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[VIDEOS] Women’s Cricket Discussion

Australia Women have won the toss and have opted to bat

Teams:

India Women (Playing XI): Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia, Sneh Rana, Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur Singh

Australia Women (Playing XI): Alyssa Healy(w), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning(c), Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris, Georgia Wareham, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown

Harmanpreet Kaur: Pooja is unwell, so Sneh is replacing her. One more change is there. In place of Raja (Rajeshwari Gayakwad) Radha (Yadav) is in. I had a fever, but now I'm fine. One thing that we have been discussing throughout the tournament that we have to bat well that's why we added one more batter. One more change: Yastika comes in for Devika.

Meg Lanning: We are gonna have a bat. Looks a pretty good wicket, conditions are really good so get out there and have some fun. Jess Jonassen comes in for Alana King and Alyssa Healy (fully fit and good to go) is back for Annabel Sutherland. It's a different wicket, looks like it is playing pretty well, as usual we get out here and see what it is doing and adjust accordingly.
 
It is going to be mighty tough for Women's IPL to keep people interested if this is the standard of cricket. They are already at a disadvantage when it comes to power hitting. If they cannot catch at that level, people will lose interest very quickly.

Australian women talent is head and shoulders above Indian women and it is very obvious.
 
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Champ_Pal said:
India are no match to Australia. The class and talent difference is obvious to be seen. Its like Australian men's team playing against Ireland.
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Australia are indeed the best and gap is vast. Glad you are supporting India women's team.
 
JattMaula said:
Australia are indeed the best and gap is vast. Glad you are supporting India women's team.
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Indeed I am supporting them. But I do not see much future for women's cricket if Indian women do not follow or support women's cricket.

As I am typing this, Jemimah gone. Huge blow.
 
Champ_Pal said:
Indeed I am supporting them. But I do not see much future for women's cricket if Indian women do not follow or support women's cricket.

As I am typing this, Jemimah gone. Huge blow.
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Indian men AND women will support women's cricket. Don't worry about naysayers, keep supporting them.

Sun will come out tomorrow and it will be glorious.

:sa
 
That was a massive choke job from India. Indian women had the match in the bag until Kaur was runout unfortunately.

Australian women fielding was unbelievable. Indian women fielding was terrible.
 
Champ_Pal said:
That was a massive choke job from India. Indian women had the match in the bag until Kaur was runout unfortunately.

Australian women fielding was unbelievable. Indian women fielding was terrible.
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Yup. That bat grounding technique was atrocious.
 
Smriti flops every single time against Aussies in KO, painful loss this one.
 
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AUSW 172/4 (20)

INDW 167/8 (20)

Australia Women won by 5 runs
 
My mother is quite furious with our fielding, running between the wickets and over-all fitness. Never I have seen her this opinionated about cricket. :)
 
Kaur run out was the turning point

Heartbreak 💔 for Indian fans

Why they always lose against Australia from winning position 🤔
 
Australia are through to the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup after beating India in a thriller at Newlands.

A first-innings total of 172/4 proved just marginally out of India’s reach, despite a terrific middle-order effort that took the game right down to the final few deliveries.

Perhaps the big turning point in the match came when India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur suffered a freak run-out when her bat stuck in the ground as she looked to run it in.

And with the captain back in the dugout, the need for quick runs at the death proved slightly too much for India to manage as they fell agonisingly short.

The start of the reply saw runs flow, but Megan Schutt had Shafali Verma trapped lbw for 9 and Ash Gardner removed Smriti Mandhana for 2 to put the Aussies well on top. And a run-out of Yastika Bhatia strengthened Australia's grip on the game.

India’s decision to play an extra batter saw Harmanpreet Kaur join Jemimah Rodrigues out in the middle at number five, and the pair set about launching a counter-attack.

The 59 runs that India amassed in the Powerplay is the most an Australia attack have conceded in the first six overs of a match since the last Women’s T20 World Cup back in 2020.

And Kaur and Rodrigues put on 69 runs in an electric partnership that put India ahead of the rate before Rodrigues flicked a bouncer through to the keeper to depart for 43 from 24 balls.

The brilliant Kaur brought up her fifty in style, but disaster struck moments later, when she was run out in bizarre fashion for 52 just when it looked like India were favourites to go on and win the game.

And with Kaur removed, there was just too much work to do for the lower order, as Australia finished strongly to win by five runs.

Beth Mooney top-scored as Australia’s batters built a total of 172/4 against India in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final.
Earlier, it was Australia who won the toss and opted to bat first against India at Newlands, and the good news for India was that Kaur was out in the middle for the toss after rumours that she was feeling too unwell to play.

The sickness bug did mean that India were missing Pooja Vastrakar, with Sneh Rana brought straight into the team in her place, while there was an interesting tweak to the balance as they opted to add another top-order batting option in Yastika Bhatia.

Australia also shuffled their pack, bringing Alyssa Healy back after injury and opting to replace Alana King with the left-arm option of Jess Jonassen.

And the returning Healy stroked the first ball of the innings for four to spark a solid opening partnership that made it through the Powerplay unscathed and built a 52-run stand.

India finally made the breakthrough, with Radha Yadav tempting Healy down the wicket and Richa Ghosh pulling off the stumping, with Healy departing for 25.

And Beth Mooney reached her half-century before falling just moments later, caught by Shafali Verma who had dropped the opener earlier in the innings.

A fine half-century for Beth Mooney to lay the platform for Australia's middle order against India.
At 92/2 in the 13th over, Australia would have been confident of pushing on to a big score. And Ash Gardner’s quickfire 31 from 18 certainly didn’t hurt those aspirations.

But Deepti Sharma cleaned up Gardner and Shikha Pandey removed the dangerous Grace Harris for 7 as India kept things tight going into the final over.

A late flurry saw Meg Lanning finish unbeaten on 49* with new batter Ellyse Perry not out on 2* as Australia reached 172/4 – a strong but not insurmountable total for India’s talented batting line-up.

ICC
 
be it men's or women's team, India can never win against Australia in the ICC knock out matches.
 
From the position of winning convincingly to losing in a heart breaking manner. one casual running was all needed
 
pillionrider said:
The T20 WC game at Mohali in 2015 or 2016 was a knockout. Kohli played one of the greatest T20 knocks ever and singlehandedly put India in the semifinal :apology
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I know. I don't even judge players for one match. But wearing no 18 is like waving red cloth infront of me. :afridi
 
India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur has received the support from other legends of the game after her freak run-out against Australia at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

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Kaur had just reached a brilliant half-century to put her team in with a great chance of chasing down their 173-run target to beat defending champions Australia and reach the final.

But disaster struck when her bat became lodged in the wicket as she attempted to slide it home, leaving her short of her ground as Alyssa Healy whipped off the bails.

“Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues looked like taking the game away, but the Aussies fought back brilliantly & in the end India have fallen short,” said VVS Laxman on Twitter, adding:

“Harmanpreet’s run-out was the turning point.”

And former Indian opener Virender Sehwag was not the only one to spot the parallels between a famous dismissal of another Indian captain in a huge match.

“Match winner at the crease and run out in a semi-final… we have had this heartbreak before,” he said.

Speaking after the game, a visibly upset Kaur spoke of her huge disappointment of failing to win a game that had seemed in India’s grasp.

"Can't feel unluckier than this. We got the momentum back… to lose from there, we weren't expecting this.

“The way I got run out, can't be unluckier than that. Putting the effort was important and we were happy to go to the last ball. We wanted to fight until the last ball.

"Today we wanted to chase too, so that was fine when they chose to bat. Even after losing first two wickets, we knew we had a good batting line-up. I should give credit to Jemimah (Rodrigues), she gave us the momentum.”

And Kaur's team received praise from the Secretary of the BCCI for their "true warrior" display.

India's misfortune means that it will be Australia who play in Sunday's final, with either England or South Africa to join them from Friday's fascinating second semi-final at Newlands.

ICC
 
South African women playing brilliantly so far. Set for a big score. England could be in trouble.
 
RSAW 164/4 (20)

ENGW 158/8 (20)

South Africa Women won by 6 runs

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South Africa won in a dramatic final over to break England’s hearts in the second semi-final at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.

A thrilling match saw South Africa successfully defend a very competitive 164/4, reached thanks to half-centuries from openers Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt.

The momentum swung back and forth during England’s chase, with England’s openers getting off to a lightning start, Brits clinging on to four catches to remove each of England’s top four, and Ayabonga Khaka taking three wickets in a match-changing over.

And it all came down to Shabnim Ismail’s final over, with England requiring 13 runs to win and falling six runs short.

The result means that South Africa are through to their first-ever World Cup final in any format.

England’s openers got the reply off to a stunning start, putting together a 53-run partnership inside the Powerplay to bring down the required scoring rate.

The explosive Sophia Dunkley fell at the start of the sixth over, mistiming a big shot off Shabnim Ismail into the hands of Brits to depart for 28 from 16.

And Brits pulled off a sensational catch two balls later to remove Alice Capsey without scoring.

England dug in as the pressure began to build, with key batter Nat Sciver-Brunt holding the key.

Yet there was another twist when Brits produced her third catch of the innings to remove Danni Wyatt for 34. And just when it looked like Nat Sciver-Brunt was steering England to a winning position, Brits popped up in the deep to remove the tournament’s top-scorer for a 34-ball 40.

England needed a big finish, but Khaka had other ideas, bowling a brilliant 18th over and taking three wickets to remove Amy Jones (2), Sophie Ecclestone (1) and Katherine Sciver-Brunt (0) to leave 25 needed from the last two overs.

And that triple-strike left England short of firepower as they were unable to chase down 13 in Ismail's final over to bow out of the tournament.

Tournament hosts South Africa amassed 164/4 against England in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 semi-final.
Earlier it was Proteas captain Sune Luus who won the toss and opted to bat first, and her openers got off to a steady start in the Powerplay.

The pace of scoring wasn’t particularly high, but South Africa kept wickets in hand and laid a platform as Wolvaardt and Brits reached 37/0 after six overs.

The rate of scoring increased as the openers continued to build a platform, with Wolvaardt the more fluent of the two.

But with England having hit a record score at the same ground just days ago, albeit against a weaker bowling unit, the onus was on South Africa to attack in the second half of their innings.

A flowing boundary from Wolvaardt brought up her second half-century in as many matches. But she fell just three balls later, caught by Charlie Dean off Sophie Ecclestone for 53 from 44 balls.

Fellow opener Brits started slowly, but sped up rapidly in the second half of her innings, racing to 68 off 55 when she was removed by Lauren Bell in the 18th over to dent the Proteas’ progress.

Tazmin Brits made her good form count with a cracking half-century against England in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 semi-final.
South Africa’s power hitters were left with two overs remaining to add gloss to a decent score.

Ecclestone came back well in her final over to remove Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk, finishing with standout figures of 3/22 from her four overs.

But Katherine Sciver-Brunt’s final over went for 18 runs as Marizanne Kapp unleashed big shot after big shot, finishing unbeaten on 27* from 13 balls.

A total of 164/4 was always going to test England, and so it proved, as a vocal home crowd celebrated South Africa’s historic win.

Was fielding the difference?

In both semi-finals, the better fielding team have triumphed.

And England will look back with regret at a sloppy and disjointed effort in the first innings that allowed South Africa add more to their score than perhaps they should have done.

In contrast, South Africa were extraordinary in the field, most notably through Brits, who repeatedly stopped England’s progress at crucial moments with her brilliant catches.

Australia await in the final

Australia triumphed over India in a fascinating first semi-final on Thursday, holding on to win by five runs after posting a large but not unbeatable first-innings score of 172/4.

Ash Gardner was Player of the Match for a superb all-round display. Her fiery lower-order knock helped boost the target, her brilliance in the field played a part in a crucial run-out, and she picked up two wickets with the ball – including opener Smriti Mandhana.

Australia are targeting a sixth Women’s T20 World Cup title, but showed some signs of weakness against India. And the Aussies were on the right side of a fortunate incident when India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was run out in bizarre fashion just when she looked set to take her team to a winning position.

South Africa don't have a particularly strong recent record against Australia in this format, with the Proteas slipping to a six-wicket defeat to the world’s top-ranked side during the group stage.

But momentum is firmly with Luus and her side, and they will be confident of pushing the Aussies all the way.

ICC
 
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Saffer women have done what men couldn’t, congratulations on reaching the finals, we screwed up damn!!
 
Brilliant win for South Africa.

Delighted they beat the rather smug and over-confident England women's team.
 
Australia Women vs South Africa Women, Final

Australia Women have won the toss and have opted to bat

Teams:
South Africa Women (Playing XI): Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sune Luus(c), Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta(w), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba

Australia Women (Playing XI): Alyssa Healy(w), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning(c), Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown

Luus: Would've had a bat as well. Don't think the surface will change too much. Same team. It's been unreal. With the quick turnaround, we haven't been able to enjoy too much. They will obviously come hard. We're just going to stay calm and do our basics. Luckily they will be behind us all the way (the crowd).

Lanning: Going to have a bat. It's a good wicket, will stay the same throughout the day. Going with the same team. Feel that we got all the bases covered. It's not something I've given a lot of thought (Australia's record). Leading the team into another final is super exciting. It's what happens today is important. Need to be ready for the challenge, and I have no doubt we are.
 
Beth Mooney running away with the game. 150 is a challenging total in Women's game in finals.
 
Australia win it again. They've won 6 out of the 8 T20 World Cups so far. Insane respect to this team. There's so many things you can write about them but what I notice is the intensity in their effort. Like most teams they do occasionally slip up but the number of times they do is invariably lesser than most teams.

Their attitude can be summed by Alyssa Healy's comment on Harmanpreet's run out. While some of the Indians were trying to sympathize with Kaur - Alyssa spoke the much the needed truth.

"You could say you're unlucky (about Kaur referencing her run out) all your life, but it's generally about effort".
 
Australia sealed their sixth ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title with a clinical 19-run victory over hosts South Africa at Newlands.

Beth Mooney’s 74 not out anchored Australia's innings with a series of impressive shots, but the holders will have felt their 156 for six was below par in Cape Town.

South Africa struggled to get going in response, the pressure of the home crowd perhaps weighing on them, before a 55-run partnership between Laura Wolvaardt and Chloe Tryon gave them hope.

But it was not to be as serial winners Australia discovered their ruthless streak again to close out another World Cup final.

Having chosen to bat, Australia made a steady start even as a sold-out Newlands roared on each dot ball.

Alyssa Healy survived a review for LBW off the final ball of Shabnim Ismail’s first over but she could not withstand the pace and height of a Marizanne Kapp delivery, departing for 18 having sent a comfortable catch to Nadine de Klerk on the edge of the inner circle.

Ismail made the wicket count double as she bowled a maiden over to Mooney, but Ashleigh Gardner found her groove having being promoted up the order, hitting back-to-back fours off Nonkululeko Mlaba, before smashing two sixes in a row from two De Klerk deliveries.

By the halfway mark, Australia had reached 73 for one and it was up to Kapp to stop the scoring, not conceding a boundary in the 11th over.

Gardner departed an over later, attempting to go down the ground but instead finding Sune Luus, who ran round to take a fine diving catch on the boundary.

Australia continued however, as, even with Grace Harris at the other end, Mooney took on the power hitting, scoring back-to-back boundaries with innovative shot placement.

Harris got her customary boundary before she was bowled attempting a swipe at a delivery that kept low from Mlaba to leave Australia in the balance at 103 for three after 14.1 overs.

Lanning then departed for 10 as Tryon was the next to take a fantastic diving catch on the boundary, but Mooney released the pressure three balls later as she brought up her fifty with a four, becoming the first woman to hit two half-centuries in T20 World Cup finals, having also done so in 2020.

Smart running and regular boundaries helped Australia past 150 but Ismail restricted them to not much more than that, dismissing Ellyse Perry for seven before getting Georgia Wareham the very next ball.

Tahlia McGrath dealt with the hat-trick ball to end Australia’s innings with a single to set South Africa 157 to win.

Where heroes were needed for South Africa, only hesitancy was found, with Brits the first to go for 10 from 17 thanks to McGrath’s steady pair of hands.

Wolvaardt showed a sign of things to come as she hit Jess Jonassen for a six but Australia reeled them back in as Kapp mistimed an attempted big shot off Gardner to go for a run-a-ball 11.

With 10 overs gone, South Africa had made 52 for two and matters were about to get worse as Luus ran herself out with poor calling.

Big hitter Tryon emerged into the middle and she made a world of difference as she and Wolvaardt soon returned to the cauldron of Newlands noise it had been earlier in the day.

A wayward over from McGrath went for 14 before Wareham was pumped for 15 with Wolvaardt then bring up her fifty with a beautiful shot, reaching the milestone of 43 balls.

Gardner calmed Australia down, conceding only six runs, as Megan Schutt then delivered the sucker-punch, dismissing Wolvaardt LBW, the opener trudging back to the dugout having given South Africa hope with her 61 from 48.

Two wickets in three balls crushed South Africa’s chances as Tryon was bowled by Jess Jonassen for 25 before Anneke Bosch was run out for one.

With 26 needed off the final over, the crowd quietened as smart bowling from Player of the Tournament Gardner sealed a third T20 World Cup title in a row.

Newlands rose to cheer Australia as they celebrated adding another trophy to their cabinet and another reason to be considered the greatest team in the history of women’s cricket.

Australia beat South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town by 19 runs

Australia 156/6 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 74 not out, Garnder 29; Shabnim Ismail 2/26, Marizanne Kapp 2/35)

South Africa 137/6 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 61, Chloe Tryon 25; Ashleigh Gardner 1/20, Jess Jonassen 1/21)

Player of the Match: Beth Mooney (Australia)
 
SA succumbed rather meekly in the finals. England would have given Australia a better fight. SA just played out of their minds in their SF win against England. It was a one off victory for them.
 
Four Australians have been selected in the Upstox Most Valuable Team of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.

Player of the Tournament Ashleigh Gardner is joined by Alyssa Healy, Darcie Brown and Megan Schutt while England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt has been selected as captain.

The team was chosen by a panel of experts including commentators Ian Bishop, Melanie Jones and Ebony Rainford-Brent, journalist Firdose Moonda, with ICC Women’s Cricket Manager Snehal Pradhan acting as convenor. A fan vote run on icc-cricket.com also contributed towards the selection.

The Upstox Most Valuable Team of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 (in batting order) is:

Tazmin Brits (South Africa) 186 runs at 37.20
Alyssa Healy (wk) (Australia) 189 runs at 47.25 and four dismissals
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) 230 runs at 46.00
Nat Sciver-Brunt (c) (England) 216 runs at 72.00
Ashleigh Gardner (Australia) 110 runs at 36.66 and 10 wickets at 12.50
Richa Ghosh (India) 136 runs at 68.00
Sophie Ecclestone (England) 11 wickets at 7.54
Karishma Ramharack (West Indies) 5 wickets at 10.00
Shabnim Ismail (South Africa) 8 wickets at 16.12
Darcie Brown (Australia) 7 wickets at 15.00
Megan Schutt (Australia) 10 wickets at 12.50
12th player: Orla Prendergast (Ireland) 109 runs at 27.25 and 3 wickets at 26.00

Tazmin Brits has been chosen as an opener after smashing back-to-back fifties to guide South Africa to the final, making 186 runs across the tournament.

Brits was named Player of the Match in the semi-final as she hit 68 runs from 55 balls before taking four catches in a star performance.

Wicketkeeper-batter Healy has followed up being named Player of the Tournament at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 with selection as Brits’ opening partner.

The right-hander struck 189 runs during Australia’s victorious campaign, at an average of 47.25, and hit two fifties against New Zealand and Sri Lanka respectively.

She has also been handed the gloves after taking one catch and three stumpings across the tournament.

South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt is in at number three having made the most runs in the tournament with 230, including 61 in the final.

She scored 22 fours and a tournament-high five sixes as she passed fifty three times during the World Cup.

Sciver-Brunt is one of two England players named in the XI after winning player of the match three times having made 216 runs, the second-highest in the tournament.

The all-rounder crunched a tournament-high 28 fours and ended with an average of 72.00, the best in the competition, also taking one wicket.

Gardner is also selected among the all-rounders after making 110 runs and taking 10 wickets across the tournament, to sit joint-second in the table.

The off-spinner posted the best figures of the tournament, and of any Australian in T20Is, as she took five for 12 in Australia's opener against New Zealand.

India’s Richa Ghosh has been selected in the middle order - the right-hander did not have an average for the first three games of the tournament ending not out three times, her best score coming against England with an unbeaten 47.

A useful deputy to Healy with the gloves, Ghosh took five catches and two stumpings to help her side reach the semi-finals.

For the second ICC tournament in a row, Sophie Ecclestone ended as the highest wicket-taker with the slow left-armer claiming 11 scalps.

She took at least one wicket in every game, her best figures coming against Ireland where she took three for 13.

The only representative from the West Indies, Karishma Ramharack has been selected for her impressive average of just 10.00.

The off-spinner took five wickets across three games with her best performance of two for 14 against India in the Windies’s opener.

Shabnim Ismail is the final South African in the line-up after the seam bowler took eight wickets.

Ismail delivered the fastest ball in the tournament during the semi-final, also bowling three maidens, with no other bowler producing more than one.

The final two spots go to Australia’s pace duo Darcie Brown and Megan Schutt.

Brown took seven wickets across the tournament, ending with an economy of just five as she bowled a tournament-high 78 dot balls.

Her more senior partner Schutt was not to be outdone, taking 10 wickets at an average of 12.50, taking four for 24 against Sri Lanka.

Young star Orla Prendergast has been selected as the 12th player after a breakout World Cup for Ireland, making 109 runs including 61 against the West Indies.

With the ball, Prendergast also took three wickets and looked impressive in the field as she put in a true all-round performance.

ICC
 
The automatic qualifiers for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 have been identified after the end of the eighth edition of the tournament that saw Australia win their sixth title at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday.

As per the qualification process, the top three teams from each group earn direct qualification along with the hosts and the highest ranked team outside of the six direct qualifiers from the 10-team tournament.

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are the teams to earn direct qualification as the top three teams of Group 1 in the league stage while England, India and the West Indies similarly make it from Group 2.

Bangladesh qualify as hosts of the ninth edition of the tournament while Pakistan make it by virtue of being the next highest ranked team in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings as of 27 February 2023.

The remaining two spots will be identified through a Global Qualifier to be held in early 2024. The dates and venues of this tournament will be announced in due course.

From the teams who played in this year’s tournament, Sri Lanka and Ireland are the teams failing to get direct qualification. Sri Lanka are currently ranked eighth in the rankings while Ireland are 10th.
 
Legendary South Africa fast bowler Shabnim Ismail announced her retirement from international cricket with immediate effect.

Ismail cited "wanting to spend more time with my family" as one of the reasons to move on from international cricket and play T20 domestic cricket around the world.

"After 16 years proudly representing my country, I have come to the difficult decision to retire from international cricket and move on to the next chapter of my life," Ismail said in her statement.

“As any athlete knows, training and competing at your best requires much sacrifice and dedication, and I now find myself wanting to spend more time with my family, particularly my siblings and parents as they get older.

Ismail's final game for South Africa came in the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup against Australia. The speedster picked up eight wickets at an average of 16.12 in South Africa's maiden appearance in the final of a World Cup event.

“As I look back on my international career, I am so grateful for all the opportunities and experiences I have had," Ismail said.

"I have loved being able to compete at the highest level and I am so proud of being able to be part of a wonderful group of players who have led the way for women in cricket. The memories I have will stay with me forever."

Ismail, 34, played 127 ODIs, 113 T20Is and a solitary Test for South Africa in an international career spanning 16 years.

Hailed as the fastest bowler in the women's game, the South African collected 317 international wickets. Ismail also grabbed the joint-most Women’s ODI wickets taken in a single calendar year, taking 37 wickets in 2022. This included 14 wickets in the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.

Ismail played in fifty-over World Cups starting from the one in 2009 and also featured in eight Women’s T20 World Cups.

“This is a poignant but celebratory moment for South African cricket and the global game as a whole, as we celebrate and honour an incredible cricketer in Shabnim Ismail," Enoch Nkwe, Cricket South Africa Director of Cricket, said.

“Shabnim has transcended women’s cricket as a fierce competitor with the ability of making any batter uncomfortable at the crease with her rapid pace that regularly surpassed 120kph throughout her career.

“She will be sorely missed by the team and all South African cricket fans as she continues to inspire the next generation of cricketers during her remaining domestic career in all parts of the globe.

ICC
 
Katherine Sciver-Brunt has announced her retirement from international cricket. The right-arm seamer, who made her England debut in 2004, has played 267 times for her country, taking 335 wickets across all formats.

In that time Sciver-Brunt has won three World Cups and four Ashes series and topped the wicket-taking charts for England Women in both IT20 and ODI cricket.

Sciver-Brunt said: “Well here I am, 19 years later, at the end of my international journey. I thought I’d never be able to reach this decision but I have and it’s been the hardest one of my life.

"I never had any dreams or aspirations to do what I’ve done, I only ever wished to make my family proud of me. And what I’ve achieved has gone way beyond that.

"I have so much to be thankful for, cricket has given me a purpose, a sense of belonging, security, many golden memories and best friends that will last a lifetime. Of the trophies and titles I could have wished to achieve, I have reached them all, but my greatest achievement is the happiness that I have found in Nat.

"It has been a huge honour representing England for so long and I’d like to thank all of the England cricket family past and present for making my time a special one. The supporters - you are awesome, without you we wouldn’t be able to do what it is that we love and the atmosphere you guys create is irreplaceable.

"The biggest thanks I have though goes to my family, they are my biggest fans and greatest support without which I wouldn’t have made this journey at all."

Deputy Chief Executive Officer and England Women’s Managing Director Clare Connor, also Sciver-Brunt’s first England captain, said: “Katherine has done so much for the game of cricket and for women’s cricket in particular. She has been an unbelievable role-model, giving us everything she has for nearly 20 years.

“When cricketers retire, we rightly celebrate their skill, their runs and wickets, their records and accolades. But what Katherine has given the game of cricket extends far beyond those things. Her most powerful impact has been through her human qualities – through her passion to take our sport forward, her care for her teammates, her desire to always come back better and stronger despite significant injury setbacks. Through the time she has spent with fans, signing autographs, having her photograph taken with so many girls and boys who have been inspired by her. Many of those children will have watched Katherine play over the years and will have been inspired to start playing themselves. That’s an incredibly powerful legacy of which she should be so proud.

“Katherine began her career in a completely different era from the one we are in now and we owe her a debt of gratitude for the part she has played in progressing our game, raising standards and bringing a new audience to women’s cricket.

“She is quite simply a legend of our sport and I’d like to extend my thanks and the thanks of everyone at the ECB and across the game to her. We wish her all the best as she steps away from a remarkable international cricket career.”

Sciver-Brunt had already announced her retirement from regional cricket, but she will continue to play in The Hundred.
 
Australia 473 & 257 (78.5 overs): Mooney 85; Ecclestone 5-63
England 463 & 178 (49 overs): Wyatt 54; Gardner 8-66
Australia won by 89 runs

Australia beat England by 89 runs to win the one-off Ashes Test match and take a 4-0 points lead in the multi-format series.

Spinner Ash Gardner starred with 8-66 as England were bowled out for 178 before lunch on day five at Trent Bridge.

Gardner's effort gave her an astonishing 12 wickets in the match after her four in England's first innings.

Danni Wyatt top-scored with 54 before she was given out lbw to Gardner for Australia to wrap up the victory inside 21 overs on the final day.

England resumed on 116-5 after a late collapse on day four left them requiring another 152 to win.

Wyatt and nightwatcher Kate Cross added 25 for the sixth wicket before the latter was caught behind for 13 off Gardner, who took all five remaining wickets.

England then slumped from 151-6 to 178 all out as Wyatt struggled for support from England's lower order.

Amy Jones made just four before she was stumped by Alyssa Healy after a fumble, Sophie Ecclestone was pinned lbw for 10 and Lauren Filer was bowled for a duck.

Defeat felt cruel on Tammy Beaumont, who scored 208 in England's first innings, and Ecclestone, who also took a 10-wicket haul in the match but was ultimately eclipsed by Gardner.

The series continues with three T20s and three one-day internationals, all worth two points each, starting at Edgbaston on Saturday 1 July.

Gardner the difference despite Wyatt's resistance
Wyatt, unbeaten on 20 overnight, was going to be key to England's hopes with her naturally aggressive style of play, and she stuck to her task efficiently by reaching her half-century from 78 balls.

But Gardner toiled away unchanged in an incredible effort of consistency with the day five pitch offering some uneven bounce and turn.

The all-rounder's match figures of 12-165 are the second-best of all-time in women's Test cricket, after Shaiza Khan's 13-226 for Pakistan against West Indies in 2004.

England promised an attacking brand of cricket and over four days, proved that they could unsettle Australia, but in a tough morning session, it was the world champions who held their nerve under the pressure.

The hosts' have much to be proud of - and justified the decision to play the Test over five days - but now have a very difficult task in overturning Australia's four-point lead.

Australia are world champions in both white-ball formats, their dominance particularly evident in ODIs where they have lost just one match from their last 42.

England captain Heather Knight, speaking to BBC Test Match Special: "Obviously we feel disappointment but a lot of pride about how we approached it by playing entertaining cricket.

"A couple of evening sessions on day three and four cost us. But I'm proud of the way the girls fought throughout. Should we have won it? I don't know. We made it tough for ourselves on Sunday night."

Player of the match, Australia's Ashleigh Gardner at post-match presentation: "I wouldn't have dreamed of it to be honest but it showed having five days in a Test to actually get a result is super important.

"There are still six matches to go and still a lot that can happen in this Ashes series."

Former England spinner Alex Hartley on TMS: "Australia are such a strong side, they've come out on top and ridden the pressure much better than England. For me, England should have won that Test match.

"If Heather Knight is saying we need to fight, then it shows you how positive we are. I don't think England will win the Ashes, but I am feeling more positive."

BBC
 
Mark Coles steps down as women’s team head coach

Lahore, 10 August 2023:

Mark Coles, the head coach of Pakistan women’s team has resigned due to personal reasons. He will not be available with the women’s side for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa, which is set to start from 1 September in Karachi.

Coles, who had previously served as head coach of the women’s team from 2017 to 2019, was appointed this year in April.

The PCB would like to extend its gratitude to Mark Coles for his brief stint with the women's side and wishes him well in his future endeavors.

The replacement of Mark Coles will be announced in due course.
 
2025 is guaranteed and I believe the players and management will be able to ensure that we balance the opportunity and the success of the tour at the end of the day,” he noted.

CSA Director of Cricket, Enoch Nkwe commented:

“It fills me with immense pride to witness the historic moment of the Proteas Women embarking on their maiden tour to Pakistan. This marks a significant step forward and I express my heartiest wishes to our talented players as they go on this momentous journey and the first tour of the 2023/24 season. To our players and coaching staff, go forth and make further history. The South African cricketing fraternity stands united in support of your endeavours.

“I would like to take this opportunity to share my heartfelt gratitude to Hilton Moreeng for his unwavering commitment and exceptional service to the Proteas Women's team since 2012. Hilton's contributions have been instrumental in shaping the team's success, and his leadership has been invaluable. We extend our best wishes to Hilton for the remainder of his current contract, and I am confident that he will continue to steer the team towards greater heights,”

"On behalf of CSA and the team, I am also eager to declare my sincere appreciation to Suné Luus for her outstanding leadership and remarkable achievements during her time as interim captain. We have full confidence that she will continue to be a guiding force both on and off the field, offering valuable support to the incoming captain," he further stated.
 
Interim captain Sune Luus will no longer lead the side as South Africa name a 15-member squad for their white-ball tour of Pakistan, starting September 1.

Luus led the side during South Africa's brilliant run to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 Final on home soil, where the Proteas lost to Australia.

South Africa will announce a new captain soon ahead of the Pakistan tour which will consist of three T20Is and three ODIs. The ODIs will be a part of the ICC Women's Championship 2022-25 cycle.

The squad bears a similar resemblance, with 12 of the 15 players who were a part of their memorable T20 World Cup campaign retained.
 
[1:47 PM, 8/24/2023] Amir Husain Pakpassion: JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Wolvaardt as the interim Proteas Women captain. The talented top-order batter will lead the team for the upcoming tours against Pakistan and New Zealand.


Wolvaardt’s appointment comes in the wake of Suné Luus recently relinquishing her role as interim captain, and the unavailability of Chloe Tryon, the vice-captain, for the Pakistan series.


By agreement with Wolvaardt, the position will be reviewed following the conclusion of the New Zealand inbound tour.


The 24-year-old, who was born under the picturesque view of Table Mountain in Cape Town, made her international debut at the young age of 16 in an ODI encounter against England in February 2016 in Benoni.


In her more than seven years as a consistent member of the national team, the stroke player has rocketed to third on the all-time ODI runs scorer’s list for the Proteas Women, amassing 3 193 runs at an average of 45.61 including 29 fifties and three centuries in 80 matches.


In T20I cricket, the former Six Gun Grill Western Province product and current Fidelity Titans star has grown into her game in the 53 appearances for her nation. Wolvaardt has racked up 1 079 runs and seven half-centuries along with a career-best score of 66* against Bangladesh to help guide the Proteas to an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final in February this year.


Emerging as a rising sensation during a period of triumph for the Proteas Women, Wolvaardt has garnered international acclaim. Her journey has led her to represent various franchises in T20 competitions around the globe, featuring in leagues such as the Women’s Big Bash League, The Hundred, and the Women’s Premier League in India.


Commenting on being appointed as interim captain for the Pakistan and New Zealand tours, Wolvaardt said:


“It’s a massive honour to be offered this position as captain for the next two tours. It’s something that I have always aspired to do, having played in this team for a couple of years. Having more of a leadership role is something I’ve wanted to take on. It’ll help me as a cricketer and learning to think as a captain on the field will hopefully help my batting as well.


“I’m very excited to be able to contribute in another way too, and not just in batting. It still feels surreal at the moment but it will all become more real when I meet up with the team in Pakistan.


“What I can bring to the role is the experience that I have in the side. I’ve been playing international cricket since I was 16 years old, I know quite a lot of players in the circuit and I’ve been playing in the leagues as well, so I’ve played a lot of cricket in recent years and hopefully, I’m able to use that experience and the knowledge to my advantage when I captain the team.


“I’d like to also think of myself as quite calm and level-headed and that’s probably more of the approach that I try to take on the field as a captain.


“It is very new to me but I am keen to learn and do everything that I can to do well in the position. I am lucky that I have a couple of senior players within the squad around me as well, who would be able to help me and guide me if I do need help along the way,” Wolvaardt added.


CSA Director of Cricket, Enoch Nkwe said:


"Congratulations to Laura on her appointment as the captain of the Proteas Women's team for the upcoming tours. Laura's dedication, leadership acumen, and cricketing prowess have been evident throughout her career. Her ability to stay composed under pressure and her deep understanding of the game make her an ideal candidate to lead the team."


"The captaincy holds a vital role in shaping the team's strategy and morale, especially during tours as important as these to Pakistan and at home against New Zealand. Laura's influence as captain will extend beyond her individual performances as she guides the team toward their goals.


“As the Proteas Women embark on these critical tours, CSA wishes Laura and the entire team the very best. The challenges ahead are immense, but with Laura's leadership and the team's collective efforts, they are well-poised to deliver outstanding performances on the field,” Nkwe concluded.


The Proteas Women are set to kick off their new 2023/24 season with a first-ever tour to Pakistan between 01 - 14 September, with a three-match T20 International (T20I) and a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, with all contests held at the National Stadium in Karachi.


The ODI series will resume South Africa’s ICC Women’s Championship qualification pathway to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, with the Proteas on currently six points with three wins in three.
 
Following talks between the ECB, PCA and England Women’s Player Partnership, the governing body has announced it is increasing match fees for England Women to bring them in line with England Men’s match fees.

The ECB’s announcement will see an immediate increase for the England Women’s players, starting from England’s Vitality IT20 Series against Sri Lanka that begins on Thursday.

England captain and PCA Vice Chair, Heather Knight, said:

“It’s really important that we continue to drive the women’s game forward and it’s fantastic to see equal match fees for England Women and England Men.

“The direction of travel for the women’s game has always been the most important thing, creating a sustainable product that people want to watch and play, and I’m sure this will make cricket an increasingly attractive sport to girls and young women as we continue to grow the game.

“I would also like to thank the PCA and England Women’s Player Partnership for their support in representing the players and the growth of the professional game.”

PCA Chief Executive, Rob Lynch, said:

“The Vitality IT20 Series that begins on Thursday is an historic moment as PCA Vice Chair Heather Knight leads out her country knowing the England Women’s match fees will be aligned with their male colleagues.

“The PCA and the England Women’s Player Partnership (EWPP) are encouraged by the ECB’s commitment to equalising individual match fees across international cricket. This advancement on the road to gender equity has been part of the Association’s ongoing work following the PCA’s Fairer Future paper that was submitted to the governing body in 2021.

“The PCA, EWPP and Team England Player Partnership (TEPP) continue to represent the players in negotiations with the ECB, striving to create equality throughout the professional game.”
 
BDESH (W) vs India (W), 1st Semi-Final
Asian Games Women's Cricket Competition

BAN-W 51
IND-W 52/2
India (W) won by 8 wickets (with 70 balls remaining)
 
Sri Lanka gears up to face India in the Gold medal match in Women’s Cricket competition of Asian Games 2023 And Pakistan can win their first medal tomorrow as the women's cricket team faces Bangladesh in the bronze medal match.

1695569174057.png
 
Amelia Kerr's outstanding innings of 88 contributed significantly to New Zealand Women's total of 253 against South Africa Women.
 
FearlessRoar said:
Amelia Kerr's outstanding innings of 88 contributed significantly to New Zealand Women's total of 253 against South Africa Women.
Click to expand...
Definitely one of my favorite players, amazing leggie too. Could teach Shadab a thing or two about leg spin
 
Australian Captain Meg Lanning retires from international cricket at age of 31

The seven-time World Cup winner and three-time Belinda Clark medallist amassed 8,352 runs from 241 international matches.

An enormously talented top-order batter, Lanning scored 17 centuries across her remarkable international career. Lanning made her international debut on December 30, 2010, in a T20I against New Zealand and became the youngest Australian to score a century when she scored 104 not out against England at the WACA Ground aged 18 years and 288 days. It was just her third match and second ODI.

An inspirational leader, Lanning was already a T20 and ODI World Cup winner (2012 and 2013 respectively) when she was appointed Australian captain at 21 and oversaw a period of unrivalled dominance for the Australian women’s team.

Lanning captained Australia on 182 occasions, more than any other women’s player, and led the team to a historic five World Cup crowns.

The stylish batter was crowned the Belinda Clark medallist three times across a four-year period between 2014 and 2017, highlighting her sustained brilliance and ability to consistently deliver match-winning performances in all formats of the game.

Captaining Australia to one ICC Cricket World Cup (2022), four ICC Women’s T20 World Cup (2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023) titles and a Commonwealth Games gold medal ensures Lanning retires as one of the most decorated captains in the history of cricket.

Furthermore, the Australian women’s team had an 80%-win rate under Lanning’s captaincy and set the world record for consecutive wins in ODI cricket (26) between 2018 and 2021.

The crowning moment of Lanning’s storied international career came in her hometown of Melbourne when she lifted the T20 World Cup in front of 86,174 fans at the MCG on March 8, 2020.

In what turned out to be Lanning’s final match in the green and gold, she led Australia to the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup title in front of a packed crowd at Newlands in Cape Town earlier this year.

Lanning will continue to play in domestic competitions, including the Weber Women’s Big Bash League and the Women’s National Cricket League.

Meg Lanning
Tests: 6 matches, 345 runs @ 31.36 | highest score 93
ODIs: 103 matches, 4,602 runs @ 53.51 | highest score 152*
T20Is: 132 matches, 3,405 runs @ 36.61 | highest score 133*

Speaking on her retirement, Meg Lanning said: “The decision to step away from international cricket was a difficult one to make, but I feel now is the right time for me.

“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to enjoy a 13-year international career, but I know now is the right time for me to move on to something new.

“Team success is why you play the game, I’m proud of what I have been able to achieve and will cherish the moments shared with teammates along the way.

“I'd like to thank my family, my teammates, Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association for their support to allow me to play the game I love at the highest level.

“I also want to say a huge thank you to all the fans who have supported me throughout my international career.”

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said: “On behalf of Australian Cricket, I would like to congratulate Meg on her incredible career as an Australian cricketer and all she has achieved as captain of the Australian women’s cricket team.

“One of the finest cricketers Australia has produced, Meg’s supreme achievements with the bat have been matched by her inspiring leadership.

“As one of the best players in the world over a long period of time, Meg has made an immeasurable impact and led a generation which has helped revolutionise the game.

“Under Meg’s leadership, the Australian women’s cricket team has built a legacy of global dominance and has been at the forefront of growing the game and inspiring the next generation of cricketers all around the world.

“A seven-time World Cup winner and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Meg retires from international cricket having achieved everything there is to achieve and we thank her for the immense contribution she has made.

“We look forward to celebrating Meg’s distinguished international career at an appropriate time.”


Cricket Australia
 
The ICC Board also approved new gender eligibility regulations for the international game following a 9-month consultation process with the sport’s stakeholders. The new policy is based on the following principles (in order of priority), protection of the integrity of the women’s game, safety, fairness and inclusion, and this means any Male to Female participants who have been through any form of male puberty will not be eligible to participate in the international women’s game regardless of any surgery or gender reassignment treatment they may have undertaken.

The review, which was led by the ICC Medical Advisory Committee chaired by Dr Peter Harcourt, relates solely to gender eligibility for international women’s cricket, whilst gender eligibility at domestic level is a matter for each individual Member Board, which may be impacted by local legislation. The regulations will be reviewed within two years.

ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said: “The changes to the gender eligibility regulations resulted from an extensive consultation process and is founded in science and aligned with the core principles developed during the review. Inclusivity is incredibly important to us as a sport, but our priority was to protect the integrity of the international women’s game and the safety of players.”

The Chief Executives’ Committed (CEC) endorsed a plan to accelerate the development of female match officials which includes equalising match day pay for ICC umpires across men’s and women’s cricket and ensuring there is one neutral umpire in every ICC Women’s Championship series from January 2024.

ICC
 
Brisbane Heat spinner Amelia Kerr penalised for retrieving match ball with towel

The Sydney Sixers have kept their WBBL season alive with a tense six-wicket win over the Brisbane Heat, but not without a dose of controversy.

During the tenth over of Tuesday evening’s run chase at Allan Border Field, the Heat copped a five-run penalty after leg-spinner Amelia Kerr caught the match ball while holding a towel.

Sixers all-rounder Ash Gardner slapped a full delivery from the New Zealander towards Heat young gun Georgia Voll at long-on for a regulation single. However, before retrieving the ball at the non-striker’s end, Kerr whipped out a towel to dry her hands.

Umpire Josh Adie noticed that Kerr was holding the towel when she caught the return throw, immediately awarding five penalty runs to the Sixers, as outlined in Law 28.2.

“You can’t do that,” former Zimbabwe bowler Ed Rainsford said in commentary.

Former Australian cricketer Mel Jones continued: “Kerr gives a little bit of an eye roll, but has now learnt not to have the towel in the hand.”




Fox Sports
 
Only Test started at Wankhede Mumbai yesterday & batting 1st AusW were rolled out for 219 in 78 overs . The red soil pitch has smattering of grass [ perhaps to hold the pitch together ] & odd ball was keeping low . Vastrakar was the standout bowler yesterday picking 4 for 53, personally never thought she could be that good in red ball cricket . IndW on back of their crushing win over EngW last week are 193/3 in 52 overs at Lunch day 2 . Surprised that AusW pacers have been unable to make any impact as ball generally swings here early morning & late in the evening . Anyone following this game & if yes , where is it heading ?
 
Human786 said:
Only Test started at Wankhede Mumbai yesterday & batting 1st AusW were rolled out for 219 in 78 overs . The red soil pitch has smattering of grass [ perhaps to hold the pitch together ] & odd ball was keeping low . Vastrakar was the standout bowler yesterday picking 4 for 53, personally never thought she could be that good in red ball cricket . IndW on back of their crushing win over EngW last week are 193/3 in 52 overs at Lunch day 2 . Surprised that AusW pacers have been unable to make any impact as ball generally swings here early morning & late in the evening . Anyone following this game & if yes , where is it heading ?
Click to expand...
247/3 & AusW look clueless !
 
India beat Australia by eight wickets at the Wankhede. This was their first-ever Test win against the Australians.

Before this Test, India had played against Australia in 10 Tests. The Women in Blue had lost four and drawn six Tests against their opponents. That changed on 24 December, when they garnered their first-ever Test success against Alyssa Healy’s side.

On day one, Healy called it right and elected to bat first. However, the tourists had to contend with movement from pacers and turn for spinners on the very first day. Pooja Vastrakar (4/53), Sneh Rana (3/56), and Deepti Sharma (2/45) ran through the lineup to bowl them out for 219.

India were off to a solid start on the back of positive cricket from Smriti Mandhana (74) and Shafali Varma (40). Substantial contributions from the middle-order batters, Richa Ghosh (52) and Jemimah Rodrigues (73) helped India garner a lead. However, it was the 122-run stand between Deepti (78) and Vastrakar (47) that ensured that the hosts were in cruise control with a 187 run advantage.

Beth Mooney (33), Ellyse Perry (45), and Tahlia McGrath (73) dug in deep as the tourists fought back on day three. However, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur brought herself on and struck twice to put the hosts ahead. Spinners Sneh Rana (4/63) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (2/42) finished the job on the final day, bowling Australia out for 261. India were set a target of 75.

Despite a shaky start, India overcame the ask with eight wickets in hand. Mandhana top-scored with an unbeaten 38.

This was a second successive Test win for India. They had beaten England by a record margin of 347 runs at the DY Patil Stadium earlier in December.

ICC

1703406047122.png
 
Sue Redfern will become the first International Cricket Council-appointed female neutral umpire to stand in a bilateral series as she has been named for the upcoming ICC Women’s Championship and T20I fixtures between Australia and South Africa.

Redfern’s appointment follows the ICC’s decision to appoint one neutral umpire for all ICC Women’s Championship series as well as any T20I matches scheduled with them, ensuring some neutrality in running matches while also keeping in mind the long-term development of female umpires.

ICC’s General Manager of Cricket, Wasim Khan, sees this as a huge development as more opportunities open for women umpires.

“This is a watershed moment for women’s cricket as we look to both implement a female match officials’ pathway programme and accelerate officiating opportunities for our very best performers. Neutral appointments will give female umpires more exposure to different conditions and will support the learning and development of local female umpires who officiate alongside them.

“Last year we had the first all-female match officials’ panel at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa and so it is important that we build on that momentum through a combination of development and high-quality opportunities.”

The ICC will prioritise female officials for the neutral umpires’ role in ICC Women’s Championship series. The ICC-appointed female umpires will get match-day pay parity with their male counterparts on the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and receive comparable perks.

The female neutral umpires will be selected on merit and more of them will find themselves in the Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires in the coming years, as part of ICC’s strategic ambition to advance the involvement and visibility of women both on and off field within the game.

Redfern is confident her appointment will help build momentum and boost the growth of female match officials.

“It’s an honour to be named by the ICC as its first official female neutral umpire and I’m very excited about the upcoming series between Australia and South Africa.

“This is a defining moment for both women’s cricket and female cricket officials, who have worked hard and been given development opportunities in recent years.

“I’ve seen the landscape evolve for female officials and how many are now being recognised and supported across many countries. I am sure this appointment can help build momentum and visibility to help further develop female officials across the world in the future.

“Personally, I would like to thank the ICC and the ECB for their support over the years and I look forward to more such appointments.”

Redfern, who played in six Tests and 15 ODIs for England between 1995 and 1999 including four in the 1997 World Cup in India, has been on the ICC Development Panel of Umpires since 2016. She has officiated in two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups (2017 and 2022) and three ICC Women’s T20 World Cups (2018, 2022 and 2024).

The Australia vs South Africa matches that Redfern will be officiating in are:

Bilateral T20I series:

1st T20I, Manuka Oval, Canberra, 27 January

2nd T20I, Manuka Oval, Canberra, 28 January

3rd T20I, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 30 January

ICC Women’s Championship:

1st ODI, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 3 February

2nd ODI, North Sydney Oval, Sydney, 7 February

3rd ODI, North Sydney Oval, Sydney, 10 February

ICC​
 
ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year announced

Sri Lanka star Chamari Athapaththu has won the ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2023 after a stellar 12 months.

Chamari Athapaththu was rewarded for her exceptional year with the bat in ODIs. The Sri Lanka top-order batter made significant contributions with the bat and as captain, notably leading the side to a first bilateral series win over New Zealand.

Chamari Athapaththu in 2023 in ODIs

415 runs and 1 wicket in 8 matches

The year that was

Athapaththu showcased exceptional skills and leadership throughout the year, excelling both as a captain and a player in the ODI format.

Athapaththu started the year as skipper with a 1-0 win in a rain-truncated series over Bangladesh. With the first two matches not producing a result due to rain, the final clash turned into a decider.

In a 30-over-a-side game, the skipper stroked a 60-ball 64 laced with six fours and four sixes to propel Sri Lanka to 186. With the ball, Athapaththu got rid of her opposite number and top-scorer Nigar Sultana to put her side in pole position for victory.

Her finest hours as a player and captain came against New Zealand, where Sri Lanka recorded their first-ever bilateral series win (2-1) over the White Ferns.

Athapaththu starred in both victories with a couple of fiery centuries that blew New Zealand away. Her 108* and 140* came in pressure chases and on both occasions, the opener was at the crease to guide her team to victory.

Her significance in the team became even more evident during the series against England, where Sri Lanka suffered a 2-0 defeat on foreign soil, largely due to lean returns from the 33-year-old.

Memorable performance

Athapaththu brought her A-game in the crunch series decider against New Zealand with a stunning unbeaten 140 to take Sri Lanka to a historic victory.

Sri Lanka found themselves in a precarious situation early on at 4/2 within the first four overs while chasing a target of 196 in 29 overs. Undeterred by the challenging circumstances, Athapaththu took an aggressive approach, matching New Zealand's fire with her own. In a remarkable turnaround, Sri Lanka reached a run-a-ball rate by the 10-over mark.

With Nilakshika Silva solid at one end, Athapaththu raced to a fifty off just 31 balls. It took her only 29 more balls to reach the century, which is the fourth-fastest in Women’s ODI history and the fastest by a Sri Lankan.

The pair added 190 runs, the highest-ever for Sri Lanka in Women’s ODIs as the hosts chased down the target with eight wickets and 13 balls to spare.

ICC
 
In women's cricket as well, Pakistan and India end up in the same group. LOL

-------------------------

Groups, fixtures revealed for Women's T20 World Cup 2024

Six-time champions Australia will commence their ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign against a qualifier as the groups and fixtures for this year's event in Bangladesh were revealed on Sunday, 5 May.

Australia won a record sixth title against hosts South Africa in Cape Town last year and have been drawn alongside 2020 runners-up India, Trans-Tasman rival New Zealand, Asian side Pakistan and a qualifier team in Group A for the ninth edition of the event that will be held in Bangladesh in October.

South Africa and England are placed alongside 2016 champions West Indies, hosts Bangladesh and a second qualifier in Group B.

Excitement builds as the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 is set to illuminate Bangladesh in October.

Each side will play four group matches at the tournament, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the cut-throat semi-finals on 17 and 18 October ahead of the Final in Dhaka on 20 October.

In total, there will be 23 matches played across 19 days in Dhaka and Sylhet, with reserve days in place for both semi-finals and the final should they be required.

Group A: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qualifier 1

Group B: South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Qualifier 2

Fixtures

October 3: England v South Africa, Dhaka

October 3: Bangladesh v Qualifier 2, Dhaka

October 4: Australia v Qualifier 1, Sylhet

October 4: India v New Zealand, Sylhet

October 5: South Africa v West Indies, Dhaka

October 5: Bangladesh v England, Dhaka

October 6: New Zealand v Qualifier 1, Sylhet

October 6: India v Pakistan, Sylhet

October 7: West Indies v Qualifier 2, Dhaka

October 8: Australia v Pakistan, Sylhet

October 9: Bangladesh v West Indies, Dhaka

October 9: India v Qualifier 1, Sylhet

October 10: South Africa v Qualifier 2, Dhaka

October 11: Australia v New Zealand, Sylhet

October 11: Pakistan v Qualifier 1, Sylhet

October 12: England v West Indies, Dhaka

October 12: Bangladesh v South Africa, Dhaka

October 13: Pakistan v New Zealand, Sylhet

October 13: India v Australia, Sylhet

October 14: England v Qualifier 2, Dhaka

October 17: First semi-final, Sylhet

October 18: Second semi-final, Dhaka

October 20: Final, Dhaka

ICC
 
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FearlessRoar
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BouncerGuy
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