Women’s cricket has been catapulted forward in unimaginable fashion

Arguably the most pivotal day for women’s cricket was July 23 2017. That was when England and India played the 50-over World Cup final at Lord’s in front of about 24,000 spectators.

It was a far cry from the 4,500 who turned up nearly 25 years earlier to watch the final of the same event at the same venue.

In 1993, that many people were enthused enough to head through the Grace Gates was seen as something to be celebrated. England, led by Karen Smithies, beat New Zealand that day, celebrated with an anonymous-looking trophy, still clad in their whites — which included a tennis-style skirt — then promptly went back to work the next day.

By 2017, it was bright-coloured clothing, a white ball, the players wore pants — imagine that — and a thrilling final was decided in the final over, with the hosts emerging victorious by nine runs. “To have a full house at Lord’s for a women’s final catapulted the game forward in a way that was unimaginable,” said Smithies, now the team manager at the Northern Titans.

“Throw it ahead three years and you’ve got over 86,000 at the MCG to watch the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup.”

From where it was in 1993, when Smithies held that small trophy aloft, to what it became in 2020, albeit in a different format  — with pop star Katy Perry dancing on stage with the victorious Australian side — is virtually unprecedented.  

There is no putting the cork back in the bottle.

“We’ve just had an under-19 World Cup, and as a youngster getting that sort of international exposure is a giant, giant leap for women’s cricket.” 

“It means federations have to create structures that will develop talent at grassroots.”

The South African team performed admirably at the recent World Cup, winning four of five matches, but their future is dependent on CSA creating stronger frameworks. “There is not a strong domestic competition that will allow for the continued production of players. They handed out some contracts provincially, but to me it just looks like a box-ticking exercise. It’s important to get quality ex-cricketers involved with young players from an early age and combine that with regular, competitive cricket,” Smithies explained. 

It’s where the likes of England and Australia have always remained ahead of SA, and they will soon be joined by India. All the players involved in the Indian side that won the under-19 World Cup, have been included on the auction list for the upcoming Women’s Premier League.

Alongside the ICC’s creation of the junior tournament, is the accelerated growth of the leagues around the world — led by the Women’s Big Bash in Australia, The Hundred in England and what will be another game-changer for the sport, the WPL in India. 

“It will take it to a new level,” Smithies said of the WPL. 

That tournament is expected to start less than two weeks after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup and will consist of five teams that were purchased for prices ranging from $93m (R1.65bn) to $158m (R2.8bn). Then there was the TV and digital broadcast deal which was snapped up by Viacom 18 — the same company that bought the IPL and the SA 20 rights — for $117m (R2bn).

Those are staggering figures, but given the rapid spurt in popularity of the women’s game — underlined by 47,000 people turning up to watch the second T20 International in Mumbai between India and Australia last December — the owners and Viacom 18 will feel justified in doling out those amounts.

There are 17 South African players who have forwarded their names for the player auction on February 13. 

That will provide a unique distraction for all the players participating in the World Cup, because it will be on its third day by that stage. “There will be challenges, similar to the men’s game,” said Smithies. 

I know they’re missing Dane, Mignon du Preez and Lizelle Lee, but that has given others the opportunity.

—  Karen Smithies

The main one being balancing the ever-expanding franchise element with the demands of international cricket. 

So might the challenges be more profound for women cricketers? “The differences in payment might make it too much for players to play the international game, while juggling contracts in the different leagues. That could be to the detriment of the international game as a whole.”

In whatever aspect one chooses to view it, the WPL does create even more pressure in the T20 World Cup but will also ensure more attention. 

South Africa’s players, already under so much scrutiny after the omission of Dane van Niekerk from the squad, will endure the sort of spotlight they have rarely encountered over the next fortnight. 

“I texted Sune [Luus] the other day just to tell her to use the support of family and friends to her advantage and to enjoy it,” said Smithies, who has SA, which will be led by Luus, among her semi-finalists. “It will be bloody tough, and it will take hard work, but they are capable of doing that.” 

“I know they’re missing Dane, and Mignon du Preez and Lizelle Lee, but that has given others the opportunity. Tazmin Brits and Nadine de Klerk have looked like they are stepping up OK.” 

Asked to briefly remove her England cap, Smithies doesn’t forecast Australian dominance in the tournament as many other experts have. “I think I’ll take India doing a double (the under 19 and senior women's world cup crowns). There’s a determination about them this year, and they will be inspired by what their juniors did recently.” 

Having seen what India’s mere presence in a couple of finals did for the sport, the already accelerated growth would most likely go into overdrive in the event of an Indian triumph. As 2017 did for 1993, it could make that landmark occasion look like ancient history in a few years.