HOW FAR WE’VE COME

More than just a World Cup is on the line, there’s a powerful statement to be made about women’s sport, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK

HERE will be all sorts of statistics trotted out at the Women’s T20 World Cup but the magical number that might tell the most vivid tale of all could be 3943. As in 3943 per cent.

That could be the increase in the crowd from the last time Australia held a Women’s World Cup final way back in 2009 at North Sydney Oval.

That 50-over match, in which England defeated New Zealand, attracted 2300 fans, a grain of sand compared to the potential 93,000 Australia is campaigning for at the final at the MCG on March 8.

With pop star Katy Perry, pictured, turning up for a concert to celebrate the final on International Women’s Day, it could eclipse the iconic day in California in 1999 when 90,185 people showed up for the football World Cup final between the USA and China to make it the best attended women’s sports contest of all time. The challenge for hot favourite Australia, which has won 26 of its past 31 T20s, will be not to snatch at it and start thinking ahead. But, as emerging fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck says, you are allowed to dream.

“I would be lying if I said I had not thought about it,’’ Vlaeminck said.

“I was lucky enough to be at the men’s 50-over World Cup final when Australia beat New Zealand and Mitch Starc knocked over Brendon McCullum’s stumps and the crowd went absolutely nuts, and it was pretty impressive.

“We have a long way to go and a tough pool but if we get there it would be a pretty incredible experience’’.

The 10-team World Cup is set to dominate the sports news media in Australia like never before, beautifully positioned as it is between the end of the Big Bash and the start of the AFL and NRL seasons. More than 500 media representatives have been accredited outside the broadcast rights holders.

This tournament is especially important because, as Australian coach Matthew Mott points out,

the shortest form of the game is the sales card for women’s cricket around the world with its tentacles already stretching into the outposts of Portugal, Peru, Romania and Malta.

“T20 is the big driver,’’ Mott said. “In all our strategies behind the scenes T20 is the one that hooks players in. It is a bit like the men’s game. The players love playing Test cricket but unfortunately it is not going to drive the game.’’

THE joy of World Cups is that they showcase the skills of the stars such as Meg Lanning and the battlers side by side, and both offer their own inspiration.

Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry has a technique so sound that former Test spinner and commentator Kerry O’Keeffe says “if I had to do a coaching video I would use her’’.

Mott agrees: “Ellyse’s technique is as pure as you could get for Test cricket and if I was a young boy I would be watching her.’’

Perry, who has been a star of international women’s sport since making her debut for the Australian women’s soccer and cricket teams as a 16-year-old in 2007, senses this is a precious moment for the sport to capture new fans.

“The opportunities are massive,’’ Perry said. “There is a real appetite within the group to continue to grow the women’s game, both on Australian shores and abroad. This World Cup is the first of those incredible opportunities.

“Knowing there is a goal to fill the MCG for the final, the team wants to be there very, very much, so that’s the challenge in front of us. Going further forward, it’s about continuing to develop things.”

Australian all-rounder Delissa Kimmince, who also made her international debut 13 years ago, not only used her right arm for pace bowling in the 2009 World Cup but it had another purpose at the time — washing cars — which she accepts was a sign of the contrasting then-and-now theme of women’s cricket.

“I played in 2009 but everything is bigger now,’’ she said.

AUSTRALIA is a four-time champion in the event and England and India, Australia’s first opponent on Friday, are considered its biggest dangers.

Thailand is the charming story of the event.

The Thais are keen to learn and don’t waste a moment. At Allan Border Field last week, when their warm-up match was washed out, they could be heard laughing behind closed doors playing Crictionary,

as their knowledge of the game was and tested by a game where cricket terms and fielding positions are drawn on a whiteboard.