Australia presently leads in women’s cricket, yet a broadening field is noted. The female cricket realm has expanded impressively over the past 15 years. Coincidentally, it aligns with the dawn of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Australia may be on top in women’s cricket for now, but signs point to an expanding base. Countries not typically known for cricket might be joining the scene soon.
The Women’s T20 World Cup, organized by ICC, has seen significant expansion since its inception in 2009 in England, having started with just eight teams. The inaugural tournament shared scheduling with the men’s competition, stirring nationwide attention as England’s performance shone brightly.
The final game at Lord’s saw over 12,000 spectators cheer on Charlotte Edwards’ team as they overpowered New Zealand by six wickets, becoming the first champions. This victory propelled England’s women’s team into the limelight, mirroring Australia’s experience when they seized the title the following year, marking their steady progress hence forth.
While the edge Australia held over New Zealand at Kensington Oval was thin (a mere three runs), it started a period of unrivaled success that lingers still. Australian athletes like Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning grew valuable due to their performances at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Teams globally vied to recruit them. In the first 10-team tournament in Bangladesh in 2014, Lanning was the leading point holder. This milestone marked their home country’s third straight championship.
While the edge Australia held over New Zealand at Kensington Oval was thin (a mere three runs), it started a period of unrivaled success that lingers still. Australian athletes like Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning grew valuable due to their performances at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Teams globally vied to recruit them.
In the first 10-team tournament in Bangladesh in 2014, Lanning was the leading point holder. This milestone marked their home country’s third straight championship.
Australia played host in 2018, snatching up the prize once more. The trophy has stayed with them ever since. The real game-changer came in 2020 when they set new records for the sport. The moment that topped them all was the attendance of a whopping 86,174 people at the MCG.
This was a never-before-seen number for a women’s cricket game. The crowd witnessed Australia’s triumph against debut finalists, India. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 ended up being the most significant global sports event for a while due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It left a mark for all good reasons.
The year’s gained attention also led to an amplified prize of $1 million for the victors. This amount was five times higher than the award given in 2018. Such growth continued to surge onwards as the winners of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, held in the UAE, are projected to earn $2.34 million. In this highly competitive event, nine distinct countries will challenge the reigning champions, Australia, from October 3.
Well-known players like Nat Sciver-Brunt from England, Smriti Mandhana of India, and South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp will spearhead the teams of their countries. This promises to be the fiercest contest ever. – Credit to the International Cricket Council.