Fond farewell
Lasting legacy of trailblazing Super League
In Affectionate Remembrance of the Kia Super League, which died at Hove on Sept 1, 2019. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. R.I.P. NB: The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to a location as yet unknown.
As the book of condolences, or Twitter, opens its pages to the flood of tributes from players, staff and fans alike, the mood is one of mourning.
Of the abrupt end to a tournament which started from scratch in 2016, an involuntary reaction to Australia’s own immediate success of the Women’s Big
Bash League. Of a tournament which had its flaws but improbably, yet pleasingly, pre-empted any restructuring of men’s domestic cricket in England.
And of a tournament which presided over England’s triumph at the 2017 World Cup, which created its own identity, and a fan following which has grown impressively in just four seasons.
There were hints from the beginning that the KSL, the first franchise cricket venture (although not strictly franchise, as the England and Wales Cricket Board retained budgetary control, but a template, each host a quango of the cricketing world) in either men’s or women’s cricket in this country, was only an interim solution.
To base a team at Loughborough, for example, an impressive training facility but no infrastructure, history, nor intention to facilitate first-class cricket, appeared a decision more of expediency than forward thinking. But the KSL evolved, with crowds routinely in their thousands and the foundations were set; franchise cricket, in some form or another, really can succeed.
On the field, reviews were mixed. On the one hand this was the bridge between a distended county structure and the only true professionals, barely 20, who constituted England’s women’s team.
The gap still grew; KSL cricketers, the five-week, £3,000 summer interns, effectively, would never rival the full-time, salaried staff of England women.
Still, it was better than hiring the work-experience kid, as amateur county cricket still was.
The league struggled with a dual purpose; on whether to improve, through exposure, its domestic players, or to create a spectacle of best-v-best, and let the six internationals (three England and three overseas) in each team take centre stage.
It followed largely the latter, as was inevitable to any team wanting to win, and local players found it difficult to make an impact.
But some young talent has been unearthed, through the likes of the Smiths (Linsey and Bryony), and Kirstie Gordon, to name a few.
There are, and should be, reasons for optimism as this 20-over tournament fades and we are plunged into the novel venture that is the Hundred. After a slow – at times sloppy – start, this new competition is nevertheless the first professional cricket league in the world launched simultaneously for men and women. The most recent coaching announcements have been concurrent for both genders as the ECB is starting to grasp what a unique opportunity this level platform provides.
Much remains unknown for next year’s inaugural tournament, including some venues, with speculation that the Welsh-or-Western (to be decided) Fire might have their men in Cardiff and women in Taunton. Employment uncertainty, for players, coaches and administrative staff, remains a concern, with KSL contracts ending in September and the ensuing Hundred ones not even close.
Nevertheless, like the best wakes, we should reminisce, look back in anger if that helps (it does), but still celebrate.
The KSL was a life short lived, but there remains the prospect that maybe, just maybe, there will be a twist in the tale of women’s domestic cricket in England yet. Whether we can expect a reincarnation of Ashes-like proportions is a decision still pending. Here’s hoping.