Women’s Cricket History and Records

Written by

Rishabh Sinha

Last updated 18 Jun 2024

Cricket has been a sport that has been growing well all over the world. Just like men’s cricket, women’s cricket has been growing well and hence now has reached a stage where women’s cricket is seen by people as excited as men’s cricket. Moreover, women’s cricket has reached a peak where the audience is liking it and hence people are looking to see how they will progress in the upcoming times. One of the key factors in the growth of women’s cricket is the increasing level of skill and competitiveness of the players. Women’s cricket has come a long way since its early days, and today’s players are just as talented and competitive as their male counterparts. The sport has become more exciting and appealing to sponsors and fans as a result. Clearly, women’s cricket has been taking over the world by coming out as a thing where people are excited to see them playing their favorite sports. Furthermore, the teams like Australia, India, South Africa, and England have been playing well in women’s cricket and hence it makes it easier for the audiences to come out and watch the sport.

Learn more about women's cricket teams and players.

Updated: 2024-06-18T13:47:57

History of Women’s Cricket

In the early days of cricket, there weren’t equal rights for men and women. Thus the news of women playing cricket was a long way to go. But as things flourished, women started playing cricket for fun and then went back to follow their passion.

In the late 1800s, women’s cricket clubs began to form in England, with the first recorded match taking place in 1887 between teams from London and Surrey. The first women’s county match was played in 1895 between Kent and Surrey. These early matches were largely organized and played by upper-class women and were often seen as a way for them to socialize and showcase their talents.
The first international women’s cricket match was played in 1934 between England and Australia. The match, which was held in England, was won by the home team. This was the start of regular international women’s cricket matches, with the first Women’s Ashes series being played in 1934.
And with the first International Match, women’s cricket started flourishing as people were interested to see how the opposite gender plays the game. However, In the 1950s and 1960s, women’s cricket experienced a decline in popularity. This was partly due to the fact that the sport was not given the same level of support and investment as men’s cricket, and also because the societal expectations for women’s roles and abilities were changing.

The 1960s and 1970s saw a new era of growth and development for women’s cricket. The International Women’s Cricket Council (IWCC) was established in 1958, which helped to promote and organize international competitions and tours. This led to an increase in the number of international teams and players and a rise in the standard of play.

Learn about the history of women's cricket.

Women’s Cricket in the Late 90s

As women’s cricket started progressing, players started coming up with new skills and fitness which made it easier for the audiences to differ the best from the rest. Moreover, the players started playing their best game and hence got into the teams with much expectation. The game started improving because of the way players performed and hence it seemed like the players were looking to level up.

One of the major developments in women’s cricket during the late 1990s was the introduction of professional contracts. This allowed for a greater number of women to make a career out of playing cricket and provided a more stable and secure financial future for those who chose to do so. This also had a positive impact on the standard of play, as it meant that players could focus on training and improving their skills, rather than worrying about how to support themselves.
The establishment of a Women’s Cricket World Cup was also done in this period. This tournament, which was first held in 1973, had been held irregularly and was not well-supported. However, the 1997 World Cup in India marked the beginning of a new era for the tournament, as it was held on a regular basis every four years and was supported by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The late 1990s also saw an increase in the media coverage of women’s cricket. This was largely due to the greater interest in the sport following the success of the World Cup, and the growing number of professional players. As a result, more media outlets began to cover women’s cricket, and there were more opportunities for players to be interviewed and featured in newspapers, magazines, and on television. This helped to promote the sport and increase its popularity.

The late 1990s was a significant time in the history of women’s cricket. The introduction of professional contracts, the establishment of a Women’s Cricket World Cup, and the increased visibility and media coverage of the sport helped to promote and develop the sport. However, the lack of funding and resources, and the lack of support from cricket organizations, still limited the growth and popularity of women’s cricket.

Women’s Cricket in the 21st Century

After the development of women’s cricket in the late 90s, it was time for some more improvement to the sport. The players like Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Isa Guha, Anya Shrubsole, and many more became the brand ambassadors of the sport. Moreover, the young female cricketers got their role models and hence it led them to come out as better sports players.

One of the major developments in women’s cricket in the 21st century has been the introduction of more international tournaments. The ICC Women’s World Cup, first held in 1973, has been held regularly every four years since 2005. The tournament has grown in popularity and prestige, with the most recent edition, held in 2017, featuring a record number of participating teams. The ICC also introduced the Women’s World Twenty20 tournament in 2009, which has also been held every four years.
The media coverage and public interest in women’s cricket have also increased in the 21st century. The ICC has made efforts to promote the game through television broadcasts and live streams of matches, making it more accessible to a wider audience. Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram also help in promoting women’s cricket to a global audience. This increased visibility has led to more sponsorships and investment in the game, further improving the standard of play and the overall development of the sport.
Many countries still do not have a strong domestic structure in place to support the development of women’s cricket, leading to a lack of competitive matches for these teams. The ICC and other cricketing bodies need to focus on developing the game at the grassroots level in order to improve the standard of play and increase the number of competitive teams.

Women’s cricket has seen significant growth in the 21st century. The introduction of more international tournaments and professional contracts for female cricketers has led to a higher standard of play and more competitive matches. Media coverage and public interest in the game have also increased, leading to more investment and sponsorship. However, there is still a long way to go in terms of achieving parity between men’s and women’s cricket, particularly in terms of prize money and scheduling of matches. Additionally, more needs to be done to support the development of the game at the grassroots level to improve the standard of play and increase the number of competitive teams.

Records in Women’s Cricket

Women’s Cricket has now been running well and hence has created several records which have made it to the list. Moreover, the teams have been playing really well and hence here we will be looking at the records that have been set here. Now, the thing is that cricketers like Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, and others have been the main record-setters which makes this game interesting for the viewers.

One of the earliest records in women’s cricket is that of the first recorded women’s cricket match. The match took place in 1745 in England, and it was between teams from the villages of Bramley and Hambledon. The match was reported in the Reading Mercury, and it is considered to be the first recorded women’s cricket match.

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0
M Raj (IND-W)	1999-2022	232	211	57	7805	125*	50.68	7	64	7
CM Edwards (ENG-W)	1997-2016	191	180	23	5992	173*	38.16	9	46	16
SR Taylor (WI-W)	2008-2022	148	143	21	5367	171	43.99	7	38	6
SW Bates (NZ-W)	2006-2022	148	142	15	5267	168	41.47	12	31	9
BJ Clark (AUS-W)	1991-2005	118	114	12	4844	229*	47.49	5	30	3

In 1951, the International Women’s Cricket Council (IWCC) was formed and it became the governing body for women’s cricket. The first Women’s Cricket World Cup was held in 1973 and it was won by England. Since then, the World Cup has been held every four years and it has been won by different countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and England.

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5
J Goswami (IND-W)	2002-2022	204	203	1667.3	265	5622	255	6/31	22.04	3.37	39.2	7	2
S Ismail (SA-W)	2007-2022	127	126	1028.2	133	3812	191	6/10	19.95	3.70	32.3	6	2
CL Fitzpatrick (AUS-W)	1993-2007	109	109	1002.5	188	3023	180	5/14	16.79	3.01	33.4	7	4
A Mohammed (WI-W)	2003-2022	141	134	1042.0	102	3735	180	7/14	20.75	3.58	34.7	7	6
KH Brunt (ENG-W)	2005-2022	141	139	1141.1	157	4081	170	5/18	24.00	3.57	40.2	3	5

In terms of individual records, one of the most notable is that of the highest individual score in women’s cricket. This record is held by Charlotte Edwards who scored 173 not out for England against Ireland in 2008. This score remains the highest individual score in women’s cricket.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the popularity and visibility of women’s cricket. Many professional teams and leagues have been established, and the sport is now played by millions of women and girls around the world. In addition, many international tournaments and competitions are now held for women’s cricket, including the Women’s Cricket World Cup and the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup.

Legends and Upcoming Cricketers of the Women’s Cricket

In women’s cricket, there have been many players who have been coming up with the relevant skills and many players who have retired as the legends of the game. Furthermore, players like Mithali Raj, Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning, Jhulan Goswami, and many more have made it possible to rank in the list.

The great legend of women’s cricket is Belinda Clark. She was an Australian cricketer who represented her country between 1991 and 2005. She was a powerful batswoman, and she holds the record for the highest individual score in women’s cricket, with 229 not out. She was also a skilled captain, and she led Australia to victory in the 1997 and 2005 World Cups. Clark was also the first woman to be appointed as a national selector for Cricket Australia.
Another great player on the list is Mithali Raj who has been the stalwart of Indian Cricket as she has been the player who has kept things on hold against the big opponents for India. Her batting style has always made sure that India remains in the contest and her valiant innings against the countries like Australia, New Zealand, and others have made it possible for her to be in the Legends League.
One of the upcoming cricketers is Alyssa Healy. She is an Australian cricketer who has represented her country since 2010. She is a wicketkeeper-batswoman and is known for her aggressive and powerful batting. She has already made a name for herself in the sport, and she is expected to become one of the greats of women’s cricket.

These upcoming cricketers have already shown their potential and have the potential to become the next legends of women’s cricket. They are young, skilled, and have the potential to take women’s cricket to the next level. Furthermore, players like Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and other Indian players will be looking to take Indian Cricket to new heights.

Read about legendary women's cricket players and upcoming talents.