Women's Cricket: History, Growth and the Road to Global Recognition
Explore the history of women's cricket — from its earliest matches in 1745 to the T20 World Cup era, how the women's game grew, key milestones, and top players.
Women's cricket has a longer history than most fans realise, with roots stretching back to the 18th century. What was once a fringe pursuit has evolved into a global sport with dedicated World Cups, professional contracts, and television audiences in the tens of millions.
The Earliest Women's Cricket
The first recorded women's cricket match took place in Bramley, Surrey, England in July 1745 — between two villages, with women playing for prize money. Women's cricket in England was primarily a social pursuit through the 18th and 19th centuries, with the first women's cricket club (White Heather Club) formed in Yorkshire in 1887.
International Women's Cricket Begins
The first women's Test match was played between England and Australia in Brisbane in 1934 — 57 years after the men's Ashes began. England won the match. The Women's Cricket Association (WCA) in England, formed in 1926, was central to organising early international women's cricket.
The Women's World Cup
The Women's Cricket World Cup predates the men's equivalent. The first women's World Cup was held in England in 1973 — two years before the first men's Cricket World Cup in 1975. England won the inaugural tournament. The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup is now the flagship ODI event.
| Year | Host | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | England | England |
| 1978 | India | Australia |
| 1982 | New Zealand | Australia |
| 1988 | Australia | Australia |
| 1993 | England | England |
| 1997 | India | Australia |
| 2000 | New Zealand | New Zealand |
| 2005 | South Africa | Australia |
| 2009 | Australia | England |
| 2013 | India | Australia |
| 2017 | England | England |
| 2022 | New Zealand | Australia |
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup
The Women's T20 World Cup, launched in 2009, has been transformative for the women's game. Australia dominated the first decade, winning five of the first eight editions. The 2020 final between Australia and India at the MCG drew 86,174 spectators — a record for any women's cricket match and a watershed moment for the sport's profile.
Professionalisation and Broadcasting Growth
The 2010s and 2020s saw a dramatic expansion of professional women's cricket. The WBBL (Women's Big Bash League) in Australia, The Hundred Women's competition in England, the Women's Premier League (WPL) in India, and SA20 Women's equivalents created paid professional pathways for women cricketers globally.
Greatest Women Cricketers in History
- Mithali Raj (India): Highest run-scorer in women's ODI history — 7,805 runs across 232 matches
- Ellyse Perry (Australia): Genuine all-rounder; among the top 5 in both batting and bowling in women's cricket across multiple formats
- Belinda Clark (Australia): First cricketer (male or female) to score a double century in a World Cup
- Charlotte Edwards (England): 220 ODIs — the most by any England women's cricketer of her era
- Smriti Mandhana (India): Considered the most aesthetically gifted women's batter of the modern era
- Meg Lanning (Australia): Led Australia to multiple T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup titles — considered the greatest women's captain in cricket history
Pay Equity and the Ongoing Fight
Women cricketers have historically been paid far less than their male counterparts. England's ECB introduced equal match fees for men and women in 2022 — a landmark step. The BCCI followed with the WPL auction in 2023, where players were sold for crore-level fees for the first time. Pay parity remains a work in progress across most cricket boards.
Frequently asked questions
When was the first women's Cricket World Cup?
The first Women's Cricket World Cup was held in England in 1973 — two years before the first men's Cricket World Cup in 1975. England won the inaugural tournament, with Australia and New Zealand also competing in the seven-team event.
Who has won the most Women's T20 World Cups?
Australia has won the most Women's T20 World Cups, with six titles as of 2024. Their dominance in the format — combining elite batting depth with exceptional pace bowling — has made them the benchmark in women's T20 cricket.
What is the Women's Premier League (WPL)?
The Women's Premier League is India's professional women's T20 franchise league, launched by the BCCI in 2023. Five teams participate, with player auctions generating high fees for top international women's cricketers. The WPL is modelled on the IPL and was the most significant development in women's cricket economics since the WBBL.
How is women's cricket different from men's in terms of rules?
The fundamental laws of cricket are the same for men's and women's cricket. The main differences are in equipment specifications (women use a slightly smaller and lighter ball — 142–151g vs men's 155.9–163g) and in some fielding restriction adjustments in T20s.