Australian women’s cricket ‘greatest year’

A T20 World Cup was a win on the field, but a new report says Australian women’s cricket is winning off it as well.

Australia celebrates its victory at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup final in March at the MCG Picture: Michael Klein

Whatever criticism gets thrown at Australian cricket, the one area the local game remains a world leader is in driving gender equality in participation, management and at the elite level.

When the men’s side was on the nose in the wake of the South African disaster, the women’s team provided a ray of hope.

On March 9, in the penultimate game before the pandemic caved in on cricket, the women’s side won the T20 World Cup at the MCG in front of 86,147 fans in an event that will be remembered by generations.

The WBBL is a world leader. Its inception embarrassed the AFL, which scrambled to catch up and is a long way from doing so. Other cricket nations regard it with envy and the swarm of international players keen to be part of it proves its popularity.

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Last year the women’s tournament stood alone and was backed wholeheartedly by broadcasters. It is telling that this year, one of the few elements of the fixture nailed into place early was the WBBL when other sports have lost focus.

The WBBL, scheduled for October 17, will signal the start of the 2020-21 summer.

On Thursday, Cricket Australia will release the Press for Progress report on female participation and involvement.

The report claims that 1662 new girl’s teams took the field last season. The title page boasts the past 12 months were “the greatest year in the history of the women’s elite game in Australia”.

This week was a good one for players too, with Lisa Sthalekar elevated to the ICC Hall of Fame. The allrounder remains at the heart of the game, commentating on television and working as a director for the Australian Cricketers Association.

Another milestone was reached in 2020 when ex-player Mel Jones became the first woman elected to the Cricket Australia board. There are other female directors, but the former player was the first nominated by a state (Victoria) to the role.

The report claims representation at board level across Australia has reached 32 per cent and is on the way to meeting a minimum target of 40 per cent.

The report cites similar levels of involvement at management level.

Western Australia is a pacesetter, boasting the only female CEO of a state association. Former wicketkeeper Christina Matthews took over the role in 2011 from Graeme Wood and has led the state as it expanded into the new stadium where it hosted its first day-night Test.

Sixers general manager Jodie Hawkins says the satisfaction of seeing the women’s game find its feet has been immense.

“It’s been positive story from the beginning, when we first launched the WBBL (2015) we hoped it would turn into what it has turned into,” she said.

“I distinctly remember sitting on the hill at that final in Sydney at Drummoyne between the Sixers and Heat on Australia Day (in January last year) and the satisfaction of putting up the sold-out sign two years after making that firm commitment to make sure the WBBL was successful.

“The success it has had is fantastic and now we have to make sure it keeps growing, we keep our eye on the ball and continue to invest.”

Hawkins said she found it shocking to see other sports walk away or diminish their commitment to women’s competitions during the current crisis.

“Female participation is the biggest growth area in sport ... and to lose momentum now will put you back years,” Hawkins said.