Cape Town - It would be silly of me to state that women’s cricket has come a long way – that has been clear for some time.
But the fact that it is a thoroughly entertaining product to view on television is another.
Maybe again it has been the case for a while too, but TV broadcasters were just too prejudiced to actually put some money behind it.
But there should be no turning back now after two matches across contrasting formats in different parts of the world were thoroughly engaging and dramatic.
Women’s cricket is primarily reduced to ODIs and T20s, but Australia and England produced a thrilling Test match in Canberra last week that can stand alongside – if not surpass – any of the legendary men’s Ashes contests of the past century.
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Certainly, England captain Heather Knight’s efforts with the bat – 168 not out and 48 – sit at the same table as Ian Botham’s 1981 and Andrew Flintoff’s 2005 heroics, even though her team never quite got over the line. But how close was it?
Chasing 257 to win, England made the highest fourth-innings score in women’s Test history, with all four results possible in the final over.
And like in every epic contest, Australia played their part too. Firstly, Meg Lanning’s declaration is exactly what the men’s game requires, with a captain willing to entertain the prospect of losing if that actually means giving themselves the best chance of winning.
The hosts then claimed nine wickets in a session, even when all hope had seemed lost, with England requiring 13 runs off 15 balls with three wickets in hand at one stage.
Over 430 000 viewers tuned in for the final session, peaking at 558 000 to make it the most watched day of women’s Test cricket in history.
And yet, Australia may have to wait four years for their next home Test.
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It’s a crazy thought that will be hopefully be rectified with some pressure from broadcasters on the
ICC, now that they are aware of the eyeballs women’s Test cricket can potentially attract.
Closer to home at the Wanderers, the Proteas women’s team and their West Indies counterparts also had everyone’s attention on Monday.
The Bullring has played host to some memorable ODIs over the years, and the only pity was that there was nobody in the bleachers due to Covid-19 protocols.
Doesn't get much better. 👌#Ashes pic.twitter.com/rgKiQbdvCu
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) January 29, 2022
The momentum swung as the Windies were reduced to 83/6 in pursuit of 161 for victory, before a recovery that required Proteas fast bowler Shabnim Ismail to trap No 10 Shakera Selman lbw to send the game into a super-over.
Now, I am not a fan of super-overs as I believe the old-fashioned tie is a fair result for both teams ... But what transpired was simply breathtaking.
Deandra Dottin took down arguably the quickest fast bowler in the women’s game, Ismail, on her home patch.
The first five balls were brutal as she smashed 19 runs, which included two boundaries and a maximum, before Hayley Matthews provided the coup de grace with another massive six off the final ball.
South Africa did well to respond with 17 runs of their own, but to haul in the West Indies’ 25 would have taken something straight out of the Guinness Book of World Records.
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