In the last decade, women’s cricket has undergone a metamorphosis, unfolding its wings into unexpected corners, enthusing some of the most sceptical hearts and making marketing managers wide-eyed with its potential. In 2010 the world’s leading female cricketers were largely amateur; now Australia, England, India and New Zealand have fully professional national teams, with others on the way.
With professionalism has come coaches and time, and with time has come huge improvements – particularly in the realms of fitness, fielding and sixes hit. The limited-overs game has come to dominate and the rewards have grown substantially – the winners of the Twenty20 World Cup next year will take home $1m. The 2017 World Cup final at Lord’s, a gamechanger for women’s cricket, was the most-watched game of cricket on television in the UK of the year. So here, with a glass full in celebration, is The Spin’s women’s ODI team of the decade …
Related: England beat India in thrilling final to win Women’s Cricket World Cup
Continue reading...