There is unprecedented visibility now but the sport misses the female leaders pushed away when the ECB took over in 1998
Almost three decades ago, on 1 August 1993, a 17-year-old Claire Taylor made her way through the Grace Gates for the first time. That day, she watched an England team led by Karen Smithies defeat New Zealand by 67 runs in the Women’s World Cup final. The players wore skirts, they were all amateurs who had to take time off work to compete, and the idea of prize money was unthinkable.
Last week Taylor was back at Lord’s, now a proud MCC member, the chair of the MCC cricket committee, and with two World Cup winner’s medals in her trophy cabinet. As one of the panellists for a special event on “The Future of Women’s Cricket”, Taylor was in a unique position to reflect onhow much has changed in the women’s game in the short space of time since she retired from the international game in 2011.
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Across the first-class counties there isonly one female chief executive, and one female chair.
Only 15% of cricket board members in England and Wales are women.
Only 12% of cricket coaches currently operating in cricket in England and Wales are female.
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