Charlotte Edwards will captain the Ageas Bowl-based Southern Vipers in the Kia Super League this summer - alongside England teammates Lydia Greenway and Natasha Farrant.

Edwards has been captain of the England women’s team since 2006 and recently led the team to the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World T20 in India.

In March, the opening batsman became the first cricketer, male or female, to score 2,500 runs in T20 International history.

Edwards said: “I’m really excited and happy to be a Southern Viper. The Ageas Bowl is somewhere that I’ve always enjoyed playing and I have particularly fond memories of winning the Women’s Ashes there in 2013.

“I’ve also done a lot of work in the area with the Hampshire Cricket Board and Chance to Shine, so it’s somewhere where I already feel really at home. "I cannot wait to play there as a Viper this summer.

With three or four England players, plus three overseas players, per squad the standard of the Kia Super League is going to be very high; exactly what’s needed to take our game forward.”

Left-handed batsman Greenway made her full England debut in February 2003 and has become a key member of the England middle order.

The 30-year old, who is rated by many as the best fielder in women's cricket, has played 85 T20 Internationals, including a high-score of 80 not out, scored at the Ageas Bowl in 2013 to help England win the Women’s Ashes.

Seamer Farrant, who is a team-mate of Edwards and Greenway at Kent, made her England debut aged just 17 during a T20 International series against Pakistan in 2013.

The left-armer has eight T20 international appearances to her name and was a part of the England squad that featured in the recent ICC Women’s World T20 in India.

The England trio will make their debuts for the Southern Vipers against the Surrey Stars on Sunday, July 31 at the Ageas Bowl.

In partnership with the six teams, the ECB also announced today that tickets are now available to purchase for all 15 Kia Super League group stage matches.

Hampshire Cricket members are entitled to free admission to all of the Southern Vipers’ home fixtures in 2016.

Tickets for the Ageas Bowl’s Southern Vipers matches can be purchased online, over the phone on 0844 847 1863, or by visiting the Ageas Bowl’s Ticketing & Membership Office via normal working hours.