Quality is main aim in WSL’s first year
Adam Collins discovers that the new format is part of a strategic plan to expand the women’s game
Clare Connor has been busy. Very busy. England’s director of women’s cricket started her season by removing Charlotte Edwards from the national captaincy. A close friend and former teammate, it was a decision she described as the single toughest in her professional life.
A faultless international programme under the new leadership of Heather Knight is early validation of that controversial call.
“Everything that we needed to happen in the series against Pakistan happened,” Connor says concisely, talking to The Cricket Paper following the pair of clean sweeps.
That’s all in the rear vision mirror now, though. Sure, this summer was about transitioning the England side into one that could credibly compete for next year’s ODI World Cup. But taking the longer view, more central to how these months will be viewed in retrospect, is the success, or otherwise, of what comes next: the inaugural Women’s Super League, commencing tomorrow week.
By any measure this is Connor’s project, from inception to execution. It began with a 2014 review into women’s county cricket that involved considerable consultation across more than 20 counties. The findings on the domestic game were plain: they were falling short.
Connor and Co demanded a better bridge to international cricket. They wanted more players. They craved inspired fans. The answer? A domestic T20 competition bringing England’s elite together with the best in the world. For the first time it would include match fees, travel expenses and prize money. Not semi-professional, but large steps in the right direction.
At the end of an expression of interest and bid process, a panel including Connor and ECB chief executive Tom Harrison endorsed six hosts for sides over the first four years.With Kia on board as a major sponsor, they had themselves a Super League. On paper, at least. Then they had to build the thing. They had seven months.
Connor explains the hard graft. From player recruitment to cricket decisions to creating a draw to working with the home office on visa applications and everything in between. She praises the new clubs for their “unbelievably hard work” getting to this point.
Naturally, there are still nerves, which must have heightened during the week. On Wednesday it became public that England mainstay Sarah Taylor would not be available to lead the Lancashire Lightning as planned in favour of ongoing treatment for anxiety. Then on Thursday Australian skipper Meg Lanning, the best player in the world, announced her omission due to shoulder troubles.
But Connor is resilient, believing in the attractiveness of who they do have. Not without reason.With three international players per team, and the full complement of the England squad available with the exception of Taylor, there’s a concentration of some of the best talent in the world. In the case of the South African delegation, their administrators have adjudged it is more important to participate here rather than in a series against Ireland.
“We were over the moon in the level of interest from the players, and that’s great news for the women’s game globally that there are now two domestic competitions for the best players to play in,” Connor says.
That other competition that Connor refers to is the Australian version of the Super League – the Women’s Big Bash League – which also completed its first season in 2016. In that there is an obvious measuring stick, many of the game’s best turning out in both tournaments.
However, Connor – like Knight in her own comments to The Cricket Paper last week – is quick to note that expectations need to be managed compared to the WBBL’s unqualified success.
“We have built it quickly (whereas) the Women’s Big Bash had the advantage of being a bolt-on competition to an already proven model,” she explains. “Heather is right: I don’t think we can expect to mirror that level of success.”
While Connor believes it is possible to sell out Chelmsford on Finals Day, she argues proof of concept will be found on the field. One step at a time.
“For me, the most important thing is that the cricket is good, so that’s the main barometer of success in this first year,” she says.
Another major difference between the competitions is the presence of television. Where the WBBL featured 11 games on a free-to-air network, the Super League won’t have any televised.
Connor explains that this was a “conscious decision”; that they could have had games broadcast on Sky but elected not to in order to “take the pressure off” in the inaugural season.
“Do I now regret that some games aren’t (on TV)? Yeah, it would be great to see some fantastic women’s domestic cricket with the world’s best players on TV. But we are where we are.We mulled that over long and hard.”
She adds that “positive conversations” are already under way for the pay television provider to come on board for season No.2, and is thrilled that BBC radio will broadcast seven group games and Finals Day.
Connor’s candour extends to the broader promotion of the competition. She stresses that “nobody could have worked harder”, but can already see where more can be done next time around to raise greater awareness, with a focus on community advertising and schools.
“But I’m really pleased and fairly relaxed – and I am saying that with a bit of a wry smile – that we are in good shape.”
Another obvious area for growth is inclusion of Indian players. For Connor’s part, she reiterates that there was communication with their board, but the BCCI didn’t agree to release players until it was too late for season 2016.
“We all know that a tournament that features Indian players is richer for it, both in terms of the quality and diversity of the competition, and also the passion for cricket that exists,” Connor says.
“I really hope they will be involved next year.”
Next season’s edition will also include a 50-over component, taking place in May and June ahead of the World Cup in England.While the existing six-team structure is locked away for the opening four years, Connor’s ambition extends to growing that base provided the talent and demand keeps apace. More group games are also under consideration.
With so much evolving in the women’s game since her time as player, what of the next five or ten years? For Connor, that blue sky thinking can be reduced to a single, powerful theme: inclusivity.
“I want every woman or girl in this country to believe it is normal to be involved in cricket and that can be as an opening batter or a coach or as an umpire or a journalist writing about the game.”
The perfect encapsulation for why the Super League should be supported to its fullest potential.
I want every woman or girl in this country to believe it is normal to be involved in cricket and that can be as a batter, or a coach, or as an umpire, or journalist writing about the game