What a year for women’s cricket. I feel as if we often say this, maybe a similar feeling was present after the successful campaign from England during the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup Final at Lords. However, I have seen a change first hand and personally, I feel evermore passionate about women’s cricket.
It seems like years ago but back in February, the England team flew out to New Zealand which at the time was pretty much covid free! They played 3 T20s, 3 ODIs and 2 Tour Matches against New Zealand Women XI. It was a very successful tour, England winning the T20 series 3–0, the ODI series, 2–1 and drawing the Tour Matches 1–1. While the team were out there, I had the opportunity to speak to England pace bowler, Kate Cross. You can find the whole interview over on my Podcast (Noughtie Child Podcast Season 2 Episode 1) Kate explained to me what it was like to travel from England, which at the time was in a national lockdown, to New Zealand where everything had opened up again.
“It’s pretty cool I’ve been trying not to rub it into people’s faces but it’s just impossible not to do because it’s just yeah it’s been pretty cool. Yesterday we came out of a bit of a lockdown so there was a scare of three cases in Auckland and they went into full country lockdown which was pretty much just social distance, wear your mask, hand hygiene and all that”
Starting on the 16th June, England played a 4 day Test Match in Bristol against India. On debut, England’s Sophia Dunkley, the first black woman to play test cricket for England, hit an impressive 74* which, if England hadn’t declared, was looking like she could hit a century. The test match, despite being the first test between England and India for 7 years, was a real success and for me, proved why women’s tests should expand to 5 days. The game, like most women’s tests, ended in a draw. Rain delays did not help this however, it was a very close game which provided a great example for women’s cricket, 17 year old Shafali Verma scoring 96 on test debut as well.
A stand out performance of the test match was no 1. T20 bowler, Sophie Ecclestone’s performance. As mentioned before, it is very rare for women to play test matches and so the most overs a bowler will typically bowl is 10. In this test match, Ecclestone bowled 64 overs, taking 8 wickets. I do hope that she was first to see the physio!
After the test match, England went on to play 3 ODIs and 3 T20s against India, both of which they won 2–1. Stand out moments include Kate Cross in the 2nd ODI at Taunton taking 5/34 and Danni Wyatt’s 89* from only 56 balls in the 3rd T20 at Chelmsford. Yet again, another successful series for England women.
Moving into the autumn, New Zealand made a return visit to England playing 3 T20s and 5 ODIs. England won the T20 series 2–1 and the ODI series 4–1. As a result of form in the Hundred and the various domestic competitions, three debutants played, firstly Emma Lamb in the 1st T20 at Chelmsford, then Maia Bouchier in the 2nd T20 at Hove and finally, spinner, Charlie Dean in the 1st ODI at Bristol. These debuts showed how well the domestic structure has worked and showed that the England squad is very changeable and players will be given opportunities based on good form in domestic competitions.
Later in the season, I was lucky enough to catch up with Maia and chat to her about her England debut and experience in the England set up so far.
“It’s an absolute dream and it’s happened and I did my role, played my role quite well and that’s all I could have asked for. My role was quite similar with where I was playing and that’s where I would fit into the England team because I was coming in kind of middle order to just see if I could keep the pace and the strike going and I mean my strike rate was the reason I got given a debut because I was hitting at 140 and I mean I wasn’t scoring that many runs but I was at a point where I could just keep the batting line going and keep the batting score going so I wish I could have done a bit better at that role but I was picked for that role in England and I’m glad I was seen as that kind of person to come in to play that role for England”
A real stand out performer of the ODI series was debutant, Charlie Dean. Dean was the highest wicket taker with 10 wickets at the end of the series and an impressive 4/36 in the ODI at Worcester. Charlie has been selected in the Ashes squad off the back of her successful first games for England.
Other stand out performances came from skipper Heather Knight in the ODI at Derby scoring 101 and powerful hitter, Tammy Beaumont in the ODI Canterbury hitting 102.
Moving to domestic cricket, between April and May, the Women’s T20 county championship took place, of which many games were cancelled due to bad weather. As a result of the restructuring in the women’s game in England and the introduction of the regional structure, this is the only county cricket that the women play all summer. 34 county sides participate with the addition of Wales and Scotland as 2 extra teams however, there was no overall winner and there were only winners of the groups that the counties are divided into.
The 2021 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy took started in late May for it’s second year. Taking the title again, Southern Vipers won the trophy in an epic final which was fought closely between Northern Diamonds and the invincible Southern Vipers.
Throughout the tournament, there were some stand out performances with the bat. Central Sparks faced Western Storm at Edgbaston where England wicket-keeper, Amy Jones, hit an impressive 163*, the highest score of the tournament. Teammate Eve Jones and Central Sparks captain, scored a testing total of 100* against Thunder however, Central Sparks went on to lose the game despite Jones’ mammoth efforts. At the back end of the summer, on the 18th September, there were two very impressive innings. Western Storm skipper, Sophie Luff scored 157* against Sunrisers and similarly, Scotland captain and Lightning player, Kathryn Bryce, hit 162 runs, leading her side to victory.
I was fortunate enough to speak to Kathryn Bryce just after her impressive knock in Lightning’s last game of the RHF Trophy.
“It just felt really good from the start and got off to a good start kind of through that power play phase and then just built a good partnership with Sarah through that middle period and I think you all you often forget how long 50 overs is so just remind yourself just like keep on batting. Actually, the ability to kind of accelerate at that back end period is so much bigger if you just give yourself that opportunity to be in there in those last ten, five overs so I got to 100 and then I don’t know, the last 50 runs probably came pretty quickly right at the back end but just kind of giving myself that opportunity to be there right at the end”
It wasn’t just the batting which was impressive during the tournament. The standard of the bowling was very high with stand out performances by Kirstie Gordon (4/23) against Thunder, Hannah Jones (5/33) against the South East Stars, Issy Wong (5/49) against Northern Diamonds and Charlotte Taylor (4/21) against the South East Stars. This success is testament to how successful the domestic contracts have been, Charlotte Taylor being the only stand out player to not be on a professional contract.
The newly named Charlotte Edwards Cup commenced in June, proving as a much needed tournament, as a void was left for a T20 tournament after the conclusion of the KSL in 2019. Similar to the RHF Trophy, there were some stand out moments and players. Thunder’s opening batter, Emma Lamb totalled an impressive 111* against Sunrisers, resulting in Thunder winning by 71 runs. Viper Georgia Adams had a good knock against Central Sparks, scoring 88*. This effort was futile however, as Central Sparks’ Marie Kelly hit 100* leading to a 6 wicket victory for the Sparks.
On the bowling front, Bryony Smith and Jenny Gunn had equally good figures against Lightning and Thunder taking 4/15 closely followed by recent USA debutant, Tara Norris who took 4/14, also against Lightning.
The highly anticipated Hundred began in July with an epic opening game between Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals. The fireworks shot up and a busy crowd filled the Oval. That was the moment I knew women’s cricket had changed. Suddenly, people started to care about the women’s game. 16 year old Alice Capsey hitting an impressive 59 at Lords attracted attention from beyond the usual women’s cricket journalists. Jemimah Rodrigues’ 92* at Headingley became a moment of the tournament and Marizanne Kapp’s figures of 4/9 in the final against Southern Brave leading to a win for the Oval Invincibles will stay in the minds of those who watched.
I was so fortunate over the period that the Hundred took place, to speak to so many players about their experience
“Genuinely just having the most fun I’ve ever had on a cricket pitch” — Katie Levick (Northern Superchargers)
“I think it’s doing lots for women’s cricket which is great, it’s obviously a new format and I think it’s one that everyone’s really enjoying playing and alongside that it’s obviously doing a lot for women’s cricket and everyone’s just really enjoying themselves” — Ellie Threlkeld (Manchester Originals)
“It was an unbelievable experience and I guess if you spoke to anyone that was involved in it on the female side playing they would probably have had the same experience that I did” — Sophie Luff (Welsh Fire)
“It’s exactly what the game needed and it’s just going to skyrocket women’s cricket” — Fi Morris (Southern Brave)
To be a part of the Hundred, it’s absolutely phenomenal, you’ve seen the crowds that we’re getting and it’s absolutely fantastic, it’s surreal” — Thea Brookes (Birmingham Phoenix)
It’s quite clear that the Hundred has been a game changer both for players and for the audience that the women’s game has got. England have a huge year install for 2022 with an Ashes starting in late January, the defending their title in the 50 over world cup in New Zealand and then the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Women’s cricket is on the rise and I am all for it!
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