Upsets at Cricket World Cups are nothing new. Sri Lanka produced the first major shock in 1979 when they defeated mighty India, a victory that paved the way for Test status 18 months later. Zimbabwe then stunned Australia at the 1983 World Cup. The women’s game, too, has had its share of giant killings, and this tournament in England was no exception. But when the dust settled, the two best teams in the world had booked their places in the final.
Lord’s will be packed to capacity when hosts England take on multiple time world champions Australia in Sunday’s showpiece.
England swept through the group stage with five convincing wins before brushing aside South Africa in the semi-final at The Oval. Australia, meanwhile, were tested more often but still maintained their unbeaten record, overcoming West Indies in the other semi-final at the same venue.
These are comfortably the two finest teams in women’s cricket. The intensity and energy they bring to the field are unmatched. Both sides possess enviable depth in their bowling attacks, with a variety of options capable of adapting to different conditions. Their batting line-ups are equally formidable. Even when the top order has faltered, the middle order has stepped in to rescue the innings. That has been the defining difference in this tournament. While Australia and England bat deep, the other teams have struggled whenever early wickets have fallen.
A mouth watering contest awaits at Lord’s. With favourable weather forecast, the Home of Cricket is set to provide the perfect stage for a memorable final. Australia may hold a slight edge, having built a reputation for thriving under pressure in global finals, while England will carry the weight of home expectations. Nevertheless, one thing is certain, this promises to be a fiercely contested final.
The rise of women’s cricket over the last five years has been remarkable and this tournament has underlined just how far the game has come. The ICC offered record prize money, with the champions set to receive more than US$2 million and the runners-up guaranteed in excess of US$1 million. The losing semi-finalists also walked away with US$800,000 each.
Crowds have turned up in impressive numbers, even for matches not involving England. More than 10,000 spectators watched the first semi-final, while over 20,000 attended the second, featuring the hosts. The two knockout matches alone generated well over US$2 million in gate receipts, a strong indication that investing further in women’s cricket makes sound commercial sense as well as sporting sense.
Sri Lanka will host the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy next year, giving Sri Lanka Cricket a golden opportunity to further popularise the women’s game. When the country co-hosted the Women’s 50-over World Cup last year, public interest was disappointingly low. Despite free entry, crowds were sparse. SLC must identify the reasons behind that lack of interest and ensure spectators are given a better match-day experience if they are to attract larger crowds.
The popularity of women’s cricket is growing rapidly across the world, and administrators must now ensure that more girls are encouraged to take up the game. While cricket remains the dominant sport in boys’ schools, it has yet to enjoy the same level of participation among girls. A sustained drive is needed back home to promote women’s cricket at grassroots level, creating greater opportunities and a stronger talent pool for the future.
