With summer approaching, the cricket season has finally begun, and the Women's Cricket World Cup marked the start of a busy period for both men's and women's seasons.

 

The Women's Cricket World Cup is the oldest cricket world championship, with the first tournament held in 1973. England were hoping to retain the title they won in 2017 and add to their other two trophies from the debut tournament and in 1993. However, it wasn't to be for England as they suffered a humiliating 71 run loss to the most successful team in the competition, Australia. Although they didn't make it 5 wins in the competition, the England team showed why more young girls should get into the sport of cricket. 

 

There are more than 20 cricket clubs within 2 miles of Wimbledon centre, all looking for young cricketers to join their clubs. Old Rutlishians CC are a cricket club based in Merton, London. They offer training sessions and matches from u8s all the way up to the 1st XI. Recently it has also added various girls' teams to its ranks and now has over 400 youngsters in its cricket programme. Dating back to 1908, Old Ruts boasts more than 100 years of competing in leagues, with several wins for the 1st XI. The girls' team participated in the Surrey League for the first time last year, winning a few matches along the way.

 

On Wednesday 27th April, I had the opportunity to play in the GDST Select Cricket Team in a training session and match against the Marylebone Women's CC. After a tough selection process, we had a practice session in the morning before taking to the field in the afternoon. In a hard fought match, experience paid off, and despite the game going down to the final ball of the innings, Marylebone were able to hang on and win by 6 runs. In the 3 years the GDST had played this club, there had never been a closer. This emphasis just how much the women's game has improved in such a small amount of time. Even though we didn't win, it was an amazing experience to play against a very strong and accomplished women's team and as most of us hadn't even sat out GCSEs, hopefully, there will be many more occasions like this to come. Ceri Crawford of the GDST said, "It's amazing to see how for women's cricket has come since we started g

 

So, the upcoming cricket season brings a whole lot of new possibilities for the women's game, with local clubs and school teams being set up to encourage girls into the game.