Cricket has lengthy been a sport dominated by males, however girls’s cricket has seen an unprecedented rise in recognition and competitiveness over the previous few many years. Every of the final two World Cups has seen unbelievable development by way of supporters by way of the gates, whereas the ever-improving nature of the planet’s most interesting groups has solely added to the competitiveness. The ladies’s sport is now lined often on Sky Sports activities within the UK, with broadcasters in Australia and India each following swimsuit.
At current, loads of consideration is on the male facet of issues, primarily as a result of the T20 World Cup is correct across the nook. The upcoming match is a vital one because it marks the ICC’s newest try to interrupt into America, with half of the group-stage matches happening within the Land of the Free. Newly minted stadiums in New York, Florida, and Texas – with pitches being shipped to them from Adelaide – will contest the motion, earlier than the finals head to the Caribbean. On-line cricket betting websites have made India the +250 favorites for glory, with Australia and England simply behind them within the odds checklist.
However whereas these three are frontrunners within the male sport, who’re the celebs of the present within the feminine world? Let’s discover out.
Australia
Australia the gold normal in girls’s cricket. The Southern Stars’ dominance is obvious by their place on the summit of each the One Day internationals and T20 rankings, a standing they’ve held for fairly a while. Their success has been constructed on the again of a mixture of extraordinary expertise, strategic acumen, and a sturdy home construction that ensures that the nationwide workforce is of paramount significance. Key gamers like celebrity all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who’s arguably probably the greatest on the earth with both the bat or the ball, by no means thoughts each, all the pieces the Aussies are all about.
Add to that aggressive batsman Meg Lanning, and it’s clear to see why Australia are the place they’re immediately. Moreover, Alyssa Healy continues to redefine the function of a wicketkeeper-batsman path to victory proper out of the time she takes to the pitch.
Australia’s document is unparalleled, not solely in particular person victories but additionally within the sheer quantity of silverware that has been taken again to the Crcket Australia headquarters in Melbourne. They’ve received the World Cup an unprecedented seven instances, and they’re the present reigning champions, handing rivals England a crushing 71-run defeat in the latest showpiece in New Zealand in 2022. They’ve additionally received six of the eight T20 World Cups to have ever been contested, together with the final three on the bounce.
England
Australia’s closest rival in recent times has come within the type of England. They’ve managed to finish their adversaries from the Land Down Below’s stranglehold on the World Cup, profitable two of the final 4. They romped to glory within the first-ever girls’s match again in 1973 however must wait 20 years earlier than their subsequent triumph. Their third and maybe most interesting triumph got here in 2009 as they reigned supreme on the house turf of their enemies, earlier than claiming the crown once more in 2017, this time on dwelling turf at Lord’s.
Within the T20 world, nonetheless, issues are a lot completely different. England received the inaugural match in 2009, however they haven’t examined success since.
The workforce is acknowledged for its mix of skilled stalwarts and rising abilities, guaranteeing a gradual provide of match-winners. Captain Heather Knight, a dependable middle-order batsman, has been pivotal in her nation’s successes. She is supported by the likes of all-rounder supremo Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Sophie Ecclestone, who is without doubt one of the most interesting bowlers within the girls’s sport.
India
With the backing of a cricket-crazy nation, India’s cricketers have impressed tens of millions and raised the profile of the game within the nation. Legendary batswoman and former captain Mithali Raj is the very best run-scorer in girls’s worldwide cricket. Harmanpreet Kaur, famend for her aggressive batting and management, has additionally been instrumental in lots of the Ladies in Blue’s memorable victories. Smriti Mandhana, a trendy left-handed opener, constantly brings aptitude and key performances to the workforce.
India’s journey to the finals of the ICC Ladies’s Cricket World Cup in 2017 marked a turning level for ladies’s cricket within the nation. Earlier than that, emphasis was solely on the likes of Virat Kohli and the IPL, however coming inside a whisker of their maiden world gong put them within the highlight. Their spirited campaigns within the subsequent T20 World Cup – reaching the ultimate as soon as once more in 2020, albeit in a shedding effort – have additional established them as sturdy contenders on the worldwide stage. They’re a distant third behind the Ausses and English, however third nonetheless.
This text was first printed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Occasions firm.
