History of Women’s Cricket: From 1745 to the Modern Global Game
A timeline of women’s cricket, from the first reported match in 1745 and the first Test in 1934 to World Cups, T20 leagues and record crowds.
Women have played cricket for nearly as long as the modern game has existed. For most of that time, it was a limited and often overlooked part of the sport. Over the past few decades, though, women’s cricket has grown into a professional, global competition with its own world championships, leagues and large audiences. This guide looks at the key moments.
Early beginnings
The earliest reported women’s match took place in 1745 in Surrey, England, between teams from Bramley and Hambledon, according to newspaper accounts of the time. Through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, matches were played here and there, often as novelties. In 1887 the White Heather Club was formed in Yorkshire, and it is generally described as one of the first organised women’s clubs. As the game spread through the British Empire, women’s teams began to form in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.
Organisation and the first Tests
In England, the Women’s Cricket Association was founded in 1926 to organise and promote the game. This helped set up regular competition and international tours. The first women’s Test match was played in December 1934 in Brisbane, where England defeated Australia by nine wickets. Women’s Test cricket remained relatively infrequent in the decades that followed, with a small number of nations playing multi-day matches.
World Cups arrive
The first Women’s World Cup was held in England in 1973, two years before the first men’s tournament. England won that tournament, beating Australia in the final. Other editions followed at intervals, and Australia, England and New Zealand became the leading sides. The format grew in the following years as more countries, including India, South Africa and the West Indies, took part regularly.
Joining the mainstream
A significant step came in 2005, when the International Women’s Cricket Council merged with the International Cricket Council. Bringing both men’s and women’s cricket under one governing body made it easier to improve funding, scheduling and promotion. Women’s Twenty20 internationals expanded rapidly, and the first Women’s T20 World Cup took place in England in 2009, which England won.
The T20 era and professional leagues
Domestic leagues have reshaped the game. Key milestones include:
- The Women’s Big Bash League in Australia, launched in the 2015-16 season, became a model for a professional T20 competition.
- The Hundred in England staged women’s matches alongside the men’s from its first season in 2021.
- The Women’s Premier League in India held its first season in 2023, and Mumbai Indians won the inaugural title.
These competitions have opened up regular professional careers for players in a way that was rare in earlier generations, and have given younger fans a chance to see women’s cricket on prime-time television.
Record crowds
Attendances have reflected the growth in interest. The final of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground drew a crowd of 86,174, a record for a women’s cricket match, as Australia beat India. Events like this showed that the appetite for the women’s game could fill the biggest stadiums.
Challenges and progress
Despite this growth, women’s cricket has had to overcome unequal pay, limited coverage and fewer opportunities at grassroots level. Boards have taken steps to improve pay and facilities, and many have introduced central contracts and development pathways for girls. The pace of change varies between countries, and issues around scheduling and funding remain subjects of debate.
From a reported village match in 1745 to packed stadiums in the twenty-first century, the story of women’s cricket is one of steady expansion. This guide covers the history up to 2024, and later developments are not included.
Frequently asked questions
When was the first women’s Test match?
It was played in December 1934 in Brisbane, with England beating Australia by nine wickets.
When was the first Women’s Cricket World Cup?
The first tournament was held in England in 1973, two years before the first men’s World Cup, and England won it.
What was the biggest crowd for a women’s cricket match?
The 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground had an attendance of 86,174, which was a record for a women’s cricket match.