Last Updated on 11 months ago by Charbel Coorey
The Rise in Popularity of Women’s Cricket | Discussing the rise in popularity and growth of women’s cricket
Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world and it’s the national sport of a number of countries. The most famous occasions in the sport are traditionally associated with men’s game. However, women’s cricket has become more popular in recent years, with the rise of T20 leagues and increased competitiveness in international cricket.
This growth in popularity started in earnest with the inauguration of the Women’s Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia in 2015. This Twenty20 competition has a significant following across the world and some of the matches are screened live by Seven Network and Fox Cricket. Australia is not the only country to be making big strides in women’s cricket. Nations like India and England and also investing in the development of a game that has come a long way since the first matches were played in the 18th century.
Origins
You may not realise it but women’s cricket is not a new addition to the world. The first game was played in 1745 when the villages of Bramley and Hambledon near Guildford in the UK played against each other. In Australia, Lily Poulett-Harris created the first female cricket league in 1894. She also captained the Oyster Cove team. As the years passed, women’s cricket continued to develop and the International Women’s Cricket Council was formed in 1958. The council’s role was to coordinate the women’s game in countries across the world including Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
Of course, the early days of the sport were not subject to the same level of attention that today’s professional version of the game is. However, they did provide the foundation for tournaments like the WBBL. The problems that occurred across the world in 2020 may have disrupted the game, as they did with most sports. However, there still looks to be a positive future for the game.
Continued interest in women’s cricket
The positive outlook for the future of women’s cricket comes from the fact that there is a high level of interest in the game, from young girls who are inspired by their heroes to fans of cricket who appreciate the skills that today’s players display.
With this in mind, the England and Wales Cricket Board has approved the investment of £20 million worth of funding over the next five years to help develop the women’s game. There are also clear signs that India is embracing it, especially since the team’s appearance in the 2020 World Cup Final – a final that saw over 80,000 fans attend the MCG to witness a great Australia team achieve victory. Despite India’s loss to Australia, it was a big step forward for them. This is an important advancement in a country that is so dedicated to its love of cricket.
The Hundred is also delivering great results for the women’s game, and the first ever Women’s IPL is set to kick off in 2023. With great broadcasting rights and media coverage, this growth can only inspire young girls to take up cricket, which leaves the game’s future in good stead.
