Lisa Sthalekar: It Is Time For Women's Cricket

Is it time to bring back women’s test cricket? Lisa Sthalekar thinks it is time. And with the induction of the first-ever day-night test happening in September 2021, Sthalekar believes that the test games can be propelled forward for the women’s game through the multi-format series.

The day-night test is set to happen at the WACA in Perth when the Indian cricket women’s team tours Australia. The game will include three one-day internationals and Twenty20 internationals. So, if you are a betting fanatic, it might be wise to look into your betting sites‘ best cricket women’s team. Here’s why?

In 2020, the T20 World Cup in Australia gained more interest and viewership, which meant that a new stake in women’s cricket was gaining momentum. Besides, Lisa Sthalekar, the former Australia all-rounder, was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2020. This means she must have merit when she stresses that:

The Indian Team’s Game Will Be A Historic Moment

Indian cricket has yet to play in a pink ball test game. Therefore, taking part in the match against Australia will be a moment of history for the team. Additionally, England is set to have a series with the Indian team in their conditions.

This means that Indians will already be exposed to playing against England before the test game in September ensues. But the more significant historic moment for this game is that the series format will become accessible to female cricket players from three countries.

As such, this game can open avenues for other female teams to experience test cricket.

Perpetual Trophies Pave A Way Forward

If and when Mel Jones introduces the perpetual trophy for the Australia and Indian women’s matches, it would mean that the test series would become consistent fixtures between different countries.

Therefore, while they will become a sign of past wins and an acknowledgment of the game’s pioneers, the trophies will equally represent a promise of future test games for women’s cricket.

Test Cricket Will Enhance The Women’s Cricket Reach

The three formats already gain good context from the multi-format series and the Women’s Ashes. Besides, these are good initiatives to bring back Test Cricket for the women’s teams. And because women’s cricket games are currently popular, this is the best time to strike.

A Woman’s Indian Premier League (IPL) Could Be A Reality

Lisa Sthalekar, broadcasters, and other current players believe that in the next IPL a women’s IPL will occur. This could be possible because of the internationals that are joining the massive domestic talent in India. Besides, Indian fans crave more from their women’s cricket players.

The Indian Team Doesn’t Need To Win A World Title First

It doesn’t need to take the Indian women’s team to win a world title for the Women’s IPL to surface. Other countries’ investment into the women’s game is already inspiring other countries to start ahead of others into the women’s IPL. Therefore, unless the national boards offer the same investment and opportunities, these additional countries will not win a T20 World Cup.

Women’s Cricket Needs Marketing And Promoting

To make the women’s cricket team as popular as the women’s tennis, there needs to be more promotion and marketing. But, as proven by the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia, such initiatives can give the women’s cricket team its platform, which, in turn, will provide brands and people willing to watch the sport.

Conclusion

According to Lisa Sthalekar, having limited opportunities to play in the most complicated format denies players the chance to see how good they can be in a game. But with the renewed hope for better opportunities for women’s cricket, she hopes that players like Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Woolvardit, Shafali Verma, Amelia Kerr, and Smriti Mandhana will have better opportunities to take women’s cricket to a different level in the future.