If you search for the most memorable cricket moments throughout history, you will see that the vast majority of those include the male-performing side.
However, we are happy to see that female cricket is slowly catching up. Women’s cricket has become increasingly popular in recent years, and there are various reasons for it. Talent is the first one that comes to mind, but we shouldn’t overlook sponsorship deals as well.
So, with all that in mind, let’s take a look at how the female cricket industry rises and takes over the entire sport.
Where Did It All Start?
The Australian and New Zealand Board of Cricket were the first body that introduced a good foundation for female cricket players. It was only a matter of time before other nations, notably England followed suit and created their own women’s teams.
Of course, the goal at the start was to bridge the gap between men’s and women’s cricket and encourage more women to be proactive in the sport.
It seems like it has worked a charm as well. Nowadays, we witness plenty of world-class female cricket teams, such as England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Netherlands, etc.
Steady Evolution
Women’s cricket slowly evolved to new heights throughout the 90s, but it seems like it all changed with the introduction of the T20 format in 2003.
Thanks to it, female cricket got the nudge to start heading in the right direction. It only took a year to see a big increase in the audience watching a female cricket match. The match in question was England vs New Zealand.
Shortly after, the Australian League was introduced (known as Big Bash), and female cricket popularity reached new heights. The Big Bash was a local tournament, so it served as a great incentive for women to get involved. Moreover, local fans also had better access to venues where they could watch matches in real-time.
Moving on, in 2009, the first T20 Women’s World Cup took place. This event was hosted side-by-side with the men’s version, with female semi-finals taking place straight after men’s games. This way, female cricket games got even more support and coverage, which meant more money and interested parties in the sport.
Organizing the female semi-finals this way was seen as a great way to promote the sport, without spending too much on marketing campaigns.
Over time even online sports betting sites offered more and more markets to bet on female cricket events. All major competitions are at your disposal, and the most reputable betting sites offer you the chance to place bets with various payment methods, even with PayPal.
Female Cricket Commentators
The rise of female cricket commentators has been instrumental in the growing popularity of women’s cricket. By having female commentators on air, it provides representation and a relatable voice for female fans, players, and viewers. They bring a unique perspective to the game and offer insights that might not have been shared previously. Moreover, they serve as role models for young girls aspiring to be involved in cricket.
The growing number of female cricket commentators in recent years has helped break down gender barriers and stereotypes in the sport, ultimately contributing to the rise of women’s cricket.
Don’t Forget About Sponsorships
Branding and sponsorship are very important in any sector, including female cricket. Thanks to the increase in sponsorship deals in female cricket, over time, the quality of the sport became better.
Of course, it is still early to say that female cricket’s sponsorship deals are of the same value as men’s, but things are slowly going in the right direction. An interesting fact here is that the prize money that women receive for winning a major tournament is equal to the men’s reward, which is a huge step forward.
Therefore, no one should be surprised to see that there are more and more interested companies that wish to become sponsors with some female national teams. Thanks to all these aspects, future potential female cricket players will feel more encouraged to participate in the sport. Fairer salaries are coming their way, so it is safe to say that cricket is slowly becoming a sport for all, regardless of gender.
The Future Looks Bright
Due to the above-mentioned, we can safely say that female cricket is set to get more recognition and financial support in the years to come. Even though there are not plenty of nations that develop female cricket, thanks to more money coming into the sport, we fully expect other countries to invest in the sport.
Moving forward, cricket should not be a male-oriented sport, and all indicators show that it surely won’t be. Things are moving in the right direction for female cricket, and we can’t wait to see how it develops in the coming years.
Loves all things female cricket