Why Women’s World Cup is such a big deal

JOHANNESBURG: Shortly after the announcement of the South African squad for the World Cup a loud cheer erupted around the venue when it was announced that each of the team’s matches at the tournament would be broadcast on SuperSport.

It is a big deal for the players, who rather than be nervous about the prospect, are embracing the extra attention that will be on them from Sunday when they play their opening match against Pakistan.

This year’s Women’s World Cup has the feel of a big sports event, more so than previous tournaments, and it’s not just that the final is at Lord’s or that the prize-money is $2 million, but that there’s been a growth in the game that could have consequences for players beyond just the tournament.

Though the growth has been slower, the creation of T20 leagues in England and Australia – and the possibility of a Women’s IPL – means the tournament will be a shop window for many. Already the likes of Meg Lanning of Australia and Sarah Taylor of England are bona fide stars in their countries while following her astonishing performance in last year’s Women’s World T20 in India, Stafanie Taylor is a household name in the West Indies.

That West Indies victory was significant – it broke the hegemony of Australia and England. It showed that while other nations may not be able to match the resources of Australia and England, a well of talent existed that bore tapping into.

Doing so of course would make the World Cup a better product, which is what the ICC is banking on this year. With the exception of New Zealand’s triumph in 2000, England and Australia have dominated; the Aussies, defending champions who’ve appeared in every final, have won the competition six times.

With Perry and Lanning – one of the finest batters of all time – in their line-up they are favourites again this year, but many acknowledge that the gap between them and England and the other six teams has shrunk. Much of that is down to the exposure the likes of Taylor, Dane van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp and Suzie Bates of New Zealand have received through playing in tournaments like the Women’s Big Bash and the Super League in the UK.

While the boards of England, Australia and South Africa now offer players full-time contracts, they and others can further supplement their income through contracts with franchises in those T20 leagues. Increasingly players have become fulltime professionals and as Van Niekerk pointed out before the SA team’s departure to England, that means the standard of play is better.

Many commentators are looking forward to bigger scores at this year’s tournament with Lanning, Taylor and Bates set to battle it out for the leading run-scorer tag. Katherine Brunt (England), Lea Tahuhu (New Zealand) and Shabnim Ismail, pictured, of South Africa, are quick bowlers who stand apart from the usual medium pace associated with the women’s game. It will be a tournament that could signify a significant shift for the women’s game and will certainly elevate the status of the biggest stars.