Brief History of England Women’s National Cricket Team:
The England women’s cricket team represents England and Wales in international women’s cricket. The English women’s side was governed by the Women’s Cricket Association before the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) took over governance in 1988. They are a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test, One Day International, and Twenty20 International status.
Historical Highlights – England Women’s National Cricket Team
Red-Ball History:
It was in 1934 that the English women’s cricket team toured Australia for a three-match test series. This marked their first-ever test match which was played in Brisbane for the England women’s cricket team. Betty Archdale was leading the English side in England’s first-ever test match. They also registered a nine-wicket win over Australia eventually going on to clinch the series by 2-0.
In 1937, England’s women’s side hosted their first ever test series which too came against Australia. Though England lost their first-ever test match on their home soil played at Northampton against Australia, the three-match test series was tied at 1-1 after England secured a win in the second test & the third test resulting in a draw.
England next played a women’s Test again in 1948–49 when they toured Australia for a three-Test match series.
One-Day International History:
England women’s side first played their ODI match in the 1973 World Cup which was hosted by England itself. The Young England women’s cricket team represented England, an Under 25 side, playing in addition to the senior England team. Susan Goatman was leading the side during the first edition of the World Cup. The ‘Young England’ team played their first-ever ODI match against the Australians suffering a 7-wicket loss after being bowled out for 57. England won their first-ever ODI, v International XI, by 135 runs. England emerged as winners of the first edition of the women’s World Cup after beating Australia in the final.
England Cricket team played their first ODI series against Australia in 1976 which was part of the Ashes series. Rachael Heyhoe Flint was leading the English side in the three-match ODI series against Australia, though England lost their first match they won the series 2-1 after winning the last two matches. They are one of the most successful sides in the ODI World Cups’ winning four world cups to date.
Twenty20 Internationals History:
England women’s cricket team played their first-ever T20I match in 2004. They played the match against New Zealand hosted by England themselves. Clare Connor was leading the English side in the first-ever T20I for England though the host lost the match by nine runs.
England were the champions of the inaugural edition of the women’s T20 World Cup which was first played in 2009. They beat New Zealand in the final to win the first edition of the women’s T20 World Cup.
ASHES History:
The Women’s Ashes series is a women’s international series involving England & Australia. The Women’s Ashes series mirrors the men’s Ashes series, showcasing intense competition between the two teams. The English women’s cricket team toured Australia in 1934 for a three-match test series which marked the first event between both the teams with England winning the three-match series 2-0. Initially, only test matches with the length of one to five-match series have been considered since 2001. But it was in 2013 that ODIs & T20s were also included as a count. As of 2015, a Test victory is worth four points (two to each side for a draw), and two points are awarded for victory in a limited-overs match.
A total of 25 series have been played by both teams. Out of the 25 series, Australia is leading the chart clinching 10 out of 25 series with England winning 6 out of them & the other nine have resulted in a draw. Australia has hosted 13 of the 25 series while the remaining being hosted by England. The latest series played between both the teams was in 2023 hosted by England resulting in a draw.
Tournament Highlights – England Women’s National Cricket Team
ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup:
England has played in all 12 Women’s Cricket World Cups from 1973 to 2022. They’ve done very well, winning the cup four times – in 1973 (the first ever tournament), 1993, 2009, and 2017. They came close to winning four more times, finishing runners-up in 1978, 1982, 1988, and 2022. Twice they made it to the semi-finals (1997 and 2005), and once they finished third (2013). Their worst performance was in 2000 when they came fifth. Overall, England has been one of the best teams in the tournament’s history, often finishing in the top three and winning the cup several times.
| Year | Positions |
| 1973 | Winners |
| 1978 | Runners-Up |
| 1982 | Runners-Up |
| 1988 | Runners-Up |
| 1993 | Winners |
| 1997 | Semi-Finals |
| 2000 | Fifth Place |
| 2005 | Semi-Finals |
| 2009 | Winners |
| 2013 | Third Place |
| 2017 | Winners |
| 2022 | Runners-Up |
ICC Women’s World T20:
England has participated in all eight ICC Women’s World Twenty20 tournaments from 2009 to 2023. They started strong by winning the first tournament in 2009. After that, they’ve come close to winning several times but haven’t managed to secure another title. They were runners-up three times – in 2012, 2014, and 2018. England reached the semi-finals three times – in 2016, 2020, and 2023. Their worst performance was in 2010 when they were eliminated in the group stage. Overall, England has been a consistent top performer in this tournament, often making it to the later stages of the competition. They have one championship and have finished in the top four in seven out of eight tournaments.
| Year | Positions |
| 2009 | Winners |
| 2010 | Group Stage |
| 2012 | Runners-Up |
| 2014 | Runners-Up |
| 2016 | Semi-Finals |
| 2018 | Runners-Up |
| 2020 | Semi-Finals |
| 2023 | Semi-Finals |
Women’s European Cricket Championship:
England has had a very successful run in the Women’s European Cricket Championship. They competed in eight tournaments from 1989 to 2007. In the first five tournaments (1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, and 1999), England won every time, showing they were the strongest team in Europe. In 2001, England sent their Under-19 team instead of the main team, and they finished as runners-up. For the last two tournaments in 2005 and 2007, England sent their Development Squad (a team of less experienced players), and even they managed to win both times. Overall, England won seven out of eight tournaments they participated in, only coming second once when they sent a younger team. This record shows how dominant England has been in European women’s cricket.
| Year | Position |
| 1989 | Winners |
| 1990 | Winners |
| 1991 | Winners |
| 1995 | Winners |
| 1999 | Winners |
| 2001 | Runners-up |
| 2005 | Winners |
| 2007 | Winners |
