World star Suzie can help build buzz for women’s T20
Alison Mitchell talks to Suzie Bates about the launch of the Kia Super League, the new T20 tournament for women
Eight years ago, New Zealand captain Suzie Bates was boarding a flight to Beijing. Rather than carrying a cricket coffin to what is an unlikely cricketing destination, she was travelling as a member of New Zealand’s Olympic basketball team.
The 29th Olympiad was taking place in China and a 20-year-old Bates was a successful dual-international, juggling elite level cricket with basketball.
She was a Tall Fern as well as a White Fern. The Tall Ferns had surpassed expectations by even qualifying for the Games so little was expected of them, and indeed the team won only one match out of five. The experience, though, according to Bates, helped teach her how to compete at the highest level in sport.
When the Rio Olympics starts next week, Bates will be in the UK busily playing cricket for the newly created Southern Vipers – one of the six sides in the ECB’s elite new Twenty20 competition for women, the Kia Super League.
It’s possible she could have been in Rio instead, but in 2011 Bates had to make a choice between pursuing cricket or basketball.
Happily, for the strength of the Super League, the now 28-year-old, who was named Wisden’s Leading Woman Cricketer of the World for 2015, chose to concentrate on cricket. She is now one of a potential 18 overseas players gracing the first year of the competition.
“I always played lots of sport at school,” said Bates, as we chatted at the league’s launch in a basement bar in Manchester. “Cricket and basketball had pathways for girls and so I played both for as long as I could. I carried on after the Olympics but it was when the coach (of the White Ferns) started talking to me about captaincy I realised I probably couldn’t lead the team as well as I wanted to if I was also playing basketball.”
“When that captaincy came up for grabs, that was when the decision was made. Cricket came first. It just happened that way and I’ve never looked back because cricket for girls has sky-rocketed and you don’t not want to be a part of it.”
Bates is 5ft 8ins tall and a powerfully built all-rounder. She has been one of the stars of the rapid development and professionalisation of the women’s game over the last eight years; she helped New Zealand reach the final of the World Cup ahead of Australia in 2009, was Player of the Tournament at the 2013 event, caught the eye with an exciting 94 off 61 balls against Pakistan in the World T20 2014, and last year was a top overseas signing for the Perth Scorchers in the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia – a tournament which attracted record crowds for women’s domestic cricket and gained the sort of following the Super League will be aspiring to over the coming years. The Vipers are based at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, and Bates believes they will be one of the most experienced sides in the competition. They are led by former England captain Charlotte Edwards, alongside former England bats Arran Brindle and Lydia Greenway, and Bates’ White Ferns colleague, all-rounder Sara McGlashan. “They have all got over a hundred caps for their countries,” says Bates. “So for a tournament like this the experience will really shine through in the crucial matches, but we’ve also got some young guns from around the area and one I’ve been impressed with is Izzy Collis who can whack the ball and is a bit raw. It will be exciting to see those young girls play alongside some of the experience that we’ve got.
“The Vipers have been pretty active in getting Charlotte and myself out into the community and to festival days with girls, promoting the Vipers and trying to get people along to the Ageas Bowl. With it being over the holiday period hopefully we’ll get young girls and boys and their families into the ground. Because it’s not on TV it will be nice to see if we can get people to come along and watch and create a bit of atmosphere.”
Bates has been spending the build-up to the tournament staying with Edwards, playing for Kent, and helping them win the county Twenty20 competition. She and Edwards are close friends, having previously been team-mates at Perth Scorchers, and Bates has enjoyed tapping into her expertise.
“It’s been really good as captain of the White Ferns to chat to Lottie about captaincy. It was probably difficult when she was still playing internationally, but now I can talk more freely with her and she’s looked after me pretty well since I’ve been here.We know how each other works and trains so it’s good to have someone that you know in the team that you play for.”
Their friendship has translated to a friendly rivalry on the tennis court too, with the pair often picking up rackets in their downtime.
They both enjoy watching the sport as well as playing it, but the cricket season rarely allows time for the luxury of following or playing another summer game. You can only imagine the excitement then, when Edwards received an invita--
The Women’s Big Bash in Australia attracted record crowds and gained the sort of following the Super League will be aspiring to over the coming years
tion to attend Wimbledon this year, as a guest of the All England Club in the Royal Box. Edwards had to turn the invitation down initially, as it clashed with a prior commitment.
However, the invitation came back with an alternative date and she invited Bates to go with her. The pair found themselves being asked to stand in the Royal Box as they were introduced to the Centre Court crowd by presenter Sue Barker alongside a host of other sport stars on the day that has become known as ‘Sporting Saturday’.
“Going to the Olympics was pretty special, but that day at Wimbledon was right up there as one of the coolest things I’ve been a part of. I couldn’t sleep the night before. Then, sitting next to Geoffrey Boycott, he made us feel quite at home! But yeah, it was next level in terms of being a spectator. It was something I’ll never forget. Andy Murray played, too, and his mum was sitting behind us earlier in the day.”
These sorts of invitations might come more frequently to women cricketers as their profiles continue to rise. There will be commentary on the Super League on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra this year and if the tournament is a success, it is hoped television coverage will follow.
The most famous sporting celebrity in the Royal Box that day at Wimbledon was former England footballer David Beckham. So were Edwards and Bates game enough to speak to him?
“Yes, we got a photo,” laughs Bates, grinning from ear to ear. “But I couldn’t get many words out.We had a small chat and he was lovely.”
Before moving forward, let’s step back. And not far. To a time when women’s cricket was genuinely amateur; playing for the badge, not the bank balance. When Charlotte Edwards had to pay for her own England blazer. When professional contracts were the proverbial pipe dream. This is all but a generation ago.
When the Kia Super League begins tomorrow, everyone gets paid. From the best overseas players in the world who make this as much an international showcase as a domestic tournament, through to youngsters chasing their own international dream.
Critical analysis of women’s cricket is craved by participants as it lends valuable credibility. Report it seriously and it’ll be taken more seriously, goes the logic. In turn, it is understandable in a robust environment for pre-competition murmuring will exist.
So there is curiosity about the veto of television coverage for season one; some pondering why promotion of the competition hasn’t been greater. Others are asking about the wisdom of timing the tournament to run alongside the Olympics, or why Loughborough’s home games are being played at the university rather than ethnically diverse Leicester 20 miles down the motorway. But the bigger picture – of progress towards professionalism and bolstering participation – needn’t be lost in these discussions before a ball is bowled.
Due to purposeful work by those inside the women’s game, detailed to The Cricket Paper last week by ECB women’s tsar Clare Connor, the KSL is already bringing together the world’s best. And while it is the beginning, with plenty already to think about before next year, due to that deep talent pool this has the potential to be transformative from the get-go. Not a bad effort for a competition conceived barely a year ago.
Take Edwards. She knows the journey better than any other, her career spanning every development preceding this watershed summer. It’s feels right that, while now retired from international duty, as the Southern Vipers skipper she’ll be an integral feature of edition one.
“It’s going to be brilliant,” she told TCP at the launch in Manchester.“To think we have a competition that is going to be globally recognised; that’s a competition I could have only dreamed of playing in as a child, and it’s finally got here.”
Katherine Brunt, England’s now-veteran quick – now Yorkshire Diamonds talisman – shares this sentiment. She didn’t think she’d see a playing contract when debuting for her country in 2004. Now? Cricket is her career; her profession.
“You are getting paid to do something you love and these exciting tournaments are everywhere now – the Big Bash, and now the Kia Super League - and it is huge.
“I have learned more in the last two years,” since the start of central contracts and in the inaugural season of Australian Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), “than I did in the ten years before.”
Six teams, 15 games, two weeks. A finals day a week later in Essex. So what to expect when the attention moves from off the field to on it at Headlingley?
SURREY STARS
England contracted: Nat Sciver (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Laura Marsh Overseas signings: Rene Farrell (Aus), Marizanne Kapp (SA), Lea Tahuhu (NZ) The matchwinner: Nat Sciver From the moment squads were announced, carefully put together with a focus on balance, Surrey still stood out. Why? Because they had Meg Lanning, the best batsman in the world. But with Lanning’s withdrawal due to injury, the opposite could now be true.
Tammy Beaumont’s stellar international season and skipper Nat Sciver’s all-round matchwinning skills will come some way to filling the void, but it looks more likely the Stars progress to finals day will require playing to their strength and knocking teams over.
Helpfully then, on the cusp of the tournament, Surrey signed Kiwi quick Lea Tahuhu in place of Lanning. Alongside South African seamer Marizanne Kapp, Australian death overs specialist Rene Farrell and England spin twins Laura Marsh and Alex Hartley – not to mention herself – Sciver is well sorted for options.
WESTERN STORM
England contracted: Heather Knight (captain), Anya Shrubsole, Fran Wilson Overseas signings: Stefanie Taylor (WI), Lizelle Lee (SA), Rachel Priest (NZ) The matchwinner: Stefanie Taylor The Taunton-based club will benefit from a deep bench of experience, led by both the England’s captain and vice-captain in Heather Knight and Anya Shrubsole, then added to by Stefanie Taylor who led the West Indies to a spectacular World T20 victory in March.
Knight was outstanding in the WBBL, finishing third in the overall tournament most valuable player for her offspin as much as her batting. Taylor will do much the same; while adept at slaying centuries, she boasts an equally productive record with her own finger spin.
Rachel Priest and Lizelle Lee round out the Storm’s international allotment, two batsmen with plenty of experience on the circuit, while Fran Wilson last month played with poise and creativity in her first game back in England colours.
SOUTHERN VIPERS
England contracted: Charlotte Edwards (captain), Lydia Greenway, Natasha Farrant Overseas signings: Suzie Bates (NZ), Sara McGlashan (NZ), Morna Nielsen (NZ) The matchwinner: Charlotte Edwards The most intriguing side in the tournament for the fact that it contains both Edwards and the other recently retired England mainstay Lydia Greenway. Indeed, Edwards’ side has four players with 100-plus international caps.
Suzie Bates, Wisden’s 2015 women’s player of the year, is joined in Southampton by her White Ferns teammates, the big-hitting Sara McGlashan and left-arm tweaker Morna Nielsen; all of whom also excelled in the WBBL.
As for Edwards, be in no doubt about her motivation. “It has ignited a bit of passion inside me,” she said.“A few weeks ago – around May – it was a pretty low time for me, so to have this to focus on has been brilliant (and) over the last few weeks I have had that feeling back.” Bowlers beware.
LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING
England contracted: Georgia Elwiss (captain), Rebecca Grundy, Amy Jones, Beth Langston Overseas signings: Ellyse Perry (Aus), Sophie Devine (NZ), Dane van Niekerk (SA) The matchwinner: Sophie Devine Big, long bombs. That’s what you can expect from the Lightning with Kiwi Sophie Devine, the biggest hitter in women’s cricket. Georgia Elwiss, England No. 3, will also have the world’s most successful fast bowler, Australian Ellyse Perry, who also has 16 international 50s to go with more than 200 wickets.
Dane van Niekerk from South Africa is a dynamic all-rounder who excelled in the WBBL with her wrist spin and top order batting, while Rebecca Grundy will join her Loughborough’s spin department with her left arm orthodox. They will both profit from having England’s current wicketkeeper Amy Jones behind the stumps, coming off a stellar international summer with the gloves.
LANCASHIRE THUNDER
England contracted: Kate Cross, Danielle Wyatt Overseas signings: Amy Satterthwaite (NZ), Deandra Dotton (WI), Hayley Matthews (WI) The matchwinner: Deandra Dottin Charlotte Edwards put it best: you can’t replace Sarah Taylor. With the premiere ‘keeper-batsman in the world, and Thunder skipper, sitting out the full summer while being treated for anxiety, Lancashire – like Surrey – are at an early disadvantage.
But that’s tempered when they have West Indies masterblasters Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews. The former has the fastest ever T20 international ton – man or woman – from an incredible 38 balls, while the latter smashed a matchwinning 66 in the World T20 final to shock Australia. At age 18, she could be anything.
New Zealand all rounder Amy Satterthwaite is captain in Taylor’s absence, an appointment she relishes as a “great opportunity” after her significant hand in WBBL. England seamer Kate Cross and ever-busy Danielle Wyatt make up the international contingent.
YORKSHIRE DIAMONDS
England contracted: Lauren Winfield (captain), Katherine Brunt, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell Overseas signings: Alex Blackwell (Aus), Beth Mooney (Aus), Shabnim Ismail (SA) The matchwinner: Lauren Winfield Lauren Winfield has never felt better. Understandably. After five years as an international player she found her groove, clobbering 332 in England’s series against Pakistan. She leads Yorkshire, with Katherine Brunt riding shotgun as attack leader. She will take the new ball with South African Shabnim Ismail who has a claim on bowling faster than any woman.
Winfield will be bolstered at the top of the list by Australian pair Alex Blackwell, a veteran of well over 200 internationals, and Beth Mooney, a plucky young keeperbatsmen who made 400 WBBL runs as an opener.
The squad is rounded out with England’s two most experienced slow bowlers, Jenny Gunn and Danielle Hazell. There’ll be no easy runs against Yorkshire.