Over the last one and a half months or so, there has been some action in the women’s cricketing world, thanks to the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia, Women’s T20 Challenge in Sharjah, and the National Triangular T20 Championship in Pakistan.
However, as we enter into the last month of the calendar year, the picture looks dull and boring as there are no international fixtures scheduled. The month of December, which is usually one of the most eventful months of the year for people across the world, will be nothing less than a ‘Dead’cember.
While the men’s cricket is slowly and steadily picking up pace with bilateral series being played between Australia and India, between England and South Africa, and between New Zealand and West Indies, it is hard to understand why the women cricketers have not been able to hit the ground. If the international players can travel to Australia for WBBL and to Sharjah for the Women’s T20 Challenge, then why is ICC not scheduling international matches, is the question that haunts the women’s cricket fans and lovers.
On paper, the upcoming bilateral series will be played in Australia and the Aussies will host the Women in Blue for a mini three-match ODI series. The ODI series will commence on January 22, 2021 and the last match will be played on January 27. A 14-day quarantine period at either end of the tournament, makes the six-day affair look quite funny. Probably coupling the ODI series with a three-match T20 series would have been a good idea.
Also the fact that the same two sides locked horns against each other in the grand finale of the Women’s World T20 in March 2020 that garnered a record crowd of over 86,000, would have been a nice thing on the platter. Anyway, as the series is already scheduled, there is no point discussing what could have been a better option. There could be some serious implications that would have discouraged both the Boards; Cricket Australia and BCCI to have a brief series.
All said and done, though the India-Australia series is like a light after the tunnel, the women’s cricket fans and lovers all over the world would have to pass this dark tunnel of December first only to see some light in January next year.
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.