Women's Cricket History Explained
The history of women's cricket from its origins in 18th-century England to the modern era of Women's World Cups and global franchise leagues.
Origins of Women's Cricket
Women's cricket has a longer history than most people realise. The first recorded women's cricket match took place in Surrey, England in 1745. The Women's Cricket Association was founded in England in 1926, predating the launch of the BCCI by two years. Women's Test cricket was established in 1934 when England played Australia — the same teams who played the first men's Test in 1877.
Women's ICC Tournament Winners
- Women's ODI World Cup (first held 1973) — Australia has won seven times, England four times, India and West Indies once each
- Women's T20 World Cup (first held 2009) — Australia dominant with six titles from nine editions
- Women's Test cricket — currently played sporadically as bilateral series, most prominently England vs Australia (Women's Ashes)
- ICC Women's Championship — a points-based ODI qualification system for the Women's World Cup
Growth of Professional Women's Cricket
The commercialisation of women's cricket has accelerated enormously since 2017. The Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia has been a model for growth — it launched in 2015 as a stand-alone competition separate from the men's BBL, giving women's players extended professional seasons. The Women's Premier League (WPL) launched in India in 2023 with unprecedented investment, with five franchise teams securing contracts worth millions. England's Women's Hundred has also boosted visibility and pay for female cricketers in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
When was the first Women's Cricket World Cup?
The first Women's Cricket World Cup was held in 1973 in England — two years before the men's World Cup began in 1975. England won the inaugural tournament.
Do women play Test cricket?
Yes, but women's Test cricket is played much less frequently than men's. Tests are typically bilateral 'one-off' matches played as part of multi-format series (one Test, three ODIs, three T20Is). Australia and England play the most women's Test cricket through the Women's Ashes series.