The ICC World Cup is just weeks away and marks the highly anticipated returns to international cricket of disgraced former captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner from their 12-month suspensions.
The infamous ‘sandpaper gate’ scandal during the Cape Town Test in March of last year was a dark period for Australian sport, with an independent review into the toxic culture not just within the men’s national cricket team, but the entire Cricket Australia organisation.
You’ll notice in the review not much is mentioned in regards to the women’s team, and why would there be?
They’ve achieved much on-field success and have been terrific ambassadors for the spirit of the game.
Instead of allowing themselves to be dragged through the mud by association with the men’s team, they’ve led by example with their on-field performances by competing fairly and in the right spirit.
One glaring difference compared to their male counterparts is the utmost professionalism and humility they show both on-and-off the field and the success that has followed.
Clean sweep series victories against New Zealand and Pakistan last October was the perfect preparation for their incredible 2018 T20 World Cup triumph.
The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) followed during summer which provided many close matches and unearthed several talented young players.
The incredible finishes to the WBBL semi-finals matches, both which came down to the last-ball, left fans stunned as the Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers claimed miracle wins to qualify for the final, which the Heat went on to win.
Australia capped off the summer as they again dominated New Zealand with another clean sweep ODI series win.
The Aussie women have a busy 12-month schedule ahead including an Ashes tour against England in July, followed by tours to the West Indies and Sri Lanka, back home again for next summer’s WBBL and back-to-back T20 series’ against India and England before their T20 World Cup title defence at home next March, before finishing with a tour to South Africa for an ODI series.
Women’s cricket continues to be a major part in the prominent growth of women’s sports in Australia.
The likes of Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy are now household names. They are world-class international cricketers and role models we can be proud of.
Junior participation figures show they’re inspiring an entire generation of girls to pick up a bat and ball and aspire and to play cricket for Australia.
There are now pathways to the elite level with newly formed girl’s teams and girl’s competitions.
Women’s cricket is now drawing big crowds and TV ratings because fans want to see elite athletes perform and succeed at the elite level, as Australia are currently number one in the women’s ODI and T20 team rankings.
(Photo by Will Russell – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images )
The women’s game is as healthy as ever, whereas the men’s team are still in the midst of repairing their culture and identity, as well as earning back the public’s support.
The Ethics Centre (TEC) handed down a total of 42 recommendations into the culture of Australian cricket, which anyone who read the review would consider the recommendations as common sense solutions.
But instead of conducting a six-month review, perhaps it would have been easier for the men’s team, Cricket Australia, Smith and Warner to simply watch and learn from how the women’s team conduct themselves both collectively and individually.
Ultimately cricket fans want all of our cricketers, men and women, to represent our country with honour and distinction and with the returns of a reformed Smith and Warner back into the national setup, the future of Australian cricket starts with the upcoming World Cup.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Thanks for sharing... you should put your words into an article or a blog!
Peter Warrington
Guest
we had a great summer, which we needed as we had our own very sad family issues to deal with. it really started when my girl was part of Perry's honour guard at Nth Sydney back in the Test. we were joking saying she would need to score 200. presto. my disgust at how Maxwell was then treated, and the relative boredom of the men's Ashes, were key factors in us all watching as much WBBL as anything that summer. my daughter is a bit of a stats maven and I really liked how she liked lots of players, from all the teams. a Sixer, but not tribally so. so we watched a fair bit of the T20W in the Windies, both leaping with excitement when Wolfie Wareham's brilliant runout finally ignited the team. We went to the T20 against NZ at Nth Sydney and she started meeting the players, and Sophie Devine's ridiculously pleasant mother. (Still, she focussed on footy and eschewed actual cricket playing). We went to the Sydney derby, the Thunder sadly gawn early on. The girls' grandmother died just after NY, and we were all shattered. But the WBBL semi day at Drummoyne, with their grandfather, lifted the gloom. The genius of the cricket, the thrill of both finishes, the success of the next tier - Carey, Molineux - the genuine friendliness of superstars like Healy and Kapp and Van Niekerk. The goofiness of Tahuhu - who we christened "Tahuhuuuuuuuu", as in the Blur song. Just a magnificent day. The final. Hot. Beth Mooney. Brilliant. The Sixers sad but proud. Then we are at Drummoyne watching the women Giants and the thunderstorm, and the roos. She spots Beth Mooney huddled under a brolly. 30 mins later, they are still chatting. So we made our way to Nth sydney the next day for the domestic women's ODi final, Beth's Queensland not quite good enough. More selfies and autographs and chats with stars. All great for the soul. The summer culminated with one of those moments. In late Feb it was her 11th. She could have gone anywhere eg Luna Park. She asked for a family picnic, at Drummoyne, to watch NZ and the Governor General's Xi. There were about 100 people there. She ended the night with a birthday chat from the magnificently talented and wonderfully warm Suzie Bates. it's as good as it gets. She will look back in 30 years, when women's cricket is undeniably bigger, and this cohort are pioneer heroes, and be truly able to say "I was there..." This year for her is Women's Ashes first. Then the World Cup. Then the Ashes. And her footy. And Richmond having an AFLW team next year. And what will happen now Perry is playing for Victoria. Will she play for the Sixers? It's great. really great. We are loving the ride!
Hawtdawg
Guest
Maybe one or two less angry pills in the morning Ethan , you big “strong man”.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Perry scored her 200 before the sandpaper gate but I get your point. It was a great moment for women's sport. My piece isn't really directed at "offended men" though, I don't want it to become a social issue, it's simply highlighting the men's culture and the organizations culture on the eve of Smith and Warner's return... as well as promoting the women's game during a dark 12-month period for the sport.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Hi Ethan, appreciate you defending my piece. I'd like to keep the discussion civil though... you're right in the comparison simply being good culture vs bad culture, and how the bad culture can learn from the good culture. I also don't believe the men's team should in any way be immune to criticism. To say "promoting the women while criticising the men" is somehow a bad thing and "virtue signalling" is a bit misguided in my opinion, because for me, there's nothing about the women's national team to be critical of. As far as "virtue signalling" is concerned, it depends on your definition I guess. In my opinion, "virtue signalling" would be your author trying to make a case about social justice issues like the pay disparity between the men and women or lack of equality in media attention or whatever.... I'll leave those articles to the social justice warriors because my article doesn't focus on said issues that would be considered "virtue signalling". It's merely a comparison on team culture and how the men can learn from the women and that's it. But in saying that, hawtdawg is entitled to his opinion. I don't mind people disagreeing with me.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Meh... very weak counter argument. The men’s team deserve the criticism as their culture has been an embarrassment for this country for years, then they disgraced the nation with the cheating scandal. You and the men’s team don’t have a foot to stand on and the men could learn a thing or 2 from the womens team. What’s wrong with using the women as an example of what it means to play the game the right way? I’ll answer that question for you, there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s only divisive to the overly sensitive men who can’t deal with facts. Making a comparison between those who do good and those who do bad, is not divisive, it’s truth. Most real men would actually support this perspective, just the minority of backwards thinking who wouldn’t. The author could have made a comparison with the mens soccer team, no behavioral problems that I’m aware, which probably imo would have made a better point for men to understand, would that have been divisive? I’ll anwer that question for you too... no.
Hawtdawg
Guest
I would regard it as virtue signalling. He’s promoting the women’s game , whilst criticising the men’s . If that’s not VS (or at least passive aggressive VS ) , I’m not sure what is. And as far as your comments go. I don’t think the majority of men are offended by this he success of the girls , I think it’s more comparison articles such as this that are unnecessarily provocative. The massive majority of “normal” men want the best for their daughters , and would much prefer a pic of Ellyse Perry on their bedroom wall , rather than one of Miley Cyrus. The war of the sexes is a lot like racism in this country, I think they both mainly exist in the minds of a very devisive media.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
I thought this was going to be anothe PC virtue signaling article but it’s hard to argue any of the points made here. Will be interested to see how many offended blokes cant handle the truth. The girls have been great and deserve their success. They don’t need sandpaper and on field sledging. None are anything like the unsportsmanlike Warner, abusing other players and how good when Perry got that 200!!