They primarily play their home matches at the County Ground, Taunton, the County Ground, Bristol and Sophia Gardens. They are captained by Sophie Luff and coached by Trevor Griffin. The team is partnered with Somerset, Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, Devon, Cornwall, Wiltshire and Cricket Wales. Originally formed to compete in the Women's Cricket Super League in 2016, Western Storm won the competition twice, in 2017 and 2019. When women's cricket in England was reformed in 2020, the Western Storm brand was retained, and they now compete in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Charlotte Edwards Cup.
Western Storm celebrate a wicket against North West Thunder in May 2023.
The County Ground, known for sponsorship reasons as Cooper Associates County Ground, is a cricket ground in Taunton, Somerset. It is the home of Somerset County Cricket Club, who have played there since 1882. The ground, which is located between Priory Bridge Road and St James Street, has a capacity of 8,500. The ground was originally built as part of a sports centre by Taunton Athletic Club in 1881, and became the home of the previously nomadic Somerset County Cricket Club soon after. Having leased the ground for ten years, the club bought the ground in 1896, under the guidance of club secretary Henry Murray-Anderdon. The ground ends are the River End to the north and the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End to the south.
Panoramic view of the County Ground, Taunton
The churches of St James and St Mary Magdalene form the backdrop to the ground
A 2003 image showing the (now demolished) River Stand beside the Ian Botham Stand.
View across the ground towards the Somerset Stand on the left and Marcus Trescothick Stand on the right.