CORNWALL will stage its first international match this summer when the England women's team play India in a one-day international, writes Lee Hall.

Prior to opening Penzance Cricket Club's new pavilion on Tuesday (full story, page 5) national team captain Charlotte Edwards MBE was in Truro at the launch of the '2012 Cornish Cricket Festival', which takes place in July.

Edwards will be leading her country out at Truro Cricket Club's Boscawen Park in the NatWest women's one day international against third in the world India on July 8.

The game, hosted by Cornish Sporting Club, is one of two high profile matches taking place in Truro, as Cornwall host a PCA Masters XI on July 5, featuring the likes of Graeme Hick, Devon Malcolm, Dominic Cork, Philip DeFreitas and Saqlain Mushtaq.

At Tuesday's press conference, held at Truro College's state of the art Cornwall Cricket Centre, Edwards, who retained the Ashes in 2008 and 2009 as England captain, having won the World Cup and the World Twenty20 in the latter year, admitted it would be an honour to be a part of what will be an historic event for cricket in the county. And she hopes, having paid a visit to Cornwall last year to work with youngsters as part of the ECB's 'Chance to Shine' initiative, that the festival will encourage more girls to take up the sport.

She said: "We are very proud to be playing in the first Cornish Festival and really looking forward to it.

"Having spent some time here last summer I was excited when we got the fixtures through that there would be a game in Cornwall.

"I feel that we had an impact last time and it would be great for those girls to see the England team play and hopefully it will inspire many girls to take up cricket in Cornwall."

Organiser Alan George said: "The England v India match is a fantastic coup for Cornwall and we are extremely proud to be hosting the festival. We want to share our passion for cricket with sports fans, families and anyone who fancies a great day out. "The two key matches will take place on July 5 and 8, but there will be a selection of activities and events throughout the week."

A star studded sporting dinner is being held on July 6, with guests including former England rugby captain Phil Vickery and former England footballer Paul Merson.

A minimum of £2,000 sponsorship is being donated to the Cornwall Cricket Board and the more successful the festival is, the larger the sponsorship will be.

The Cornish Sporting Club sponsored the Cornwall Under 15 team's kit for their 2011 tour to the West Indies and will be doing the same for the 2012 team.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the website, www.cornishcricketfestival.co.uk