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One bit of good news…
By Jonathan Liew 5 months ago, 4 Comments »
The rugby might be dismal, the footballers might have the summer off and the nation’s best sprinter might be a convicted drug cheat, but England’s women cricketers are, once again, flying the flag.
And let’s hear none of this “women’s cricket isn’t as good as men’s” baloney. It is in England. What we wouldn’t give to have Charlotte Edwards shoring up the men’s middle order. Or a Hoggard-Guha dream new-ball partnership…
4 Comments »Burka on the boundary
By Will last year, at the end of December, 3 Comments »
Fascinating photo, found on Flickr
Bowled by a girl
By Ian last year, at the start of August, 13 Comments »
I was bowled by a girl on Saturday. I am sure it is sexist of me to make a distinction, but there is still a certain stigma attached to it, which most males will attest to. As it happens, the girl who bowled me plays for Devon and fielded brilliantly throughout our innings. Her bowling was a bit short, but that delivery nipped in off a good length and went through my swinging gate. Of course, my ‘friends’ in the pavilion celebrated louder than the opposition.
Is this all wrong? I genuinely don’t know. It is so rare that we play against women that it is never usually an issue. But somehow it is always an issue whenever we do. Men tend to react in two different ways to this scenario. They either get nervous, because they know that if they get out or get creamed round the ground, their team-mates will remember it for ever. But if they hit her out the park or get her out, they will get no credit for it.
The other reaction is to come over all patronising and bowl really slowly or just pat the ball back. This tends to backfire if the lady in question is better than they are. Given the standard among the men is so varied in village cricket, there is no reason why women of all levels shouldn’t be involved, but somehow I can see that being resisted by what is a male-dominated sport. Perhaps most women would prefer to leave us competitive men to beat our chests and measure egos for six hours, while they do something else more productive.
Am I simply being a sexist oaf who should get over it already and stop wittering? Do lady players find opposition blokes patronising or do they relish the challenge of making them look stupid? Do other guys have the same views? Have you been cleaned up or smacked about by a girl? Is there perhaps a girl who leads your club’s attack or scores lots of runs against the men? Is it more common in other countries? Is this the same in other sports? Help me out here.
13 Comments »“What is cricket?”
By Emma 2 years ago, at the start of October, 4 Comments »
Although the employees of the Environmental Health Department of my local council seem somewhat more efficient than those featured in Will’s recent clash with the UK Passport Service, my first week of university has been somewhat hectic. Accommodation troubles aside, the beginning of the first term brings to university sports clubs everywhere the annual joy of starting from scratch with almost entirely new management.
Last Tuesday was this year’s Sports Fair. For those who have never attended such an event, I would advise against it. Choosing a sport this way is a little like running the gauntlet. The larger clubs (like, for example, that of men’s cricket) can merely wait for students to come to them. Lacking such luxury, exec members from smaller sports skulk around the Student’s Union as if loitering on disreputable street corners, wearing various items of logo-covered kit with an artificial smile, thrusting flyers into the hands of bewildered freshers. Within moments, these victims will be whisked away to a desk to sign away their contact details and, potentially, their souls.
One such girl was brought to the Ladies’ Cricket desk by one of the more practiced con artists on our exec. She was just about to dutifully write down her email address when she looked up with a confused expression. As if she’d just woken up from her last lecture, she asked, “Can you explain, what is cricket? I’m from Spain, and I have never heard of it before.â€
Quite how she made it as far as the desk, I’ll never know. Nor will I know how I could possibly have given her an answer that was sufficiently brief yet appealing. Understandably, my bumbled attempts didn’t persuade her to attend our Taster session. Suggestions, anyone?
4 Comments »Taunton the home of women’s cricket
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of August, 5 Comments »
Taunton was announced today as the new home of women’s cricket in England. I’m a newcomer to the women’s game and, while it (and my knowledge of it) is still in its infancy, watching a one-dayer at Lord’s the other day was a revelation.
There were a fair number of people, all cheering and whooping for the girls. Before play began (it was delayed due to the heavens chucking it down) several players jumped into the Grandstand to sign autographs and were quite literally mobbed. I hadn’t expected that.
So they now have a place to call home. This really should be the foundation the game needs in order to progress. I’m not qualified to comment any more really(!), so instead, read my colleague Jenny Thompson’s piece today, or Charlotte Edwards’s.
5 Comments »Women to play at Lord’s
By Will 3 years ago, at the start of November, 5 Comments »
Via the BBC.
The England women’s team will play a rare match at Lord’s when they take on India in a one-day match next year.
It is the first match at Lord’s in five years for the England team while India will play there for the first time.
“To play at Lord’s is every cricketer’s dream,” said England’s Caroline Atkins. “We are delighted,” said women’s cricket supremo Gill McConway.
“It has been India’s dream to play at the home of cricket and I feel the timing has never been better.”
Last month, MCC president Robin Marlar sparked controversy in the women’s game days after succeeding Tom Graveney.
Marlar told The Telegraph it was “absolutely outrageous” women were allowed to play mixed cricket in case they got injured. (see reaction to this here)
Also, see Jenny Thompson’s interview with Charlotte Edwards.
5 Comments »Women’s Ashes series launched. On the London Eye
By Will 3 years ago, mid-July, 3 Comments »
The England women’s cricket team launched their summer series - an Ashes series - with a game cricket in the London Eye. One of the more extraordinary cricket photos you’re likely to see (aside from a September scoreboard which says England 4-0 Australia of course), as they launched their series several hundred feet in the air.
The women’s cricket series starts on August 9 - fixture list below obtained from the ECB:
England Women’s fixtures v Australia:
* Tuesday August 9: 1st Test match, Hove
* Monday August 15: 1st ODI, Cheltenham
* Friday August 19: 2nd ODI, Kidderminster
* Sunday August 21: 3rd ODI, Stratford
* Wednesday August 24: 2nd Test match, Worcester
* Tuesday August 30: 4th ODI, Taunton
* Thursday September 1: 5th ODI, Taunton
* Friday September 2: International Twenty20, Taunton
