MARALYN Smith has been the new managing director of the Somerset Cricket Foundation (SCF) since August and admits ‘life has been pretty hectic.’

She said: “The reception I have been given has been great - the team here have been so incredibly welcoming to me and that’s the club and the foundation. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind understanding the culture of both the ECB and also the organisation here as well.

“It’s a good time for me to be joining because we are developing a new team of trustees and we are also at the point of rewriting the strategy for the SCF as well so it’s the perfect time for me to come in and have the opportunity to shape that, as well as learn the lessons from the team.

“Coming here feels like joining an extended family - sometimes incredibly supportive and at others dysfunctional but that’s what families are like, but the intentions for everyone is about all pulling together to give people of Somerset both a fantastic club but also fantastic foundation as well.”

She went on: “I have been involved with sport ever since I was a teenager, but I was a part of that generation who as young women didn’t get the same opportunities as they do now.

“I played all sports when I was growing up including cricket for East Anglia where I was brought up and I got to play against India, who I know we are hosting here next summer which is quite a coincidence. However at that time women’s cricket wasn’t where it is now.”

How does Maralyn see the role of the Somerset Cricket Foundation “For me it’s about everybody having the opportunity to participate in cricket whether it’s because you love the game and want to play, or you want to take this forward into a professional career.”