• £1.5m cash boost handed to all 10 tier one sides
• Counties treatment of women’s sides under scrutiny

Counties hosting professional women’s teams will be strictly monitored to ensure the England and Wales Cricket Board’s multimillion pound investment is being used to achieve gender equality, Beth Barrett-Wild, the ECB’s director of the women’s professional game has said.

Should counties fail to deliver an equitable environment they would risk having their funding withdrawn. A national women’s player and staff survey is being introduced to encourage whistleblowing as the ECB seeks to ensure that the £1.5m provided to 10 of the first-class counties is being invested appropriately.