Sports is a birthright that offers you the chance to achieve great things and make those around you proud. Thus, every sport deserves to be inclusive and accessible to all. They should allow you to express yourself on the biggest stages, and everyone should. The evolution of women’s cricket and the changes it has brought to the world of sports are the best examples to prove this point.
When did women’s cricket start? What contributions do women cricketers make to the sector and what challenges do they face on their journey? Who is the first female cricketer in the world? Let’s open all these questions together.
Historical background
The whole idea for a women’s cricket tournament came about in a conversation between Wolverhampton businessman Jack Hayward and women’s cricketer Rachael Heyhoe Flint. In 1971, they spent all night planning a tournament. In 1973, there were already seven teams in the Women’s Cricket World Cup.
The game format back then was a bit different from what we are used to today. Teams used to play 60 overs instead of 50. Moreover, the winner was determined by the league instead of the playoffs. India debuted and hosted the women’s tournament for the first time in 1978, the year Australia defeated the reigning champions.
Founding Figures
The most iconic name in the founding history of the Women’s Cricket World Cup is Jack Hayward. Before establishing the Women’s Cricket World Cup, she was a popular figure among women cricketers not only in England but also in the Caribbean.
In 1970, Jack Hayward had already sponsored an unofficial WCA tour to Bermuda, the Bahamas and the West Indies. A year later, he organized a Triangular Tournament involving Jamaica, Trinidad and England.
Early Challenges
Women’s cricket as we know it now has a rich and inspiring history behind it. It has not always been easy for women to showcase their talents. It was a real struggle to find the opportunity, but nevertheless, the brave pioneers of the sport were able to develop the sport despite gender stereotypes.
Not only were there very few opportunities and financial difficulties, but cricket organizations also did not offer much support or recognition to the players. Moreover, at that time, society’s attitude towards female players was very different and reserved.
Despite all these setbacks and difficulties, women’s cricket was recognized as a mainstream sport. You can find most of their tournaments televised and watched by millions of fans. It is a popular sport even in many betting sites around the world Mostbethere you can watch the events live and bet on your favorite female player.
Decades of growth and development
The history of women’s cricket dates back to the 18th century and since then it has continuously evolved, bringing in new players, events and matches. Here’s what the key turning points are worth knowing.
A major turning point in women’s cricket was the establishment of the board. The board’s biggest mission was to promote women’s cricket and create global tours to help with that. Within a few years, between 1973 and 1997, more countries formed their own women’s cricket organizations such as the West Indies, Denmark, Ireland, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
1990s to 2000s: Gaining momentum
Cricket has seen several changes since its inception and its format has also undergone some changes. Test cricket has given way to T20 cricket which will make the game more eventful and a bit faster. The first women’s international T20 cricket match was played in 2004 between England and New Zealand.
Over time, many T20 leagues joined to host a tournament for women, such as the Australian Big Bag League (BBL). The Indian Premier League (IPL) has also shown interest in bringing WIPL.
2010s to present: Global recognition
A landmark event for women’s cricket was the T20 World Cup, the first ever women’s cricket match at the ICC in 2009. Millions of viewers tuned in to watch the matches and the sport gained immense popularity.
Fast forward a few years and women’s cricket has experienced exponential growth and now encompasses numerous international events, leagues and tournaments. It is also in high demand on most betting platforms.
