ISLAND-BORN cricketer, Jo Gardner, is playing for Southern Brave in cricket’s glitzy Hundred competition.

The 25-year-old is one of team's newest recruits.

The batting all-rounder joined last year’s runners-up from the team that beat them in the final — the Oval Invincibles — in search of more game time. 

Jo will now be alongside the likes of England star Sophia Dunkley, as well as Georgia Adams, Tara Norris, and Paige Schofield, who all attended Loughborough University with her.

“I'm really excited by it," said Jo, speaking at the launch of KP Snacks’ summer cricket roadshow at The Black Prince Trust in Oval.

"Obviously, it's a bit of a weird one, in that I've moved from the team that had success last year.

“But I moved to Southern Brave in the hope that I should get a little bit more opportunity, which is obviously exciting.

"The squad is absolutely stacked. All the teams are looking strong, and as domestic players, you're just looking to see how much you can learn in that environment and get yourself better. 

“But it's looking to be another promising tournament again, like last year.” 

As a football-fan, Jo saw her club team Liverpool win the Community Shield, before cheering the Lionesses to Euros victory at Wembley — a triumph she believes could also impact cricket. 

“Obviously, we're seeing in football at the minute a real increase in visibility," said Jo. 

"Women’s sport is at the forefront of everyone's minds in this country, and you'd like to think that building on the back of last year's Hundred success, it's only going to catapult even more this year. 

“It is so much fun to be a part of, and the crowds really do add extra entertainment, as well as putting your skills under more pressure.

"It just makes it way more exciting for us as players.” 

Jo is due to visit the Isle of Wight on August 19, for a women and girls' day at Ryde Cricket Club. 

She will be helping with practices, presenting some awards, and signing plenty of autographs.

KP Snacks, Official Team Partner of The Hundred, are touring the country this summer to offer more opportunities for people to play cricket as part of their ‘Everyone In’ campaign. 

For more information, visit www.everyonein.co.uk