Photo Credit: Queensland Cricket
Queensland Cricket is highlighting the widespread and lasting influence of women in cricket as part of today’s International Women’s Day celebrations.The women of Queensland Cricket – volunteers, players, coaches, administrators, and staff – were thanked for their commitment and dedication to the game with CEO Terry Svenson acknowledging their efforts on a daily basis.
“We celebrate the many outstanding women in our game today on International Women’s Day, but also highlight their on-going devotion to cricket and making a difference every day of their involvement,’’ he said.
“There have been many on-field success stories across the year, with Queensland women featuring on the national and international stage through the likes of the WBBL Heat making the finals, Beth Mooney receiving the Belinda Clark Medal, and young stars emerging in the Queensland Fire squad,’’ he said.
“We have seen the Sunshine Coast make the Finals of both the Katherine Raymont Shield and Jodie Fields Shield competitions for the first time, while our Premier clubs continue to find teams and opportunities to encourage women and girls to play in those competitions.”
Svenson said Queensland Cricket had cause to reflect positively on the recent outcomes of its largest co-ordinated female cricket participation drive across the summer holidays.
The Girls Cricket Colour Blast is designed to introduce girls between the ages of 5 and 16 to the game, with a fun and interactive session that allows them to express themselves and have fun all while playing cricket.
Sessions have been held on the Sunshine Coast, Cairns and Mackay although unfortunately the session that was to held in Townsville was washed out on two occasions, but there will be a chance for follow-ups with nearly 100 girls registered to try out in Townsville.
Svenson said the response to attracting first time female players has been encouraging.
“Around 19.7% of Queensland Cricket Blast participants are girls, which is the highest total recorded for the State, and this response suggests we should again expect positive results when we do the annual cricket census later in the year,’’ he said.
There were also a range of other girls-only events throughout Brisbane and South-East Queensland during the summer holidays with QC community cricket staff joining with clubs and associations to deliver outstanding programs for first-time and returning female players.
Today also marks one year on from a pivotal moment in history for the women’s game, when 86,471 fans attended the T20 World Cup, setting the world record crowd for a women’s cricket match and the second highest attendance at a women’s sporting match in the world.
Inspired by that triumphant moment, Mackay Cricket will mark IWD later this evening when it hosts a City v Country women’s match.
It will be the final match in the Komatsu Challenge Series that has run through summer in Mackay, which has been at the forefront of regional support for women’s cricket in recent years.
Harrup Park has hosted several rebel Women’s Big Bash League matches featuring the Brisbane Heat in the past few years, attracting record crowds for the events.
Former Australian and Queensland Fire player Louise Broadfoot is a Mackay Cricket Association board member and has been a strong supporter of the Challenge Series.
Broadfoot played two Tests and 10 ODIs for Australia as well as 119 WNCL games for Victoria and Queensland, where she also played five WT20 games for the Fire.
Queensland Cricket and Brisbane Heat social medial channels will carry special “That’s My Game” content today celebrating International Women’s Day 2021, which features a theme of “Choose To Challenge”.
Queensland Cricket’s ‘That’s My Game’ campaign has run throughout the 2020-21 season and will continue through the off-season.
