As the cricket world reflects on the achievements of women in sport on International Women’s Day, it also reminds us about an important moment in cricket’s history — the 1973 Women’s Cricket World Cup, the first-ever World Cup in the sport. Held two years before the men’s tournament began in 1975, the final took place at Edgbaston in England, where England defeated Australia to win the first title.
A pioneering moment in cricket history
Women’s cricket has raised the bar over the years. The first-ever T20 international match in cricket was played between England and New Zealand in 2004. The sport has also seen some remarkable individual records. Australia’s Betty Wilson became the first cricketer to score a century and take 10 wickets in a Test match. England’s Belinda Clark was the first international player to score a double century in a women’s ODI in 1997. In 2018, New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr scored a double century in an ODI and also took five wickets in the same match when she was just 17.
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Later, in 2021, Ireland’s Amy Hunter became the youngest cricketer to score an ODI century on her 16th birthday.
ICC’s Manager – Women’s Cricket, Snehal Pradhan, said: “The game of today owes a great debt to the pioneers of the past. If our World Cups have reached prize money parity today, it is standing on a foundation laid by the class of 1973. It’s a fantastic coincidence to be able to announce parity exactly 50 years after women led the way by having the first World Cup. Both these events, one from the past and one in the present, have given cricket a special place among global sports and point to a bright future.”
She also further added: “I was lucky enough to be involved in the 2009 Women’s World Cup, the first one organised by the ICC, and was amazed at what an uplift it was in terms of facilities, accommodation, and broadcast. For the players of today, that is the bare minimum, and the sky is the limit.”
Former England player and broadcaster Isa Guha said: “We’ll never forget where women’s cricket came from and the fact that it was a World Cup that was set up before the men’s World Cup. It takes one person to have an idea, but it takes a team to fulfil a dream.”
“The visibility of women’s cricket has increased beyond compare to what it was before. The recognition of women’s cricket and the perception of it have changed drastically in 50 years.”
Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy said: “I’ve been involved in women’s cricket for over 10 years now, and I’ve seen it grow exponentially, and it’s the chat around it that I love. People speak so positively about the women’s game, which is awesome, and it means that we’re doing something right.”
Growth of the women’s game and global recognition
In recent years, women’s cricket has attracted spectators worldwide. Major tournaments now attract huge spectators, including the 2017 Women’s World Cup final at Lord’s and the record-breaking 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The International Cricket Council has also announced equal prize money for men’s and women’s World Cups, making history and breaking gender stereotypes.
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The legacy of the 1973 Women’s World Cup continues to inspire generations of cricketers. It reminds us about the pioneers of women’s cricket who helped shape today`s perspective on cricket.
