In 2014, Lord’s Cricket Ground, which is known as the Mecca of Cricket completed 200 years and as a mark of celebration, MCC women played a cricket match on the main ground. For the first time ever, that MCC women faced the rest of the world XI and in that very year, an MCC regional match was also organized.
Four years later, in 2018, Middlesex Women created history when they played on the main ground for the first time in the club’s history on the eve of MCC Women’s Day. The next year i.e in 2019, the tradition continued as Middlesex faced Surrey in the London Cup. The hat-trick of the aforementioned matches did not happen as 2020 was as good as written off from the cricketing books due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, things look nice and bright this year as the two teams, namely MCC Red and MCC Yellow will feature in two matches that will be played during the upcoming “Hundred” this English summer. It will be a 100-ball affair for the first time on the main Ground, ahead of Lord’s hosting London Spirit’s men’s and women’s matches. The first match will be played from 10.30 am to 1.00 pm while the second match will start after a half an hour break and will be played till 4.00 pm.
The matches will be played behind closed doors, given the current pandemic situation. However, for the fans, there is some respite as MCC will be providing live audio ball-by-ball commentary for both matches. The commentary team consists of Alan Radford, Amber Sandhu, Isabelle Duncan and Nick Hedley.
The match officials for the two games are Sue Redfern, Sarah Bartlett, and Anna Harris (umpires), and Alison Bruce and Nathan Bradley (scorers). It will be an interesting contest as players from all around the country will come together and play the two matches.
MCC Yellow have won the second match of MCC Women’s Day by 9 runs.
It concludes a wonderful and historic day of cricket at @HomeOfCricket 👏 pic.twitter.com/BaqDEy5Rd7
— Marylebone Cricket Club (@MCCOfficial) April 29, 2021
The squads are:
MCC Red
Elysa Hubbard (c), Jennie Kitzinger, Georgina Macey, Felicity Bennett, Krishna Shah, Anna Healey, Saba Nasim, Riti Patel, Rosie Pembroke, Sian Price, Marilyn Smith, Melanie Vaggers, Judy Wilmot, Naomi Dattani.
MCC Yellow
Beth Barrett-Wild (c), Charlotte Edwards, Sarah McCann, Helen Webster, Sally Dixon, Radhika Nanalal, Keely Juster, Alex Rogers, Hannah Bates, Rachel Bellamy, Jen Heppell, Amelia Kite, Jolene Foster, Olivia Rae.
Match Results:
Match one: MCC Yellow beat MCC Red (123 off 100 balls) by six wickets – Charlotte Edwards 76
Match two: MCC Yellow MCC Red (121-3 off 100 balls) by nine runs
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.