Bowled over: Women cricketers prove why they deserve better pay, equal rights

Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England’s Danni Wyatt at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, Britain, June 26, 2023. (Reuters)
Short Url
Updated 29 June 2023
Follow

Bowled over: Women cricketers prove why they deserve better pay, equal rights

  • Australia and England played the first ever women’s Test in 1934 and have contested 75 percent of the 144 women’s Tests played since

It would be a surprise if any of the spectators at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, were not highly impressed by the quality of cricket played by the women chosen to represent England and Australia over five days between June 22 and 26.

Women’s cricket has taken a long time to emerge from the shadows of the men’s game. After this match, any lingering doubts about its quality and appeal have surely been dispelled.

The women of Australia and England, in particular, have long been asking for more opportunities to play Tests and that the duration should be increased to five days from four. Before Nottingham, there had been only one women’s five-day Test, in 1992 at Sydney, when Australia hosted England.

The two countries played the first ever women’s Test in 1934 and have contested 75 percent of the 144 women’s Tests played since. Adding India and New Zealand, means that just four countries have accounted for 90 percent of such matches.

Cold water seemed to be poured on any hopes of an increase in the number of women’s Tests by the chair of the International Cricket Council. In an interview in June last year, he said women’s Test cricket would not be “part of the landscape moving forward to any great extent.”

The context for that assertion was the focus on the shorter forms of cricket, which generate higher attendances and income, while offering the opportunity to fit more matches into the calendar. Anyone who was at Trent Bridge, or watched a live screening of the game, may well be disappointed with the ICC statement.

Before last week, women’s Test matches over the past 30 years had been played at smaller venues. Trent Bridge has a capacity of almost 18,000 and it was reported that close to 20,000 people attended across the five days.

Three things were noticeable. First, the number of men and women in the crowd seemed to be evenly balanced. Second, it was encouraging to see fathers accompanying their young daughters. Third, the cheering and chirruping of groups of young schoolchildren almost matched that of the teams on the pitch, with the Australian spectators sounding the most intense.

This is not uncommon. They are the dominant force in women’s cricket. In the 50-over one-day format, Australia have won seven World Cups out of 12 — to England’s four — and triumphed in six T20 World Cups out of eight.

In their 77 Test matches, Australia have secured 21 victories, lost 10 and drawn 46. The high draw factor is replicated across the history of women’s Tests, with almost two-thirds ending in draws, providing a sound basis to argue that the matches should be five days long rather than four.

If the Trent Bridge game had been four days long, it may also have ended in a draw, given that Australia wrapped it up on the final day. Though that does not take account of the differing tactics that may have been adopted in a four-day match, with the possibility of declarations being made to try and force a result. As it was, five days allowed both teams to bat to the end of their respective innings.

It also provided a platform for record breaking. In their first innings, Australia were 238 for six, but eventually scored 473, owing to Annabel Sutherland’s unbeaten 137, batting at No. 8. England’s response was fueled by a double century from Tammy Beaumont, the eighth time this has been achieved in a women’s Test. She batted for over eight hours and faced 317 deliveries. In so doing, she overtook the highest ever score, 189, by an Englishwoman in a Test, set in 1935 by Betty Snowball against a makeshift New Zealand team.

Beaumont’s achievement was against a highly professional, well drilled, determined Australian team, whose batting and bowling were impressive, as was the fielding, until put under pressure by Beaumont, when some sloppiness crept in and the “chirrupometer” was dialed down.

England came within 10 runs of Australia’s first innings score. But this parity was then thrown away. In the evening session on day three, England needed to take wickets. Instead, the quicker bowlers were wasteful, Australia swelling a lead of 92, without loss. Despite a riposte by England the following morning, Australia were able to reach 257, setting England 268 to win. Another disastrous evening session saw England fall to 117 for five and on the following morning their resistance crumbled against the bowling of Ash Gardner, who claimed eight wickets for 66 runs.

It is difficult to see how the Australian juggernaut can be stopped. England have edged closer but there is the feeling that Australia will win the crucial moments of a match, as happened at Trent Bridge. England had a big chance to win their previous Test against Australia in Canberra in February 2022. Needing 40 runs to win from 10 overs, with seven wickets remaining, they lost six wickets for 29 and managed only a draw.

The senior players in these matches began their careers when international cricket for women was an amateur pursuit, as it had been since the first women’s Test in 1934. It is the past decade that has heralded professionalism into the game.

The cricket boards of both England and Australia awarded professional contracts for the first time to its women cricketers in 2013/14. Since then, franchise tournaments, especially the Women’s Premier League in India, have created the opportunities for women to earn sums of money of which their pioneering predecessors could barely have dreamed.

Yet, there is much more to be achieved. The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket released its long-awaited report this week, as reported by Arab News. Its findings and recommendations relate specifically to cricket in England and Wales, and they are chilling.

Cricket was found to harbor widespread racism, sexism and elitism. When coupled with a separate review and report in Scotland, which concluded in July that institutional racism was prevalent there, the whole of cricket in Great Britain is tarnished.

It is mainly men who have created and presided over this imbroglio. The ICEC said that “the women’s game lacks proper representation among the highest level of decision-makers.”

Indeed, it was scathing about the way that women and women’s cricket have been treated down the years. Its evidence found that “women continue to be treated as subordinate to men within, and at all levels, of cricket. They are not even nearly on an equal footing with men within the sport today.”

Recommendation 15 is for a fundamental overhaul of the pay structure in professional women’s cricket, with details of expected outcomes provided. These include equal pay achieved at domestic level by 2029 and at international level by 2030. Match fees between England’s men and women should be equalized with immediate effect.

Those who witnessed the performances at Trent Bridge are likely to applaud that recommendation.


Atalanta stun Serie A leader Napoli 3-0

Updated 03 November 2024
Follow

Atalanta stun Serie A leader Napoli 3-0

  • Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini surprisingly opted to drop Retegui

MILAN: Despite — or perhaps because of — the absence of the league’s top goalscorer from the starting lineup, Atalanta stunned Serie A leader Napoli by winning 3-0 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday.

Mateo Retegui was surprisingly benched but Ademola Lookman netted twice in the first half to inflict what was only Napoli’s second defeat of the season, and the first since the opening day.

Retegui was brought on with 14 minutes remaining and scored in stoppage time for his 11th goal in as many matches.

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini surprisingly opted to drop Retegui. That was reportedly because he wanted a more unpredictable attack against a Napoli defense that had kept clean sheets in six of its past seven matches and only conceded five goals all season.

Gasperini instead picked Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere in attack with Mario Pasalic behind them and that paid off almost immediately as Atalanta took the lead in the 10th minute.

A cross was cleared by Napoli but only as far as the edge of the area where it was put back in and De Ketelaere nodded it back for Lookman to slot into the near bottom corner.

Napoli almost leveled  immediately, but Scott McTominay’s powerful effort crashed off the right post.

The Atalanta forward combined again in the 31st as De Ketelaere raced down the right and squirmed between two players before passing across to Lookman, who slotted a hard shot into the far bottom corner.

Sead Kolasinac thought he had extended Atalanta’s lead early in the second half but the defender was offside.

Retegui was brought on for De Ketelaere late on and he volleyed a cross into the bottom right corner.


Max Verstappen strikes title blow with chaotic Brazilian GP win, Lando Norris sixth

Updated 03 November 2024
Follow

Max Verstappen strikes title blow with chaotic Brazilian GP win, Lando Norris sixth

  • The Dutchman’s triumph lifted him to 393 points, increasing his advantage over Norris, on 331, to 62
  • Alpine’s French duo of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly also on the podium

SAO PAULO: Three-time world champion Max Verstappen produced a virtuoso drive in often atrocious conditions to regain control of this year’s world championship on Sunday when he charged from 17th on the grid to win the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Without a win in 10 races since the Spanish Grand Prix in May, Red Bull’s series leader made light of the chaotic, rain-swept conditions to register a 62nd career triumph and fastest lap while nearest title rival Lando Norris of McLaren went from pole position to sixth.
The Dutchman’s triumph lifted him to 393 points, increasing his advantage over Norris, on 331, to 62 with just three Grands Prix and one sprint race remaining.
Verstappen finished 19.477 seconds ahead of Alpine’s French duo of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly with Mercedes’ George Russell fourth and Charles Leclerc fifth for Ferrari in a tumultuous contest of accidents, two red-flag stoppages, penalties and planned post-race investigations.
For Alpine, the reward was a leap from ninth to sixth in the constructors championship, reportedly valued at an estimated $50 million.
Norris, who struggled to find his usual pace, came home sixth ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, RB’s Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes.
Verstappen’s success came on the day he overhauled Michael Schumacher’s record of leading the drivers standings for 896 days while many of his rivals faced post-race investigations for various sporting misdemeanours.
“My emotions have been a rollercoaster today — that unlucky qualifying and starting 17th made it such a tough race, but we stayed out of trouble, made the right calls and it is unbelievable to win here from so far back,” said Verstappen.
“What a day,” said a beaming Ocon. “After this difficult season, it’s so nice to drive here and the rain levelled out the performance so I am very happy.”
Gasly added: “Just incredible! For the whole team, after such a tough season, struggling for points, but two cars on the podium. Nobody would have put that on their bingo card.”
After a wet and wild qualifying, Lance Stroll set the tone when he spun off in his Aston Martin on the formation lap, leading to a delayed second start before which Norris led away without a green light and, along with Russell and both RB drivers, faced a post-race investigation.
The big Sunday crowd, part of an Interlagos weekend record of 291,717 waited patiently as Norris finally led a third formation lap before Russell beat him at the start.
Norris tucked into second ahead of Tsunoda on a frantic opening lap that saw Verstappen climb from 17th to 11th, passing Hamilton for 10th on lap two as light rain fell. By lap six, Verstappen was eighth.
By lap 11, Verstappen was sixth and clearly the fastest man on track while a struggling Hamilton bounced off before being passed by Williams driver Franco Colapinto to the delight of the many Argentine fans.
As heavy rain arrived, Leclerc pitted and fell to 11th, Lawson slid off and Nico Hulkenberg pitted before beaching his Haas, prompting a Virtual Safety Car on lap 28.
The German recovered, with aid, to re-join for which he was disqualified.
Another round of pit-stops left Ocon leading ahead of Verstappen, who stayed out to gain a tactical advantage, as Norris passed Russell for fourth behind Gasly as a Safety Car was deployed again before being red-flagged on lap 33 when Colapinto smacked the barriers at Turn 14.
“I guess everyone can just change tires for free now,” said a glum Norris realizing Verstappen had been given a cost-free pit-stop that transformed the race.
A second Safety Car, the seventh of the day, intervened on lap 40 when Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz spun off at Turn Eight and retired.
On resumption, Verstappen seized control when he powered inside Ocon to lead at Turn One while Norris ran off and dropped to seventh.
Ocon stayed second ahead of Gasly and Leclerc, but the Dutchman had the initiative and momentum, turning most pre-race forecasts on their head, making a fourth drivers title look inevitable.


Swiatek and Gauff make winning starts to WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh

Updated 03 November 2024
Follow

Swiatek and Gauff make winning starts to WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh

  • Polish superstar began her title defense with an almighty comeback
  • American had a more straightforward evening

RIYADH: Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff enjoyed winning starts to their WTA Finals campaigns in Riyadh on Sunday, albeit in contrasting fashion.

Swiatek began her title defense with an almighty comeback, rallying back from a set and a double-break down to overcome eighth-seeded Barbora Krejcikova 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in two hours and 33 minutes.

The win was crucial for the Polish second seed to keep her hopes of wrestling back the number one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka alive.  

Meanwhile, third-ranked American Gauff had a more straightforward evening, completing a 6-3, 6-2 win over her compatriot and US Open finalist Jessica Pegula in 75 minutes.

“It was a tough match. She's always a tough opponent. And these conditions against her, it’s tough,” said Gauff, who snapped a three-match losing streak to Pegula.

“But overall, I think I'm just happy with how I played. Sometimes it was sloppy, sometimes it was great, but that's tennis. I thought we both were playing at a high level. I think I just, was able to break through on some of the more important points.”

Earlier at King Saud University Indoor Arena, making her first competitive appearance in two months, Swiatek fell behind 4-6, 0-3 before she mounted a successful comeback against Krejcikova.

"For sure it wasn’t easy. At the beginning I felt a bit rusty but I’m happy I found a way to play a little bit more solid," said Swiatek, who finished the match with a total tally of 10 aces.

"I tried to do the usual stuff that I do to control the ball a bit more because it was flying like crazy off my racquet.

"I knew I had this game in me, I just needed to find it. It was hard to be patient with that but at the end I’m glad I just kept it going and didn’t think what the score was."

Swiatek, a five-time major champion, skipped last month’s Asian swing and hadn’t played a match since her US Open quarter-final exit in early September.

The 23-year-old Pole parted ways with her coach of three years Tomasz Wiktorowski and debuted her new partnership with Belgian coach Wim Fissette at these WTA Finals.

Krejcikova is ranked 13 in the world but claimed a place in Riyadh as one of the tour’s best eight players due to a new rule implemented this season that gives priority to a grand slam champion that maintains a ranking between nine and 20 over the eighth-ranked player in the Race.

FIGHTBACK

Swiatek stared down three consecutive break points in her opening service game. She saved the first two but overcooked a forehand, sending it long to get broken at the start of the match.

A costly double fault saw Krejcikova fall behind 0-40 but the Czech swept the next five points to get out of trouble and inch ahead 4-2.

Swiatek saved a set point with a good serve in the ninth game to hold but Krejcikova was unnerved as she comfortably served out the set to take the lead in 47 minutes.

The two-time Grand Slam champion looked on her way to a comfortable straight-sets victory when she went up 3-0 with a double-break in the second set, punishing Swiatek’s second serve and benefitting from her opponent’s mistimed shots.

But that only sparked a fightback from Swiatek, who erased her deficit by grabbing the next four games to take the lead for the first time in the match.

Krejcikova double-faulted at a crucial moment, handing Swiatek two set point opportunities in game 12. Swiatek converted her second chance to clinch the set and force a decider.

That took the wind out of Krejcikova’s sails as Swiatek quickly carved a 5-0 gap. 

Swiatek got broken while serving for the match but quickly self-corrected, breaking Krejcikova in game eight to seal the win.

With Sabalenka’s opening round win over Zheng Qinwen on Saturday, Swiatek will now need to win the title, while winning at least two round robin matches, in order to secure the year-end number one ranking.


Ajaz stars as New Zealand beat India 3-0 in historic Test sweep

Updated 03 November 2024
Follow

Ajaz stars as New Zealand beat India 3-0 in historic Test sweep

  • Spinner Ajaz Patel takes six wickets as New Zealand beat India by 25 runs 
  • It is the first time India has been swept in Test series at home since 1999-2000 

MUMBAI: New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel took six wickets as his side sealed a historic 3-0 Test sweep in India with a thrilling 25-run win in the third Test on Sunday.
Chasing 147 for victory, India were bowled out for 121 in 29.1 overs on day three, after Rishabh Pant hit a valiant 64 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Ajaz roared in delight as he bowled Washington Sundar to take the final wicket and the Black Caps celebrated a first Test series win on Indian soil in style.
It was the first time India had been swept in a Test series at home since South Africa’s 2-0 win in 1999-2000 and the first time they were beaten 3-0 at home.
“This will be a very low point in my career, having lost three games at home,” India skipper Rohit Sharma told reporters.
“I fully take responsibility for that. As a leader, I have not been at the best of my abilities right from the start of the series.
“With the bat as well, I have not been good enough.”
New Zealand did the unthinkable under new captain Tom Latham, and in the absence of senior batsman Kane Williamson, who was recovering from a groin injury back home.
The Black Caps turned around their fortunes from a 2-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka, and made India suffer their first Test series loss at home in 12 years.
“Very ecstatic,” said Latham. “Looking back at the start of the series, to now be in this position, the boys have done a fantastic job over the last three Test matches.”
Mumbai-born New Zealander Ajaz ended with a match-haul of 11 wickets at a venue where he created history by claiming all 10 wickets in a Test innings in 2021.
In a tricky chase on a turning pitch, New Zealand reduced India to 29-5, before the left-hander Pant made counter-attacked with his half-century.
Ajaz, after lunch, had Pant caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, a decision denied by the on-field umpire but successfully reviewed by New Zealand. An unconvinced Pant trudged back.
“If we say something, it will not go down well. If the decision is not conclusive then the decision has to stand with what the on-field umpire calls,” said Rohit.
“I don’t know how that decision was overturned.”
Glenn Phillips then got two in two balls and Ajaz wrapped up the innings to be named player of the match.
India bowled out New Zealand quickly for 174 in the first session, with Ravindra Jadeja taking five wickets on a turning wicket for 10 in the match.
But the New Zealand bowlers led by Ajaz ripped into India’s top order.
Fast bowler Matt Henry dismissed Rohit Sharma in the third over, getting the captain to mis-hit to Phillips at midwicket for 11.
He extended his poor run with the bat in the series with scores of 2, 52, 0, 8 and 18 in his previous five innings.
Ajaz bowled Shubman Gill and then had Virat Kohli, on one, caught by Daryl Mitchell at slip to silence the home crowd.
Kohli has also struggled in the series, with just one half-century and four single-digit scores in the series.
Pant put on 42 runs for the sixth wicket to revive the chase, but Ajaz struck again to remove Jadeja for six.
Will Young’s 71 and 51 in the two New Zealand innings proved key and he was named player of the series for amassing 244 runs.


Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan take titles at WWE Riyadh Season event

Updated 03 November 2024
Follow

Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan take titles at WWE Riyadh Season event

  • The night was not short on surprises, as the match between Randy Orton and Kevin Owens ended with no result because of unexpected interference

RIYADH: In an extraordinary night at Mohammed Abdu Arena as part of Riyadh Season’s WWE events, “Crown Jewel 2024” delivered a memorable evening of intense matches that wrestling fans will not soon forget.

The General Entertainment Authority CEO, Faisal Bafarat, awarded Cody Rhodes the “Crown Jewel 2024” men’s title and Liv Morgan the women’s title, with both receiving a new championship belt adorned with 50 carats of diamonds as the first champions in Crown Jewel history.

The event kicked off with an explosive opening match in which “The Bloodline,” led by Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga (accompanied by Tanga Loa), achieved a historic victory over Roman Reigns and “The Usos” (Jey and Jimmy Uso) in a six-man tag team match.

In the WWE women’s tag team championship match, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill defended their titles successfully against fierce competition from teams including “Damage Control,” “The Meta-4,” and Chelsea Green with Piper Niven. Seth “Freakin” Rollins also delivered an outstanding performance, defeating “Big” Bronson Reed.

In the women’s showdown, Liv Morgan, the reigning RAW women’s champion, claimed the title of “Crown Jewel Women’s Champion” after defeating SmackDown women’s champion Nia Jax in a grueling battle.

The night was not short on surprises, as the match between Randy Orton and Kevin Owens ended with no result because of unexpected interference, heightening the evening’s excitement.

In a triple-threat match for the United States Championship, LA Knight retained his title after an intense victory over Andrade and Carmelo Hayes.

The night culminated in a grand finale as Cody Rhodes, the undisputed WWE champion, defeated heavyweight champion Gunther, emerging as the Crown Jewel Champion to thunderous cheers from the crowd.