Opportunities knock for women cricketers

Women’s cricket is on a roll nationally, and Marlborough’s administrators are keen to maintain that momentum in this province.

Eden Pettigrew, Marlborough Cricket Association’s community cricket development manager, and the MCA executive’s women’s committee have finalised a pathway for cricket in the region during the 2021-22 season.

Board member Caroline Aberhart says, “we are on track to have cricket for women and girls of all ages and skill levels this season”.

Among new initiatives is the formation of a girls-only cricket league, running on similar lines to the current boys’ fifth grade competition, staged on Friday evenings throughout the regular season.

Eden says this competition is an introductory grade aimed at girls of any age up to 15, although there is expected to be flexibility around the age limits. A traditional ball will be used for the limited-over league, which is planned to begin in October.

From there players have the option of competing in the existing women’s social competition or moving into a new women’s programme, designed to get women’s cricket at a higher level up and running. For that group there will be training throughout October, then some Women’s Cricket League [WCL] matches in November leading into possible rep fixtures.

The popular women’s social league is played on Wednesday night, in a six-a-side format and is scheduled to run for five weeks prior to Christmas and five weeks early in the New Year.

Caroline says one of the group’s aims is to grow the social competition, “which has been so successful in getting women to give cricket a go over the past couple of seasons”.

Eden, who has several years coaching experience for Sydenham Cricket Club, Christchurch Metro and Canterbury Junior Cricket Associations, says some players may decide to take part in the social league as well as the WCL.

She envisages strong support for the various women’s initiatives.

“Women’s cricket is on the rise in general,” suggested Eden. “It is growing stronger each year … getting more and more coverage on TV.

“Also, everyone in Blenheim is so sporty. You talk to people who say, ‘the parents are playing sport, the kids are playing sport, everyone is enjoying it and getting amongst it’.

“So there should be room for [women’s cricket] ... plus there are not many other team summer sports around at the moment.”

Also on offer this year for potential cricketers is a Women’s Cricket Festival, to be held immediately before the social league begins, then another Festival at the end of the season, this event proving popular last season.

The local association have piggybacked off a NZ Cricket initiative, named ‘Yeah! Girls’, which is aimed at attracting players to the game in a less-traditional fashion, to help with funding and gear. Also getting on board locally are the Churchill Trust, who are sponsoring the Women’s Cricket Development Programme.

Summing up, Eden says, “I guess the real aim of this is to take the success of the women’s social tournament and build women’s cricket in the region.

“We know that there are females who want to play more competitive cricket so eventually I would like to see a 6-8 team competition among the girls and a four-team competition for the women as well.”

To inquire about women’s cricket in Marlborough contact Eden - eden@marlboroughcricket.co.nz