ICC Women's World Cup 2013: Let the games begin

ICC women world cup 2013 is being unveiled by the captains of West Indies, India, England and Sri Lanka

It has been two years since Mahendra Singh Dhoni helped India to lift the most coveted trophy in cricket history, the ICC Cricket World Cup in their own backyard. Even though the tournament began on February 19 2011, the world cup fever started almost a month ago. The ICC Women’s World Cup 2013 is all set to kick-off on 31st January 2013 in Mumbai. But with just two days to go for the extravaganza, many people haven’t even heard of it. This clearly shows that this is a sport which is purely dominated by men while women are simply ignored. Sports like Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis, Hockey give equal importance for both men and women. Let’s see how women’s cricket evolved over the years and preview the world cup 2013.

The beginning of women’s cricket takes us back to the days of 1934, when the first international match was held between Australia and England. These were the only two teams present in the fray till the introduction of the International Cricket Council for Women. After its inception, teams like India, New Zealand attained international status. The proposal for staging a World Cup started way back in 1971 and it was implemented in the year 1973 (2 years the introduction of men’s WC). Over the years, 9 World Cups took place and Australia won it five times, England thrice and New Zealand once. When the last time the tournament took place in Sydney, England thrashed the White Ferns (New Zealand Women’s team) by 4 wickets.

Interestingly, women cricketers achieved what their men counterparts failed to do. The highest team total in a single innings is a mammoth 455-5 in 50 overs and it belongs to New Zealand women’s cricket team, which punished the Pakistan women’s cricket team in Christchurch in 1997. At that time, when this innings took place, the highest score in men’s cricket was a mere 398-5 by Sri Lanka against Kenya in 1996. Even now, it is 443-9 by Sri Lanka against The Netherlands in 2006.

The highest individual score by a cricketer in ODI’s, irrespective of their gender, is 229* off just 181 balls that includes 22 shots to the fence. This record is held by Australian cricketer Belinda Clarke, when she tore apart the Danish team in 1997. The shocking fact is that it took 13 more years for a male cricketer to score a double hundred. Sachin Tendulkar was the first male cricketer to achieve this in 2010 against South Africa and the other one is Virender Sehwag who scored 219 against the West Indies in 2011. Belinda Clarke is also the highest run-getter in women’s cricket, with a total of 4844 runs in 118 matches in her career that ended in 2005. Aussie Cathryn Fitzpatrick, who has scalped 180 wickets in 109 matches, is the leading wicket taker.

The tenth edition of the Women’s World Cup is scheduled to take place in India. There are eight teams fighting for the ultimate prize. Those eight teams are split into two groups, with Group A consisting of England, India, Sri Lanka and West Indies while Group B includes Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan. The first round matches are slated to take place in Mumbai and Cuttack while the Super Sixes and Knockout matches will be held in Mumbai. Usual suspects Australia and England are the tournament favourites. India, led by their consistent run scorer Mithali Raj, have enough fire power in the form of Jhulan Goswami, Amita Sharma, M.D.Thirush Kamini and Gouher Sultana and have the perfect chance for winning the World Cup in their own territory. This could be the moment that could change women’s cricket in India.

The presence of England captain Charlotte Edwards, Sarah taylor, Pune born Aussie Lisa Sthalekar, Ellyse Perry who represented Australia in both cricket and football, Kiwi Suzie Bates who had represented New Zealand in Rugby, Sarah McGlashan who is the Younger sister of former kiwi wicket keeper Peter McGlashan, West Indian Deandra Dottin, along with some Indian stars, makes the event a much awaited one. Will there be a twist in the tale and can revolutionize women’s cricket in India

Tournament schedule:

Groups:

Group A – England (A1), India (A2), West Indies (A3), Sri Lanka (A4)

Group B – Australia (B1), New Zealand (B2), Pakistan (B3), South Africa (B4)

31 Jan – India v West Indies (D/N), Wankhede Stadium; Australia v Pakistan, BKC

1 Feb – New Zealand v South Africa (D/N), Wankhede Stadium

2 Feb – England v Sri Lanka, Wankhede Stadium

3 Feb – New Zealand v Pakistan, BKC; Australia v South Africa, CCI

4 Feb – India v England, Wankhede Stadium ; Sri Lanka v West Indies, MIG

5 Feb – Pakistan v South Africa, BKC; Australia v New Zealand (D/N), DY Patil

6 Feb – India v Sri Lanka, Wankhede Stadium ; England v West Indies (D/N), CCI

7 Feb – Rest Day 8 Feb – Rest Day

Super Six stage:

9 Feb – A2 v B2 (D/N), Wankhede Stadium; A3 v B3, BKC; A1 v B1 (D/N), CCI; A4 v B4 (7th v 8th Play Off), MIG

10 Feb – Reserve Day

11 Feb – A3 v B2, BKC; A2 v B1 (D/N) (Live on Star Cricket), CCI; A1 v B3, DY Patil

12 Feb – Reserve Day

13 Feb – A3 v B1, Wankhede Stadium; A1 v B2, BKC; A2 v B3, CCI

14 Feb – Reserve Day

15 Feb – 5th v 6th Play Off, BKC; 3rd v 4th Play Off, CCI

16 Feb – Reserve Day

17 Feb – Final (D/N), CCI