World Cup a winner for Melbourne All Girls Cricket Competition

The Australian women’s team’s World Cup success has inspired a wave of girls to take up cricket, officials say. Here’s how.

Girls' cricket is booming in the southeast. Mt Waverley and Parkdale players Rasandi Padmaperuma, 12, Jess Hoogeveen, 13 and Nicola Gouwns, 13, prepare to play. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Howzat for a boom in girls cricket?

Melbourne’s All Girls Cricket Competition has grown into Australia’s largest under-age female league after a surge in player participation this season.

Officials say the Australian women’s cricket team’s World Cup triumph at the MCG in March has contributed to the growth.

The competition now has 57 teams, up from 41 last season.

The 26 “rookie’’ sides in the 13 and under division reflect the number of newcomers to the game.

There are also Under 18, and 16 and under sections.

Mt Waverley's Nicole Gouws on the attack. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The Under 18 grade was formed this season and plays on Tuesday nights, extending the pathway.

Cricket Australia figures show the AGCC, which takes in clubs in the south-eastern suburbs, has the most girls teams in the country.

“It’s outrageous … obviously we’re really pleased with that,’’ All Girls co-chair Ros Batson said.

Twenty-six clubs have teams in the competition, which was established eight years ago.

Since then 58 AGCC players have gone on to Victorian Premier Cricket, with 18 playing women’s Premier Firsts, including rising Victorian star Annabel Sutherland and Melbourne Renegades WBBL newcomer Ella Hayward.

And 20 girls have played state cricket in under-age teams.

Erin Carroll, Mia Perrin, Hasrat Gill, Uvindee Wijesena, Maddie Huggins, Zoe Samuels and Evi Stansby are among the next group of prospects.

“Visibility has become a thing for us,’’ Batson said.

“People now know and hear about cricket for girls and they see the games. You can drive past an oval and see girls playing cricket on weekends and during the week.

A catch for Mt Waverley’s Jess Hoogeveen, 13. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“The amazing work Cricket Australia has done to promote the Australian women’s team as often as it promotes the men’s team has helped too.

“It’s lifted the profile of the players. You only have to go back to March for the World Cup … to have the MCG full was incredible and that publicity has made girls realise cricket is a sport that’s open to them and can lead to big things.

“The momentum has carried through and the start of the Women’s Big Bash League was perfect for us too. It kicked off just as we were registering teams.’’

Batson said many girls were looking to play sport after coming out of Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdown, and cricket administrators had worked well to ensure the season could go ahead.

Co-chair Sven Samild said the growth of the All Girls extended to the coaching ranks.

AGCC products Perrin, Chloe Harrison, Alex Cornelius and Abbey Samild were coaching either South East Cricket Association or Inner South East Cricket representative teams in January’s metropolitan carnivals, giving the players coaches they could relate to.

The Eastern Cricket Association and North West Metro Cricket Association have also enjoyed an increase in girls teams this season.

Mt Waverley's Anusha Utturkar, 13, at the creases. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Cricket Australia general manager of community cricket Stuart Whiley said cricket was taking big strides in becoming a “sport for all’’.

He said it was exciting to see so many girls picking up a bat and ball.

“We’re looking forward to continuing to inspire more girls to play cricket through the Next Innings strategy, which includes increasing the number of women in coaching roles to provide visible local role models as well as through the Australian team and the rebel WBBL,’’ he said.

Whiley said the volunteers running local competitions and teams should be commended.

Cricket Victoria general manager of community cricket John Watkin said it had been a banner year for women’s cricket despite COVID-19.

“To see the Australian women’s team win the T20 World Cup final in front of a near-capacity crowd at the MCG was a milestone on so many levels and boosted the already high profile of women’s cricket,’’ Watkin said.

Parkdale's Olivia Robertson, 13, lets one fly. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“Combined with the domestic success of the WBBL and the record TV audiences watching, there has never been a better moment to involve and engage more girls with cricket. They have heroes and role models and fantastic opportunities to play.

“Full credit must go to the All Girls Cricket Competition and others who have worked so hard in this space to see similar programs succeed. That’s in no small part due to the efforts of clubs, competitions, parents and volunteers who are passionate about increasing female participation. Whether you’re driving past a local ground, have been watching the WBBL on TV or inspired by the win in March, all the right ingredients are there and we couldn’t be happier to see that reflected in the increasing numbers of girls playing this season.”

All Girls Cricket Competition

Members clubs: Ashwood, Beaumaris, Bentleigh, Bentleigh Uniting, Brighton, Brighton District, Brighton Union, Carnegie, Cluden, Dingley, East Sandringham, Emmanuel South Oakleigh, Glen Waverley, Hampton, Kingston Heath, Le Page Park, East Malvern Tooronga, Macabi Ajax, Mackie, Murrumbeena, Mt Waverley, Parkdale, Parkdale United, St Brigids St Louis, Toorak Prahran, Washington Park.