When the Women’s Cricket World Cup was held in New Zealand in 2022, it was part of the big three women’s events to grace these shores in quick succession, alongside the rugby and football World Cups.
But a number of things conspired against it; the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, the failure of the home side to make the semifinal stage and, with the tournament ending in April, young women were packing away their summer sports gear and bringing out the winter equipment.
So now that the White Ferns have won the T20 World Cup at the start of the New Zealand cricket season, what actions will be taken to ensure that a golden opportunity to grow the women’s game is taken with both hands?
First, there will be the celebration, but it’ll have to wait a bit longer. The majority of the White Ferns squad and support staff didn’t jump on a plane back to New Zealand after the final. Instead, they headed to India to play a three-game ODI series in Ahmedabad, between October 24 – 29.
Details haven’t been released by New Zealand Cricket on what form celebrations will take, and where they will happen, but just like when the men’s team won the World Test Championship in 2021, you can be pretty confident the trophy will follow the White Ferns wherever they play this summer.
Their first assignment at home will be a three-match ODI series against Australia in mid-December, with all three matches taking place at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
What better opposition to get the crowds out just before Christmas, with school holidays underway. A quick Google search shows adult tickets are available for just $20 each and junior tickets (4-14 years of age) are $5. Family passes (two adults and two juniors) are $40. If you can’t get to Wellington, all three matches will be shown live on TVNZ+ and TVNZ Duke.
After that, international cricket takes a bit of a break, but the Dream 11 Super Smash T20 competition takes over, starting on Boxing Day, with the finals on February 2.
With double headers pretty much daily, the men and women of the six teams will be travelling to all corners of the country to play. It won’t just be Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch that see action. You can add Alexandra, Dunedin, Hamilton, Nelson, Napier, Palmerston North and Tauranga to the list.
I’d anticipate that the World Cup trophy could make its way to most of those venues, with victorious White Ferns almost always on display for those games too.
In March it’s back to international duty with home series against Sri Lanka and Australia (again), with games in Napier, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, Tauranga and Wellington.
Away from actually seeing the trophy and watching these games, how else can engagement be built and sustained?
Just hours after the World Cup win, New Zealand Cricket’s Head of Female Engagement, Jess Davidson, was part of a team delivering after-school girls cricket sessions at St Margaret’s College in Christchurch.
“We are incredibly proud of the White Ferns winning the T20 World Cup and can’t wait to see the impact it will have to inspire the next generation of cricketers back here in Aotearoa. The White Ferns are fantastic role models and are paving the way for young New Zealanders to follow their dreams and perform on the world stage,” Davidson says.
“The World Cup win couldn’t have happened at a better time with the summer of cricket just beginning. We have passionate association staff across the motu working hard to deliver fun and engaging sessions within schools as well as clubs opening their doors to welcome back existing and new cricketers.”
For young girls starting the game, there are several national girls-only programmes such as ‘Yeah! Girls’ and ‘Girls Smash’ which are tailored to meet their preferences. There are also three new modified ‘Smash Play’ youth-rangatahi formats which are innovative, shorter and ultimately changing the way cricket can be played. Through these formats, it’s hoped girls can give cricket a go and enjoy the game.
New Zealand Cricket’s new five-year strategic plan, from this year until 2029, prioritises participation growth of registered women and girls cricketers. They are looking to offer a variety of playing opportunities that actually appeal to how women and girls want to participate in the sport.
“This season, New Zealand Cricket is supporting associations to deliver 59 unique programmes/competitions for the target age group of 13–18-year-old girls. The key focuses include providing quality experiences for young women and establishing and growing structured competitions across the cricket network,” Davidson says.
In 2022, there was wide praise for New Zealand Cricket with the announcement of a men’s and women’s combined agreement which saw the White Ferns and domestic women’s players receiving the same match fees as men across all formats and competitions. It was an agreement negotiated between New Zealand Cricket, the six Major Associations, and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association.
But match fees are just one factor; what about the added benefits and security of contracts?
“We have 17 contracted players for the White Ferns, and 13 domestic women’s contracts for each of the [six] Major Associations domestic women’s teams. Alongside those, there are 12 players contracted through the winter. We’ve reintroduced winter contracts and the players of interest programme in addition to an extended Women’s A programme this season,” Davidson says.
“There is a real emphasis on building a long-term sustainable programme with players who we develop to be capable on the world stage.”
It’s not just playing participation that is important.
Since 2017, the proportion of females in cricket governance has grown resulting in conversations and mindsets around cricket’s board tables changing.
Lesley Murdoch is currently the President of the New Zealand Cricket Board, having been appointed in 2022. She is joined on the board by Diana Puketapu-Lyndon, Sarah Beaman, Anna Campbell and Alison Shanks.
Although not New Zealand-specific, one disappointment this week is confirmation cricket won’t be a part on the 2026 Commonwealth Games. In 2022, it provided a bronze medal for the White Ferns in head coach Ben Sawyer’s first competition in charge.
But T20 Cricket’s inclusion (both female and male) in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 is another opportunity to create a platform for youth engagement, development, and inspiration. With Brisbane hosting the games in 2032, it seems more than likely cricket will follow-on with at least two consecutive appearances.
A gold medal in 2028 or 2032 to go with a World Cup winners’ medal? There’s plenty in the current squad who will be around for one or both of those global events. Now’s the time to attract and produce the players for 2036 and beyond.