Women’s cricket is on the rise across the nations that have traditionally been at the forefront of the sport. In England, you have star players like Nat and Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone are household names, while around 33 per cent of those set to watch the T20 World Cup in the UK this summer are set to be first-timers.
With the tournament set to make that spotlight all the brighter for the England team and their peers, how can they manage their downtime?
Staying Active Away from it All
A certain trending activity might just be the answer for the increasingly famous female cricketers of the world. Fishing has come back around as a way to enjoy a low-key day out. Gone are the days of it being framed as a man-vs-nature, extreme sport, even though the hook is still drawn on in some corners of entertainment.
As anyone who wants to try Fishin’ Frenzy Big Catch Gold Spins will find, the central feature is based on reeling in a fish. These fish all carry different cash values, with the player needing to hit a fisherman in the feature as well as the fish to reel in the prizes. It leans into the more adventurous depiction of the activity.
Now, however, TV shows like River Monsters and Wicked Tuna have given way to Gone Fishing – a show about two old friends who just sit, chinwag, and sometimes catch fish. It’s this side of fishing that athletes of all sports can tap into, and is what Manchester City winger Phil Foden champions as his preferred way to unwind away from it all.
Keeping it Low-Tech
The big selling point of fishing is to be able to go out into nature, be on your own or with a friend or two, and just enjoy the tranquillity between strikes. It’s all about getting away from the weight of the modern world, especially if you’re a famous athlete. After all, ubiquitous tech like smartphones and social media platforms are very taxing.
Other England women’s teams have found that sticking to low-tech, interactive activities is the best way to unwind. Back in 2024, for example, Georgia Stanway reportedly took her tattooing hobby to the next level by giving one to her teacher. The Euro 2025 Lioness camp also found it necessary to stick to low-tech.
When discussing the downtime activities of the Euro 2025 Lionesses, The Guardian framed the activities as the best way to manage burnout and emotional dysregulation inherent in playing high-pressure professional sport. So, they turned to Lego, journaling, puzzles, and giving each other beauty treatments.
Leisure time is essential for everyone, let alone professionals under a mountain of pressure to perform a couple of times each week. Escaping from these pressures and more commonplace pressures with an enjoyable activity that distracts the mind, requires concentration in a different way, and offers a path to achievement is key to being fresh and ready for the next game.
Loves all things female cricket