Women’s cricket hits the big time
Proteas are title contenders at T20 World Cup
THE goal for the ICC is to get 100000 people through the gates at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the final of the women’s T20 World Cup on March 8 – International Women’s Day. Pop star Katy Perry is going to perform there. It would be the largest single crowd for a women’s sports event.
It wasn’t always thus. In 1993, Toni Braxton wasn’t scheduled to perform at Lord’s, nor was there anything close to a full house for the Women’s World Cup final. A late scramble saw the game shown on the BBC that day.
England won. Briefly, women’s cricket made the front and back pages. For years following, it was barely heard of again.
“It was different,” recalls Karen Smithies, England’s captain that day. “We were playing 60 overs, not 50. In the overall picture we played more ‘declaration’ cricket in those days, Test cricket. I played Tests against India, New Zealand and Australia … we played a lot more proper cricket,” Smithies chirps.
Twenty-four years later, Lord’s was sold out for the final of the 50-over World Cup, England again in the final, this time against India. England won in the last over. On the back of their last over win in the semi-final against South Africa, that tournament provided a glimpse of a sport growing beyond the historic power-houses of England, Australia and New Zealand and was becoming more competitive.
The T20 format has elevated the sport. It’s happened faster for the men, but the women’s game has changed rapidly too – and not just the fact the players no longer don little white tennis style dresses.
“The girls are fitter and stronger, they hit the ball far. From the physical strength point of view, the types of shots, fitness has all played a massive part in the growth of the sport.”
They are also better known. Ellyse Perry, the great Australian all-rounder, can command sponsorship deals on the same level as her male counterparts. India’s captain at this year’s T20 World Cup, Harmenpreet Kaur signed a bat deal last year with the same company that backs Rohit Sharma.
In South Africa there is gradual recognition for the exploits of the Proteas – helped by their run to the 2017 semi-finals, and the agonising manner in which they missed out on a spot in the final. Mignon du Preez the former captain had one of the main gates at Supersport Park named in her honour by the Northerns Cricket Union last year. Du Preez, along with national teammates Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk now have backing from major athletic companies.
And there’s Momentum, the financial institution which backed the national women’s team in South Africa even before Cricket SA did so, allowing players to sign professional contracts.
“Perry, (Jemimah) Rodrigues, Kaur are becoming household names, and rightly so,” said Smithies. “There is more TV coverage, there are more events compared to when we played, like a T20 World Cup. The girls are getting into activities off the field as well which also elevates their profile.”
“I think it’s great that the powers that be are pushing for much coverage on TV because through that you attract sponsors. I’m very pleased to see that Momentum have decided to back the Women’s Proteas again. To have that as a player, it makes a difference, it’s where professionalism comes from. Boards have to put money into these things, that’s what helps it grow, even more brands come on board, there is more exposure etc.”
The T20 format has helped the overall expansion and popularity of the women’s game. “T20 cricket has put women’s cricket on the world stage,” she said. “The boundaries are brought in to make the game more appealing. In my opinion sometimes those ropes are too far in, but I suppose it makes the game more appealing seeing more fours and sixes.”
There’s also more spin bowling in the women’s game. “To get strength into bowling fast is quite difficult.”
It’s one area where South Africa, thanks to Kapp’s control and Shabnim Ismail’s pace, do have an advantage over other countries.
Theirs is a new ball combination that is the envy of many and on Australia’s quicker pitches will make them a handful.
While Australia are favourites for this year’s tournament – them being the defending champions, playing on home soil and having greater depth – a bit like the 2017 50-over World Cup, Smithies feels this year’s tournament could be a display of the ever more competitive nature of the women’s game
“I think it’s wide open,” remarked Smithies. “Australia in their own backyard are always dangerous but they are looking a bit below par at the moment and will have to hit their straps in the tournament – although that is something they usually do.”
India, England, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies can all potentially emerge as winners too. “South Africa relies on four or five players, who on their day can make a major difference.”