Megan Schutt calls for minimum broadcast standards in women’s cricket

An Australian fast bowler has called for the ICC to step in as a breakdown in communication keeps the world’s best side off TV screens.

Australian star Megan Schutt says minimum broadcast standards should be applied to all international women’s cricket games as the Aussies prepare to face Bangladesh without live TV coverage this month.

Fox Cricket and free-to-air networks were unable to secure the broadcast rights to Australia’s three ODI and three T20I matches in the first bilateral series between the two nations.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board, which is responsible for distributing the broadcast rights, did not respond to inquiries by Fox Cricket, which has televised most international women’s cricket matches this decade.

It’s understood the network is holding out hope of being able to televise the three T20I games at the end of the tour, but a deal looks unlikely as the matches beginning Thursday look set to be streamed solely on the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s YouTube channel.

Schutt said the development was “disappointing” and could potentially hurt Australian fans’ interest in the T20 World Cup, which will be held in Bangladesh in September.

Megan Schutt says she will be disappointed if Australia’s tour of Bangladesh is only available to watch on YouTube. Picture: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

“Absolutely it’s disappointing. I think there’s minimum standards that need to be met, and I think broadcast is one of them,” Schutt said.

“We have a World Cup here coming up, and I think it’s important to keep people interested in the tournament – this is an opposition we’ll likely come up against, we’re in conditions that we’re going to play at the World Cup.

“And it’s important for opposition analysis as well – everyone wins in terms of a broadcast deal, so the fact that it’s just streaming only is just disappointing.”

Schutt said the ICC should hold all cricket boards to certain requirements when it came to broadcasting international matches.

“I think maybe the ICC or some other board needs to probably have a bit more minimum standards there that they’re able to push on and go, ‘this is where women’s cricket is at, we need access to this wherever we are’,” she said.

“Personally I think that needs to be met in every series going forward.”

Schutt said Australia’s first bilateral women’s series against Bangladesh would be crucially important for the growth of international cricket. Picture: Marco Longari / AFP

The 31-year-old swing bowler said she was excited to see Dhaka for the first time as Australia ramped up its World Cup preparations, and hoped the inaugural series between the two nations would help grow the women’s game.

“If the bottom nations aren’t playing the top nations at home, what’s the point? To be coming here for a series is really important obviously for the Bangladeshi women, but also for the growth of women’s cricket around the globe,” she said.

“You want all players and teams to be performing, and you want exciting cricket to be played, that’s how you keep people watching the game and you keep people wanting to play at all levels of cricket.”

Schutt said taking a negative view of other nations “closing the gap” on Australia in terms of performance was “weird”, as she saw a more competitive international scene as a measure of success.

“The gap’s always been a weird one to talk about – we’ve been great at winning major tournaments, that’s probably the gap I guess, and it’s more of a mental, self-belief thing,” she said.

“That’s why these bilateral series are important – it gives them an opportunity to beat us and then have the belief they can do the same thing at a major tournament.”

Australia’s tour of Bangladesh

All six matches will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.

Three ODIs: March 21, 24 and 27

Three T20Is: March 31, April 2 and 4

Squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgie Wareham.

Originally published as Megan Schutt calls for minimum broadcast standards in women’s cricket