Noting the influence of coaching contracts that allow the England women's team to play full-time, Andy Bull writes in the Guardian that England, for once, are leading the world in the way they run and play a sport.

When Gordon Brown sidles up to you, perhaps seeking to cadge a little reflected glory, you can be sure you are ­making the right kind of impression on the public.

In the Sunday Times, Lawrence Booth says that though England start as favourites, concerns remain over the fragility of their batting, especially if the top three flop.

Scyld Berry points out in the Sunday Telegraph that if England women defeat New Zealand in the final, they will become the first international team of either gender to be world champions in all three formats simultaneously.

That the final between the two best sides in women's cricket is being held as a curtain- raiser to the men's final is not simply a gimmick, writes Stephen Brenkley in the Independent on Sunday.

Of all the initiatives begun by the England and Wales Cricket Board in the past decade or so – and they are legion – the promotion of the women's game has been among the more significant and praiseworthy. The aim has been twofold: get them playing and so get them watching. Some of the participation figures supplied by the ECB take some believing but there has been a discernible rise in the number of players and in time that may lead to a more dramatic shift in the composition of audiences. It was still a bold step by the International Cricket Council to run the two world tournaments in tandem but it has worked beautifully. The women's group matches have been held at Taunton, where they have caused quite a stir, and the two competitions came together at the semi-final stage. It may be that a template for the future has been laid out.

June 17, 2009

Women's World Twenty20 in verse

Posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago in Women's cricket

It's not often that you find a current cricketer writing poems, so head over here to see New Zealand women's allrounder Sarah Tsukigawa's light-hearted verse about their World Twenty20 campaign. Among the highlights is her take on New Zealand's group games:

The Windies proved that they could swing a bat
But Suz and Dools showed them where its at

Next were the South Africans, and they played some good cricket
Fielding through the rain and thunder didn't do much for the wicket

June 13, 2009

Women on equal footing

Posted 3 weeks, 2 days ago in Women's cricket

Women cricketers compete against men on the field to improve their skills and to handle pressure better. But is there a case where they can compete with men in off-field activities? In the IOL website, Rodney Hartman looks at the changing face of Women’s cricket.

It's not often that men's and women's cricket teams play one another but this seems to be gaining in popularity and value. There is even talk in England of top women players being drafted into traditional all-male sides to play on the regular first-class circuit. It is being said that those best likely to qualify would be wicketkeepers or spin bowlers.

April 19, 2009

'I don't play for recognition'

Posted on 04/19/2009 in Women's cricket

Claire Taylor, the first woman to find a place in Wisden, speaks to Gautam Sheth from Daily News & Analysis on why she chose cricket over hockey or a well-paid MNC job and the secret behind England's World Cup success.

What about your post-retirement plan?

A good job to get me a bigger house with a bigger garden so that I can have a puppy! In all seriousness, I'd like to find myself a new challenge, one that will offer me the chance to meet as many good people and visit as many beautiful places. It will be really hard to replace the buzz from the team environment but I'm sure I'll enjoy finding out how.

April 10, 2009

Being equal does not mean being identical

Posted on 04/10/2009 in Women's cricket

The world's attitude to women's sport is changing, but the process is, like a glacier, slow and inexorable rather than, like a flash flood, altering everything in an instant of time, writes Simon Barnes in the Times.

Women are not athletically inferior to men. In most sports, women operate to different kinds — different standards if you must — of performance. But it is a physiological fact that in many ways women are physically superior to men. When it comes to extreme endurance, tolerance of pain, coping with extremes of temperature and sense of balance, women beat men every time. But most sporting events - being invented by men - are not tough enough to reach the point at which female superiority kicks in.

April 4, 2009

Claire Taylor hits history for six

Posted on 04/04/2009 in Women's cricket

After 120 years a woman is named in Wisden's cricketers of the year – heralding a new era for the women's game. Finally the fact that these ladies can play a bit has been recognised, writes Carrie Dunn in the Guardian.

Wisden has been naming cricketers of the year since 1889, and Claire Taylor is the first woman to be included on that roll of honour – even though the women's team has been playing Tests since 1934. One can attribute today's award to Taylor's brilliance – obviously – but also to the England women's raised media profile.

April 3, 2009

A good move by Wisden to hail Claire Taylor

Posted on 04/03/2009 in Women's cricket

Wisden ought to be applauded for anointing Claire Taylor as one of its five Cricketers of the Year but will it make a world of difference to women's cricket in England? Not much, writes David Hopps in the Guardian.

The ECB has received little recognition for its investment in cricket outside the professional game. The desperate need for funding to support the likes of Claire Taylor explains the reason why it has tried to maximise its income by fighting the supremacy of the parasitic IPL, rashly thrown itself into the arms of the rogue businessman Sir Allen Stanford and other dodgy moments besides. That then is what this Wisden award is; one of the best excuses the ECB has ever had.

March 24, 2009

World champions. And we'll never forget it.

Posted on 03/24/2009 in Women's cricket

We spent last night celebrating our victory. Drinks in the hotel bar with the management before heading out to a local pub for a few more drinks and a dance. Members of the other teams were out as well and there was a great spirit among all the players. I called it a day at about 2am and walked back to the hotel to call friends and family; completely exhausted but elated, writes Claire Taylor in the Telegraph.

England's World Cup winning cricketers follow in the footsteps of Myrtle Maclagan, pioneer of the women's game, writes Frank Keating in the Guardian.

England's 22-year old luminary on that first unbeaten Australian adventure was, happily, to become a friend and neighbour of mine in the last couple of decades of her life. Myrtle Maclagan was both opening bat and demon spin bowler. In the first Test at Brisbane, she scored 72 and took seven for 10. In the second at Sydney she made 119, the first Test century by a woman. England's men had lost their Ashes that summer of 1934, so Myrtle's feats had the Morning Post crowing back home

At the risk of creating the impression that I lead an empty and idle life, I admit that I did watch Sky's highlights of the England women's victory over New Zealand. I soon realised why the vast North Sydney Oval was almost deserted. The standard seemed little higher than that of a good club cricket game, of the sort which is played in villages up and down the country every weekend in summer; but no one except for friends and families would actually think of going along to watch such matches – let alone pay to get through a turnstile, writes Dominic Lawson in the Independent.

March 23, 2009

Women's sport treated as a slideshow

Posted on 03/23/2009 in Women's cricket

Andy Burnham, writing in the Independent after England Women won the World Cup final against New Zealand Women, tries to explain the reasons behind the lack of publicity for the women's game in England.

One of the arguments that comes back from the media is that the interest in women's sport is simply not there. I don't buy this. It's a self-serving argument. There will be no interest if broadcasters do not work to build it. History shows that the British public have the appetite to become absorbed in any sport if it is promoted in the right way. It wasn't long since we were all fascinated by curling. Activity at the grassroots shows there is real interest out there.

The achievement of England's women in lifting the World Cup goes beyond the mere winning of a big final, writes Simon Wilde in the Times.

March 21, 2009

Reaching the World Cup final

Posted on 03/21/2009 in Women's cricket

England women will be looking for their third World Cup win when they take on New Zealand in Sydney on Sunday. Andy Bull previews the game in the Guardian:

For the England team this final is the culmination of a run that began by retaining the Ashes in Australia last winter. "Last year was a massive turning point for the team, coming to Australia and being so successful gave us a real belief. Since then we've overcome all the challenges that are being put up against us, which is the true test of any team. I'm not surprised we're here in the final because over the last year we've played some really good cricket. But, if you'd asked me what our chances were two years ago, I wouldn't have imagined we would be here.

In the Times Patrick Kidd does a 60-second interview with England captain Charlotte Edwards.

In the same paper, Jenny Roesler draws up a cheat sheet that you can use to impress friends with trivia from the 2009 World Cup.

Also read Will Luke's interview with Edwards' on cricinfo.com.

March 20, 2009

Pity hardly anyone saw the Women's World Cup

Posted on 03/20/2009 in Women's cricket

Peter Bartlett, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, laments the poor reception for the Women's World Cup though the tournament witnessed some great cricket.

What is it about women's cricket? This is, after all, the game's showcase. It can only be the poor public perception and, alas, perception is everything. It is entertaining but try telling that to anyone, let alone convincing them to come along.
.......
In women's sport, various codes have been unfairly branded as enclaves of hard-nosed lesbians. My first response to that is: who cares? However, it simply doesn't apply. Just as we tell our kids not to generalise with nations, the same applies to sporting codes. Maybe women's cricket still suffers from a lingering element of that perception. Good on Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW for using the likes of Ellyse Perry to try to break that stereotype. The women deserve more respect.

Jenny Roesler, Cricinfo's former assistant editor, in a guest blog in the Times, writes the Women's World Cup has compared favourably to the men's version in 2007 in West Indies, and thinks England have the edge going into Sunday's final against New Zealand

March 16, 2009

Drug testing for women

Posted on 03/16/2009 in Women's cricket

England batsman Claire Taylor has been picked for the International Registered Testing Pool to be monitored for drug use. She explains what the protocol includes, how she worries she might mess it up, and why it is a burden for women cricketers, who need to take time off from work to turn up for tests and account for their whereabouts.

... for three months at a time, supply information to a central body with the following compulsory facts for each day:

a) Where I will be sleeping that night
b) What is my appointed hour for that day
c) Where I will be during the appointed hour.

Then I have to supply information about all my competition time; every England game, every club, county and MCC game. Then more information about my training time. They even asked me to supply information for all significant periods of time (who decides what's significant?) just in case they decide to visit me outside the appointed hour or outside training or competition time, which they are entitled to do.

The lady who explained all this to me said that the players' unions had been consulted. I don't belong to any union! She said that I could nominate someone with agent rights to load up all the information to the database for me. An agent? That sounds suspiciously like something someone who actually earned money from the sport would have!

March 1, 2009

A world title for recognition

Posted on 03/01/2009 in Women's cricket

India women have left for the World Cup in Australia and a win this time - they reached the final in 2005 - could do the women's game as much good as the 1983 win did for the men. In the Indian Express Bharat Sundaresan traces the development of women's cricket in India.

Even in the late 70s and early 80s, when the Indian men’s team were starting to come into their own, cricket was popular amongst women, insists Behroze. But England captain Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, who averaged 45 and 58 in Tests and ODIs respectively, was the only real woman superstar to idolise. “We would pounce onto whatever records were available and hear tales about her achievements. Men’s cricket was always a fascination and we used to get complementary passes to go watch them play at the CCI or at Wankhede,” Behroze says. Politicians played a part in the development of women’s cricket, and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was regarded as a promoter of the sport. “She told us that we were lucky to be among the top 11 cricketers to represent the country and that we should really value the India cap and blazer,” Behroze says about Gandhi.

February 27, 2009

'Women's cricket on the right track'

Posted on 02/27/2009 in Women's cricket

Anjum Chopra, the Indian batsman, is set to become only the third women's cricketer to play in four World Cups. She chats with rediff.com's Bikash Mohapatra about the team's preparations for the tournament and the state of women's cricket in India.

This is also the first time the women's World Cup will be televised live. How does it feel?
... if a hundred countries get to watch women play internationally and if they get to watch a good standard, globally the game gets better. So I would, rather my team would, look at it as a plus point. Something that doesn't put pressure on us but something that encourages us to take the sport forward and get global recognition for women's cricket.

February 23, 2009

Having fun hitting sexism for six

Posted on 02/23/2009 in Women's cricket

	Charlotte Edwards poses with her trophy for the Women's Player of the Year ©Getty Images

With the Women's World Cup about to get underway in Australia next month, England captain Charlotte Edwards talks about her foray into cricket, playing against male opponents and her opinion on women striking revealing poses to promote the sport.

How far has the women’s game come on in your time?
Leaps and bounds. The media profile has improved and we are now taken seriously. When I first represented England we still wore skirts on the field! Adidas has designed kit for us and that reflects what we are - professional athletes. We don’t have central contracts but are paid by the Chance to Shine charity to promote the game.

I live in the real world and know that women’s cricket needs all the publicity it can get. So in theory I don’t have any objection to something that achieves that. I would need to know exactly what it was I was being asked to reveal before I signed up to anything!

Read on in the Times.

January 17, 2009

Year of mixed fortunes for women cricketers

Posted on 01/17/2009 in Women's cricket

In the Dawn, Shazia Hasan looks back at the year that was for the Pakistan women's team. Hasan summarises the fortune of the team at the international and domestic levels, as well as what happened on the administration front.

September 6, 2008

Another century for Claire Taylor

Posted on 09/06/2008 in Women's cricket

	Claire Taylor: Scoring hundreds when you are chasing mean more to me © Getty Images

After becoming only the fourth England woman cricketer to play 100 ODIs, Claire Taylor says she is still motivated as there are a few personal goals as well as some big team goals to achieve before she retires. On the England board's website, she talks about how she was unprepared for international cricket when she made her debut in 1998, her dazzling 156 not out two years ago (the highest individual score made in a one-dayer at Lord's), and the strong England side she's playing in.

We need 11 match-winners and it’s brilliant that so many people have put their hands up this summer – we have had seven different players of the match.

“It’s the first time in my time with England that we are selecting teams based on conditions. If we need another swing bowler, we have one. If we need another batsman, we’ve got another batsman. If we need a spinner, a quick bowler – they are all tapping on the door.

January 1, 2008

Lifting the Spirit

Posted on 01/01/2008 in Women's cricket

In the middle of a major Test series it's a fine effort for women's cricket to earn a double-page spread in the Age's sports section. Chloe Saltau spend some time with the Victoria women's team, the Spirit, and their coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick.

Earlier in the year she asked each member of the team to research a player, so they could understand better what it means to represent their state. There is a secret players' code known as "The Wilson", after the legendary former all-rounder Betty Wilson. Attempts to discover the meaning of The Wilson are met with silence, but it is safe to say the forthright 86-year-old who still attends every game in Melbourne embodies the hardness and determination to which the Spirit players aspire.

December 22, 2006

A true trailblazer still

Posted on 12/22/2006 in Women's cricket

Rachael Heyhoe-Flint’s name will be forever synonymous with women’s cricket. She’s in Australia at the moment to follow the Ashes, but although England have lost the series she is
still her cheerful self, and full of her usual anecdotes. Mike Coward caught up with her and profiled her for The Australian newspaper.

September 20, 2006

Texts about girls! It's absolutely outrageous!

Posted on 09/20/2006 in Women's cricket

There are mountains and there are molehills and The Surfer suspects that the latter is about to turn into the former with the news that a private text allegedly sent by the chairman of Leicestershire, Neil Davidson, has caused much indignation at Somerset, who have lodged a complaint with the ECB. And it’s about girls. Read the sorry saga, as reported in The Times here.

September 5, 2006

Birch in a timewarp

Posted on 09/05/2006 in Women's cricket

	Rosalie Birch: diplomat © Getty Images

A tour to the subcontinent involves anticipating dry-as-dust pitches and noise pollution that would scandalise the EC. Rosalie Birch would however want to go a step further and broaden her palette as well to prepare for the England women’s team’s forthcoming tour of India for the quadrangular world series. Towards this end the chillies she gamely chewed on was obviously more than she could swallow though her primitive tastes was equally evident in what she wrote in her online diary.

Commenting on the recently-concluded series against India’s women’s side, Birch trotted out more clichés about curries and hot food in one column that an entire series of It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.

“We found it hilarious how the Indians added their own curry paste and pickles because they found the food too mild … but our players will not be laughing when their mouths are burning up in India.”

Wonder which universe Birch is living in? The ECB should make it mandatory to have its cricketers savour the delights of London’s Curry Mile, if only for the likes of Birch to sample how cumin combines with parsley and Rose Mary overlays cardamom to make curry something much more than just a masala-mix.

August 14, 2006

Because they're worth it?

Posted on 08/14/2006 in Women's cricket

As England women take on India at Lord's today in the first of their five one-dayers, a storm is raging on the other side of the world. In Australia, The Age are asking do women sports stars deserve media coverage?

Greg Baum kicked off the debate a few weeks ago, with the rather contentious line: “If women insist on playing sport at all, it should be beach volleyball.” And a week later, his colleague Natalie Craig regretfully finds herself agreeing.

The debate came about because of a public inquiry in Sydney which, as ABC Sport reports, is considering the suggestion
that the media could be compelled to carry regular coverage of women's sport.

What do you think? Email us with your thoughts.

Thanks to Dan Roesler for the links

January 24, 2006

Isa Guha looking forward to Lord's

Posted on 01/24/2006 in Women's cricket

Isa Guha writes in the Bucks Free Press about her ambitions, on playing against Australia and her forthcoming trip to Lord's to face India

January 19, 2006

Return to source

Posted on 01/19/2006 in Women's cricket

England's women international, Isa Guha, recently returned to her roots on the tour of India and Sri Lanka, and tells the Ealing Times about a hot, noisy, daunting but exhilarating experience.