Female sport has by and large been a ‘by the way’ past-time at the cost of placing more emphasis on their male counterparts. I’m strongly in opposition to this practice and really hope that women in sports are given their due.
If you dare to disagree with my preamble, then ask yourself who are the female teams currently contesting the WNBA postseason which is coinciding with the NBA’s?
I’m sure some of you don’t know.
And it really isn’t your fault. There is an imbalance as it relates to the coverage of female sports by broadcasters, myself and fellow journalists.
I mentioned all that in the context of the upcoming West Indies versus England bilateral series. It comes on the heels of an amazing English summer where the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) hosted four bilateral series during the ongoing pandemic.
It’s now a noble effort by the ECB to get the women on the park. I think even some of the girls were stunned by the ECB’s determination.
“I actually thought we wouldn’t have any women’s cricket for the rest of the year. I just kept training and doing things here and there and kept motivating myself in all ways. I started playing cricket with my cousins, the boys, just to keep active and keep that work up of playing cricket,” Deandra Dottin, vice-captain of the Caribbean side told ESPN.
The need for an infusion of more financial and other support was underscored by England’s Heather Knight who during a recent interview with ESPN’s Alan Grander called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to be a bit more generous with resource distribution.
“That would be great, that would make a big statement,” Knight said when responding to questions about setting up a specific fund to springboard female cricket as was done for the men.
“A year not playing international cricket for a player will stunt their growth. So a fund would be amazing, I know it’s tough at the moment, there’s only so much money and everyone is struggling and wants support. But yeah, I think that would be a really strong move by the ICC that they do back the women’s game and want to see it grow. Obviously it’s starting to become a real commercial product, as well, so the more support it gets the more it’s going to grow.” Knight elaborated.
Essentially, the likes of Knight and Dottin need our support. There are two members of their sides which will contest five-match T-20 series beginning today. It will be the first women bilateral series since the forced hiatus due to COVID – 19. Let’s reward their bravery by not only looking at the games but by also giving in-depth media coverage.
