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Follow UsA picture speaks a thousand words.
Some pictures speak much more than that, and are more iconic than others.
Over the last 15 years, the landscape of women’s cricket has changed so much, but this extravaganza started in 2009 when a certain Charlotte Edwards lifted the iconic T20 World Cup in front of the home fans at the Lord’s.
Lord’s + Charlotte Edwards + WT20WC = 🔥
Poor New Zealand. All the way to the final, only to scramble at the end.
But within a year, they were back at the all-familiar stage, another T20 World Cup final.
It was on a used surface in Bridgetown, just hours after England had wrapped their first-ever T20 World Cup title. The challenge in front of New Zealand was completely different, it was a different beast. Now, they were dealing with what the kids today call 🐐.
Yes, it was the match that put 19-year-old Ellyse Alexandra Perry on the world map. Guess what, she batted at No.10 in that game. But that isn’t why this match is famous. With New Zealand requiring four off the last ball and a monster Sophie Devine at the crease, it could have been a redemption tale for the White Ferns.
Then came Perry’s boot, and the iconic celebration followed.
That started an Australian revolution, where they were soon going to dominate world cricket.
Different captains but the same result, as Australia yet again dominated, with a four-run win in Sri Lanka against arch-rivals England. No victory is sweeter than the one against your arch-rival.
Then began the Meg Lanning era. From being just one of the batters, Lanning took over the mantle from Fields, a move that was going to change the course of Australia’s future for good.
No-nonsense cricket, Australia yet again annihilated their rivals England. A special hat-trick, quite literally!!!
P.S. Even I wasn’t expecting an image like this. But here’s one T20 🐐 captain meeting a T20 🐐 in men’s cricket.
Then came the Gangnam style.
Stefanie Taylor saw the immense potential in 18-year-old Hayley Matthews. Together, they formed a brutal partnership that eased their way past a dominant Australian team.
Imagine beating Lanning’s 'unbeatables' and that too by eight wickets. West Indies didn’t have one but two parties that night. With a 45-ball 66 and figures of 1/13, we should have seen that Matthews was going to be the FUTURE OF WEST INDIAN CRICKET.
That feeling of breaking a three-time streak is as sweet as summer sweat.
Women’s cricket was on the rise, but you know when it truly reached its pinnacle? When you know everyone stopped and started taking notice of 22 women playing mind-blowing cricket out on the field?
WHEN 86,174 WERE THERE AT THE ICONIC MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND in 2020.
Women’s cricket peaked. It was a record that, to date, is quite unbelievable. Forget India or Australia, you know who were the real winners? WOMEN’S CRICKET!!
That final was so iconic that they even got the SUPERSTAR Katy Perry to start the ‘Firework’ that night.
Then came the toughest phase for cricket fans. You guessed it right, screw you, COVID-19. A break that saw no cricket being played, as all the enthusiasts had to wait THREE YEARS BEFORE A T20 WORLD CUP.
The wait, arghh.
But when the T20 World Cup came to South Africa, oh boy, what an absolute stunner of a World Cup it was. That definition of a cliffhanger was truly the 2023 edition of the tournament. It saw several firsts, including the first time South Africa reached a final across any gender at the senior level.
Before we got to that final, we have to talk about that MOMENT. That moment that defined the World Cup, if you ask any Indian fan. That god-damn moment when Harmanpreet Kaur’s bat got stuck to the ground and started quite a stellar comeback for that MONSTER OF AN AUSTRALIAN SIDE.
You give them a small sniff, and they completely block your chance to a final.
While Lanning definitely signed off as a true champion, Sune Luus’ South African side couldn’t have been more proud of their effort. Making it to a final is always special, especially when it is the first in your history at any World Cup.
Chin up Luus and co.
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