The other side of cricket - unseen and unknown

Thanks to the media and continuous scheduling of matches, cricket is now not unknown to anyone. It’s definitely not an exaggeration when I say cricket has acquired the status of religion in most parts of the world. Cricketers are revered everywhere. Their endorsements are highly valued, their actions are replicated and their quotes make headlines. Every time they step out, countless cards will be waiting to be embellished by their autographs. Fans are left flabbergasted if they merely get to shake hands with their idols. But sadly, there’s a catch to all this. All this applies only to the gender represented by the Mars symbol.

It is a general notion that women cricket is too irksome to watch and that women cannot spice up the game the way men do. Only after closely watching matches and looking upon players, one will know that this perception is nothing more than a misconception. It is probably true that women’s cricket is lagging behind in terms of its reach, but once you follow it closely, the intensity of game, skill and commitment of females is no lesser. The way they take up cricket as their profession right from their teens is awe inspiring. They do not get celebrity status, the match fee they are paid is much lower than what men fetch, amenities they enjoy at the ground are not as sophisticated as those of men, but nothing stops them from playing cricket for the country. They just enjoy the game and relish representing their country. Women cricket, in some countries like Afghanistan, symbolizes women empowerment. It gives them the much coveted freedom, allows them to break the wall of suppressing customs and prove themselves.

Some shocking and surprising feats and astonishing records were accomplished by women when they were not even contemplated in gentlemen’s cricket. The credit for introducing the ultimate international tournament – battle for the ODI World Cup – lies with women. Belinda Clark scored an unbeaten double century in 1997, years before the ‘God’ of cricket recorded it in men’s cricket. The first player to get a century and 10 wickets in a Test match is a woman. The fastest women bowlers produce speeds that make them, in terms of pace, equal to many star pace bowlers in men’s cricket. If you took all these with a pinch of salt, here are a few anecdotes of eminent women who scaled unmatched heights and have epitomized the beauty of women cricket.

Betty Wilson:

This elite Australian athlete, often called “the female Bradman”, is one of the pioneers of women cricket and a legendary cricketer to date. She padded up for her first match when she was just 10 years old and by the time she entered 16, Betty was already playing state level cricket alongside many seniors. As Second World War consumed her youth, Wilson could make her international Test cricket debut only after a decade and half, and her cricket career spanned merely 11 matches. Nevertheless, what did she not achieve in this short period? In a match against England in 1958, now famously called “Wilson’s Test”, she became the first ever cricketer (male/female) to score a century and take 10 wickets. This ten wicket haul included a hat-trick – first by a woman cricketer. A 70-minute century, seven-for-seven in an innings are also listed in her records. In a line, she showcased what all can be done in cricket. Her records out-number the matches she had played. She was simply a magnificent all-rounder. No wonder, she was also the first women cricketer to be included in the ICC Hall of Fame and legends like Bradman and Billy Bowes were impressed by her game and heralded her.

Charlotte Edwards:

Edwards, the face of English women’s cricket, is popularly and rightly called Cricket Geek, Mrs. Cricket. All her life, she has known nothing but cricket. Cricket is Edward’s life and her passion for it is incredible. Scaling new heights is never strange for her. She made her debut in 1997 against South Africa when she was 16 (the youngest woman player then) and by the time she crossed her teens, she already had more than a dozen centuries in her pocket. Edwards is a flamboyant player and moreover, a great leader. In 2006, she stepped up as full-time captain of the team. Charlotte’s leadership is marked by an affectionate attitude for her girls. She won the ICC Woman’s player of the year 2008. The English team went on to win 2009 ICC women’s World Cup and in the same year, Edwards was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). She also holds the record for the highest number of ODI appearances. Currently, she is leading her team in their battle to defend the World Cup trophy.

Jhulan Goswami:

Albeit hailing from sub-continental grounds where quality pace bowling is seldom brought forth, Jhulan Goswami from India, who regularly clocks around 120 kph, denounced the myth of slow and debile women cricket. She is the second fastest bowler in the world of women cricket after Cathryn Fitzpatrick from Australia (who recently retired). She is indeed so fast that players are known to push themselves down the order, due to the fear of her ferocious bowling. Since her debut in 2002, she has consistently been performing for India, playing a prominent role in her team’s triumphs. She is the among the cream of wicket-taking bowlers. But this journey was no cakewalk for her. Intense love for the game and the incessant will to play quality cricket are her secrets to success. Jhulan said while recalling her early games at an award function, “They used to thrash me all around for sixes because my bowling was so slow. So they asked me to stop bowling at them and just go and bat. It was then that I made up my mind to bowl fast”. She won the ICC Women’s Player of the Year 2007, Arjuna Award in 2010 and Padma Shri in 2012 for her unrivalled contributions. There is one goal yet to be fulfilled for her – winning World Cup for India.

Despite copious talent, women cricket goes mostly unrecognised and unappreciated. And the condition is apparently deteriorating. Players feel that the women cricket conditions and support it received were a lot better a decade or two ago than what they are now. ICC has taken steps to improve conditions but nothing seems to be actually working. It broached the idea of mixed cricket which was not well received. Of course, it’s not the best possible idea for the betterment of women’s cricket! There is always a fine line between the game of men and women. This line can be and should be blurred to the extent possible but erasing it is not a possibility, at least in the near future. Neither of them is better or worse than the other. They can co-exist, co-develop but cannot be blended. They are like two sides of a coin – heads and tails. They define each other and define the coin. Erasing a side or trying to bring them on one side will only result in the coin losing its sense and purpose.