Sport is an innate right that offers the opportunity to achieve great things and make those around you proud. That’s why all sports deserve to be inclusive and accessible to everyone. They should allow you to express yourself on the biggest stages and everyone should have this opportunity. The evolution of women’s cricket and the changes it brought to the world of sport are the best examples that demonstrate this idea.
When did women’s cricket start? What do female cricketers bring to the industry and what challenges do they encounter along the way? Who is the world’s first female cricketer? Let’s find out all these questions together.
Historical background
The idea for the women’s cricket tournament came about in a conversation in Wolverhampton between a businessman, Jack Hayward, and a cricketer, Rachael Heyhoe Flint. They spent an entire night in 1971 planning a tournament. By 1973, the Women’s Cricket World Cup had seven teams.
The format of the game at that time was slightly different from what we are used to now. Teams used to play 60 overs instead of 50. Also, the winner was determined by a league instead of a knockout phase. India made its debut and was the first host of the women’s tournament in 1978, the year Australia defeated the reigning champions.
Founding figures
The biggest name in the history of the founding of the Women’s Cricket World Cup is Jack Hayward. Even before he founded the Women’s Cricket World Cup, he was a famous figure among female cricketers not only in England but also in the Caribbean.
In 1970, Jack Hayward had already sponsored an unofficial WCA tour of Bermuda, the Bahamas and the West Indies. A year later, he organised the Triangular Tournament, which included Jamaica, Trinidad and England.
Initial challenges
Behind the women’s cricket we know today is a rich and inspiring history. It wasn’t always easy for women to get the chance to showcase their talent. It was a real struggle to find an opportunity, but still, the sport’s brave pioneers were able to drive the growth of the sport despite gender stereotypes.
Not only were there very few opportunities and economic difficulties, but cricket organisations also did not offer much support or recognition to female players. In addition, at that time, society’s attitude towards female players was very different and restrictive.
Despite all those setbacks and challenges, women’s cricket has come to be considered a mainstream sport. You can see most of its tournaments broadcast on television and watched by millions of fans. It is a popular sport, even on many betting sites around the world, such as Most of the betswhere you can follow live events and place your bets on your favorite player.
Growth and development over the decades
The history of women’s cricket dates back to the 18th century and has continually evolved ever since, incorporating new players, events and matches. Let’s look at the key turning points worth knowing about.
A major turning point in women’s cricket was the creation of a council whose main mission was to promote women’s cricket and create world tours to help this. Within a few years, between 1973 and 1997, more countries launched their own women’s cricket organisations, including the West Indies, Denmark, Ireland, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
1990s-2000s: Gaining momentum
Cricket has seen several changes since its inception, and its format has also undergone some changes. Test cricket has paved the way for T20 cricket, which will make the game even more exciting and a bit faster. The first international T20 cricket match played by women was played in 2004 between England and New Zealand.
Over time, many T20 leagues have come on board to offer a tournament for women, such as Australia’s Big Bag League (BBL). The Indian Premier League (IPL) has also shown interest in offering the WIPL.
2010s to present: global recognition
A major milestone for women’s cricket occurred in 2009 when the ICC hosted the first ever women’s cricket match – the T20 World Cup. Millions of viewers tuned in to watch the matches and the sport became hugely popular.
Over the past few years, women’s cricket has seen exponential growth and now includes numerous international events, leagues and tournaments. There is also a huge demand on most betting platforms.
