Women's Cricket History — From 1745 to the Modern Global Game
The complete history of women's cricket — from the first recorded match in 1745, through the IWCC formation, to the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup and the explosion of women's T20 leagues.
Women's cricket has a longer history than most fans realise — the first recorded women's cricket match was played in Surrey, England, in 1745. Today, women's cricket is one of the fastest-growing sports globally, with ICC Women's events attracting record viewership and professional leagues emerging across multiple countries.
The Early Years: 1745-1934
The first documented women's cricket match took place on 26 July 1745 at Guildford, Surrey — a local newspaper account described 'eleven maids of Bramley' versus 'eleven maids of Hambleton.' The sport grew sporadically in England through the 19th century. In 1887, the White Heather Club was formed in Yorkshire — the first women's cricket club. The sport spread to Australia through English touring sides in the early 20th century.
Founding of the IWCC (1958) and ICC Integration
The International Women's Cricket Council (IWCC) was founded in 1958 to govern international women's cricket. It operated independently until 2005, when it merged with the ICC (International Cricket Council), giving women's cricket the same governing body as the men's game. ICC integration led to significantly increased funding, better scheduling, and growing broadcast coverage.
The Women's Cricket World Cup
The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup (formerly the Women's World Cup) began in 1973 — two years before the men's World Cup in 1975. England hosted the inaugural 1973 tournament, won by England. Australia has been the most successful team, winning the Women's World Cup eight times (1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2010, 2013, 2022). England have won four times (1973, 1993, 2009, 2017). The format expanded to 10 teams in 2017.
T20 Revolution and Modern Era
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup launched in 2009. Australia won the inaugural edition. The 2020 Women's T20 World Cup Final — held at the MCG in Melbourne — attracted 86,174 spectators, the biggest crowd ever for a women's cricket match. Professional leagues have followed: the Women's Premier League (WPL) in India launched in 2023 with auction prices exceeding USD 100,000 per player. WBBL (Women's Big Bash League) in Australia, The Hundred (England), and CPL Women have expanded opportunities for players worldwide.
Greatest Women's Cricketers
Belinda Clark (Australia) — the first cricketer (male or female) to score an ODI double century (229* vs Denmark, 1997). Mithali Raj (India) — held the world record for most ODI runs by any woman (7,805 runs), now surpassed by Meg Lanning. Ellyse Perry (Australia) — arguably the greatest modern all-rounder, with 1,000+ ODI runs and 100+ wickets. Meg Lanning (Australia) — most successful women's captain in ICC tournament history. Sophie Devine, Smriti Mandhana, Alyssa Healy, and Nat Sciver-Brunt are among the standout players of the current era.
Frequently asked questions
Do women play Test cricket?
Yes — women's Tests are played, though they are rare. The format is four-day matches (not five). Women's Tests have increased in frequency since 2021 as the ICC promotes multi-format series combining a Test, ODIs and T20Is.
When was the first women's Test match?
The first women's Test match was played between England and Australia in Brisbane in December 1934 — the start of the Women's Ashes.
Is the Women's IPL the same as WPL?
Yes — the Women's Premier League (WPL) is the official name for the BCCI-run women's T20 franchise league in India, equivalent to the IPL for the women's game. It launched in March 2023.