Expanded horizons and closer contests beckon Women’s ODI World Cup

 The women played a cricket World Cup two years before the men did. That was in England in 1973.

England, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, besides an International XI and Young England, took part. The host won the inaugural edition, beating Australia by 92 runs in the final.

But, not many bothered.

The world’s first recorded women’s cricket match may have been played in 1745 in Surrey between two villages of that county, Bramley and Hambledon, but for centuries, the women in cricket were invisible and not getting too much attention.

Enid Bakewell, England’s World Cup heroine of 1973, had to grow and sell potatoes so that she could play cricket.  The players had to drive to their day jobs after the game, and one of them was so exhausted, she fell asleep on the wheel. There were occasions when their Indian sisters travelled on bullock carts to play matches.

Today’s female cricketer is flying high. And she has earned her air-ticket the hard way.

And the world’s elite women cricketers have flown down to India: for the 13th edition of the ODI World Cup, which promises to be the most followed women’s cricket event in history. It also promises to be the closest.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171 not out for India against Australia in the semifinal of the 2017 World Cup, the BCCI taking women’s cricket under its wings, and the WPL have all changed the game almost beyond recognition.

It could become even bigger because of this World Cup, which opens with the match between the two hosts, India and Sri Lanka, here at the Barsapara Stadium on Tuesday.

India is one of the favourites, and Australia’s captain Alyssa Healy never misses an opportunity to make it a point.

Whether she likes it or not, the Aussies are the overwhelming favourites. They are the defending champions and are an incredibly strong all-round side, featuring the more experienced players like Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner and Megan Schutt and the younger ones such as Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield.

But, there is something in what Healy said: the Women in Blue have the players — including a Smriti Mandhana in red hot form — the home conditions, and the momentum to win a first-ever World Cup. If they manage to do that, it would be another big boost to the game in the country.

Former champion England, despite the series losses to Australia and India, has enough quality to be a contender. South Africa and New Zealand should also be eyeing a spot in the last four. Sri Lanka cannot be taken lightly, while Pakistan and Bangladesh would be keen to spring a surprise or two.

And remember, this World Cup offers more prize-money than the 2023 men’s ODI World Cup.