Australia confirms its dominance of women’s cricket

At present, a Women’s Ashes series is being played in Australia and an International Cricket Council Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia. (AFP)
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Updated 30 January 2025
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Australia confirms its dominance of women’s cricket

  • In the ongoing Ashes series against England, the Australian players have displayed an unmatched athleticism and indomitable will to win  

Amongst the plethora of men’s cricket tournaments being played around the world, it might seem easy to overlook a number of women’s events also taking place — which are indicative of the latter’s remarkable growth over the last decade.

At present, a Women’s Ashes series is being played in Australia and an International Cricket Council Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia. And Bangladesh’s women are touring the West Indies for a three-match series in both T20Is and One-Day Internationals.

In Australia, the 50-over Women’s National Cricket League resumed after the final of the Women’s Big Bash League on Dec. 1, 2024, which concludes on March 2. In New Zealand, the final of the women’s Super-Smash tournament is scheduled for Feb. 1.

One of New Zealand’s most prominent players and captain, Sophie Devine, will take no further part in that tournament. She is to take an immediate break from the game. This means she will miss the Women’s Premier League 2025 in India, in which she is part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

According to New Zealand Cricket, this is to “prioritize her well-being” after receiving professional advice. The statement added that a “decision on Devine’s playing future will be announced in due course.”

This all sounds a little ominous for Devine, who is now 35. Since October 2024, when she was part of the T20 World Cup winning team, Devine has played in an ODI series against India, in the WBBL for the Perth Scorchers and in an ODI series against Australia in late December.

In her career, she has played almost 300 international games. The amount of cricket now played by top players, albeit well rewarded, takes its toll, both mentally and physically.

Such a toll is being felt very keenly by England’s women’s cricketers in Australia. The Ashes series consists of three ODIs, three T20 matches and a single Test match. A points-based system is used to determine the winning team. Two points are awarded for an ODI and T20I win, one point each for a tie or no result.

Victory in a Test match earns four points, with two each in a draw. The England team has suffered the chastening experience of being beaten in all three ODIs and in all three T20Is. This provides Australia with 12 points and, going into the Test match which started on Jan. 30, were in determined mood to complete a clean sweep.

This would be historic. England won the first series under the points-based system in August 2013 and then defended that position in Australia in early 2014. However, Australia regained the trophy in England in 2015 and, since then, have not let hold in five consecutive series.

The series in 2017/18 and 2023 were drawn at eight points each, Australia retaining the Ashes as holders. A clean sweep in 2025 would be an embarrassment for England.

It will place increased pressure on both the coach, Jon Lewis and the captain, Heather Knight, who has led England 199 times in international matches. There has been a focus on why England’s performances have been so disappointing. One suggestion came from a recent former England player, Alex Hartley, now working as a commentator and pundit.

After England’s surprise elimination in the Women’s T20 World Cup last October, she questioned the physical fitness of some team members. In Australia, she has reiterated this theme. It has been clear throughout the series that the Australian players are super-fit, display an unmatched athleticism and an indomitable will to win.

Hartley’s comments have brought her into conflict with some of her former teammates, who have shunned her, even refusing to be interviewed. Although there have been denials that fitness is an issue, a siege mentality appears to have developed within the squad.

This does not augur well for an improved performance in the Test match. It also brings into sharp focus the boundaries between what constitutes acceptable criticism from former teammates. Hartley wants England to do better and justifies her criticism as a push for them to achieve improvement.

It will require a big push to catch up with the Australians. The current coach of the Australian under-19 women’s team is in no doubt that the current senior squad have pushed performance and athleticism to new heights. In the U-19 Women’s World Cup, Australia have reached the semifinals, along with South Africa, whom they will play on Jan. 31, England and India. All four teams deserve their places but, in a possible pointer for the future, the Nigerian team came within a point of reaching the semifinals.

On this evidence alone, there is proof that the women’s game is growing both in geographical reach and playing numbers. This is one of the achievements of which the ICC is proud. A prime mover behind this has been its CEO, Geoff Allardice.

This week it was announced that Allardice would be stepping down after four years in the post, to “pursue new challenges.” His departure, in the early days of Jay Shah’s tenure as chair, follows those of the heads of the anti-corruption unit, events and the general manager of marketing and communication.

Under Shah’s watch, women’s cricket is set to reach new levels. These will be driven not just by ICC tournaments but by national boards. They need to attract and develop higher quality talent to the game, all in competition with other sports.

Australia is helped by having a stable domestic structure, whereas that in England and Wales has changed three times since 2015. Attracting talent is also driven by salary levels.

Significantly, within the last 10 years, the cricket boards in Australia and England introduced professional central contracts for women. In Australia’s case, a new five-year deal has increased salaries by two-thirds.

The top international players now have the opportunity to boost their incomes through domestic and franchise tournaments, plus endorsements.

One can understand the frustrations of commentators — such as Hartley who are aware of the similar rewards for top women players in both England and Australia — watching the latter being so dominating.


Virat Kohli leads India to Champions Trophy final with victory over Australia in Dubai

Updated 04 March 2025
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Virat Kohli leads India to Champions Trophy final with victory over Australia in Dubai

  • They will face South Africa or New Zealand in the final on Sunday

DUBAI: Veteran batsman Virat Kohli rolled back the years with a polished 84 as India pulled off a tense chase to beat Australia by four wickets in the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy on Tuesday.
Set 265 for victory, India lost the 36-year-old Kohli in the closing overs but KL Rahul’s unbeaten 42 steered the team home with 11 balls to spare at the Dubai International Stadium.
They will face South Africa or New Zealand in the final on Sunday in Dubai with India playing all their matches at the venue after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan for the eight-nation event.
Lahore was the alternate venue for the final had India missed out.
Australia elected to bat and posted the highest total of 264 all out at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in this tournament after key knocks from skipper Steve Smith, who made 73, and Alex Carey, who hit 61.
In reply India lost two early wickets before Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, who made 45, put the chase back on track in their partnership of 91.
Cooper Connolly, making the team in place of injured Matthew Short who was forced out of the tournament on Monday, trapped skipper Rohit Sharma lbw on 28 for his first ODI wicket.
Kohli and Iyer then took stock against an inexperienced Australian attack missing their top fast bowlers including Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to injuries.
But the next line of bowlers stood up as leg-spinner Adam Zampa bowled Iyer before pace bowler Nathan Ellis rattled the stumps of Axar Patel for 27.
Kohli, known as a master chaser who recently hit an unbeaten 100 in India’s win over arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23, stood firm in another stand with wicketkeeper-batsman Rahul.
Kohli was dropped by Glenn Maxwell off Connolly on 51 but Zampa denied him another ton when he clubbed a googly to Ben Dwarshuis at long-on to leave India at 225-5 and Australia still hoping.
But Rahul kept calm and with Hardik Pandya, who hit three sixes in his 28, put on 34 off 31 balls to ease the pressure.
Ellis removed Pandya, another catch at long-on, but Rahul hit the winning six as a largely Indian crowd roared in delight.
Earlier, Australia lost regular wickets but kept coming back with partnerships including 50-plus stands between Smith and Labuschagne, who made 29, and then the captain and the left-handed Carey.
India pace spearhead Mohammed Shami stood out with figures of 3-48 as Australia’s innings lasted 49.3 overs. Spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each.
Left-handed opener Travis Head gave the team a quick start with his 39 after losing his partner Connolly for a duck.
India’s victory is a reversal of their last match against Australia when they lost in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
The second semifinal is on Wednesday in Lahore.


India brace for ‘nervy times’ against Australia in semifinal

Updated 03 March 2025
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India brace for ‘nervy times’ against Australia in semifinal

  • Australia are on paper a weaker team from the one that beat India by six wickets in November 2023

DUBAI: Rohit Sharma warned his India team Monday to expect “fightbacks” and “nervy times” against Australia in the Champions Trophy last four in a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final.

India hammered New Zealand by 44 runs Sunday to be unbeaten in three matches and top Group A of the 50-overs tournament played in Dubai and Pakistan.

They next face the Steve Smith-led Australia on Tuesday in Dubai for a place in the final of the eight-nation event.

Australia beat Ashes rivals England by five wickets in their opening match but their next two games were abandoned because of rain.

They are also missing several key players, but the Australians have a reputation for raising their game when it matters and beat hosts India in the World Cup final, the last time the two countries played an ODI.

“Look, it is a great opposition to play against,” skipper Rohit told reporters.

“All we have to do is what we have been thinking about the last three games and we have to approach that game in a similar fashion.

“We understand the opposition and how they play and stuff like that.”

Australia are on paper a weaker team from the one that beat India by six wickets in Ahmedabad in November 2023.

The world champions lost fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to ankle and hip injuries respectively for the Champions Trophy.

They are also without Mitchell Starc, who is out for personal reasons.

Mitchell Marsh is also absent with an injury and Marcus Stoinis announced his retirement on the eve of the tournament.

“Look, Australia have been such a great team over the years,” said Rohit.

“So we will expect some fightbacks, we will expect some nervy times as well in the middle.

“But that is how the game is being played these days. And you are talking about a semifinal.”

India went in with four spinners including two all-rounders in their last group match in Dubai and came up trumps with Varun Chakravarthy returning figures of 5-42.

Rohit said he will be tempted to keep the same combination against Australia.

“He just showed what he is capable of,” Rohit said of man of the match Chakravarthy, a wrist spinner with many variations up his sleeve.

“Now it is up to us to think and see how we can get that combination right. He did everything that was asked for ... it is a good headache to have.”

India have been slammed for playing all their matches at one venue, in Dubai, while other teams shuttle between three Pakistani cities and the UAE.

India refused to play in tournament hosts Pakistan because of political tension.

Rohit dismissed the notion it gives India an advantage.

“Even for us it is a little bit of a question mark as to which pitch is being played,” said Rohit.

“Because there are four or five surfaces that are being used here. I don’t know which pitch is going to be played in the semifinals.

“But whatever happens we will have to adapt and see what is happening and what is not. And this is not our home, this is Dubai.”


India set up ICC Champions Trophy clash with Australia

Updated 02 March 2025
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India set up ICC Champions Trophy clash with Australia

  • India are playing all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan due to security reasons

DUBAI: Spinner Varun Chakravarthy returned figures of 5-42 as India beat New Zealand by 44 runs on Sunday to set up a semifinal clash with Australia in the Champions Trophy.

India won all three of their group matches to top Group A and will play the first semifinal of the 50-over tournament in Dubai on Tuesday.

New Zealand will take on Group B winners South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday.

India are playing all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan due to security reasons.

Australia and South Africa had to travel to Dubai from Pakistan despite not knowing if they would be playing there, as India were told ahead of the tournament they would play the first semifinal if they qualified no matter where they finished in the group.

South Africa will now have to fly back to Pakistan ahead of their meeting with New Zealand.

Shreyas Iyer’s 79 and a late 45 by Hardik Pandya steered India to 249-9 after being invited to bat first.

New Zealand pace bowler Matt Henry stood out with figures of 5-42 from his eight overs.

Chakravarthy took his first ODI five-wicket haul in just his second match as India bowled out New Zealand for 205 in 45.3 overs despite a valiant 81 by Kane Williamson.

Williamson survived two dropped catches on 17 and 68 in his 120-ball knock before he finally fell, stumped off Axar Patel.

New Zealand lost Rachin Ravindra early as Patel took a superb catch to dismiss the opener for six.

Chakravarthy cut short Will Young’s innings on 22 when he bowled him with a googly.

Williamson stood firm but could not find a long-term partner as Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham were dismissed for 17 and 14 respectively.

India’s spinners dominated in helpful conditions, as Kuldeep Yadav sent back Mitchell and Ravindra Jadeja trapped Latham lbw.

In between the two wickets, Williamson hit Jadeja for a boundary to raise his 47th ODI half-century but India kept taking wickets.

Earlier, India were in trouble at 30-3 when Virat Kohli, playing in his 300th one-day international, fell victim to a stunning one-handed catch from Glenn Phillips.

An airborne Phillips clung on to a fast-traveling ball at backward point to dimiss Kohli for 11 off Henry.

Kohli was left standing in disbelief before trudging off the ground to stunned silence.

Iyer and Patel, who made 42, put on 98 for the fourth wicket to rebuild the innings against a disciplined New Zealand attack.

Another stunning catch, this time by Williamson, who flung himself to his left at backward point to make a one-handed grab close to the ground, dismissed Jadeja for 16 off Henry.

Pandya struck four fours and two sixes in his run-a-ball innings to give India a total which proved to be enough.


South Africa upstage hapless England to reach Champions Trophy semis

Updated 01 March 2025
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South Africa upstage hapless England to reach Champions Trophy semis

  • The victory means South Africa, who topped Group B with five points, a point more than Australia, join the Aussies in the semifinals

KARACHI: South Africa qualified for the semifinals of the Champions Trophy on Saturday with a convincing seven wicket win over a hapless England in a Group B match in Karachi.

Wiaan Mulder (3-25) and Marco Jansen (3-39) bowled out England for a paltry 179 in 38.2 overs before South Africa chased down the target for the loss of three wickets in 29.1 overs.

The victory means South Africa, who topped Group B with five points, a point more than Australia, join the Aussies in the semifinals while India and New Zealand — who meet in Dubai on Sunday — are in the last four from Group A.

As for England, they have endured a wretched tournament, with this their third loss coming after defeats to Australia and then to Afghanistan which ended their interest in the tournament with a game to spare.

The India-New Zealand clash will determine the semifinal lineups, the first in Dubai on March 4 while the second is in Lahore a day later.

India, whose government refused to send its national team to Pakistan over political tensions, will play their semifinal in Dubai irrespective of where they finish in the Group.

If India qualify for the final it will be played in Dubai on March 9. If not, Lahore will stage the final.

Stand-in skipper Aiden Markram praised Jansen.

“He’s (Jansen) been huge for us,” said Markram of the left-armer. “We all know in the powerplay, especially in conditions like this, you need to be taking wickets up front. He’s been peaking at the right time for us.”

Outgoing England skipper Jos Buttler rued another poor show.

“A really disappointing performance,” said Buttler. “We’re not going on and making those big, telling contributions which has been a story of this side
for some time now with the bat.”

Fast bowler Jofra Archer dismissed Tristan Stubbs (nought) and Ryan Rickelton (27) with the score on 47 but Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen kept South Africa on track with a 127-run stand for the third wicket.

Klaasen, who scored a 56-ball 64 with 11 boundaries, fell to spinner Adil Rashid with just five needed for victory which David Miller completed with a six.

Dussen hit three sixes and six boundaries in his unbeaten 87-ball 72. Archer had figures of 2-55 while Rashid took 1-37.

Earlier, Mulder and Jansen destroyed the top-order after England won the toss and batted.

Spinner Keshav Maharaj had figures of 2-35 as England’s batting chart presented a sorry picture with Joe Root the highest scorer with 37.

The fact that England were already out with two defeats in as many games and Buttler having stepped down after this match left them dispirited.

Jansen removed opener Phil Salt (eight), Jamie Smith (nought) and Ben Duckett (24) in an incisive first spell of five overs.

He then took a brilliant diving catch at long-on off Maharaj to send Harry Brook back for 19, ending a 62-run fourth-wicket stand with Root.

Just four runs later, England suffered a massive blow when Root was bowled by Mulder and the problems worsened with Liam Livingstone dismissed by Maharaj for nine.

Root’s 44-ball knock had one six and four boundaries.

Buttler (21) and Archer (25) added 42 runs for the eighth wicket but once Archer was dismissed by Mulder the last two wickets fell with the addition of just eight runs.

South Africa had to leave out regular skipper Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi who were both unwell while Markram was also forced to leave the field with a hamstring problem.


Social Cricket program promotes women’s participation

Updated 27 February 2025
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Social Cricket program promotes women’s participation

  • Mohammed Alharbi: Our event in the IMSIU was under our Social Cricket program, which is focusing on promoting cricket within families and individuals
  • Alharbi: Our goal for 2025 is to make at least one event each month under the Social Cricket program in five different cities across the Kingdom

RIYADH: With the inspiring rise of cricket in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation has launched the Social Cricket program, promoting women’s participation in the sport.

Under the ambitious program, SACF aims to organize camps for boys and girls in different cities across the Kingdom.

One such camp was organized by the SACF at the Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh recently, where more than 250 female students experienced the game of cricket for the first time.

“A day filled with fun, teamwork, and discovering a new passion! ” the federation posted on X.

Mohammed Alharbi, SACF media coordinator, told Arab News: “Our event in the IMSIU was under our Social Cricket program, which is focusing on promoting cricket within families and individuals, creating opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels to enjoy the sport.”

“Our goal for 2025 is to make at least one event each month under the Social Cricket program in five different cities across the Kingdom,” Alharbi said.

The five cities are Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Yanbu and Jubail. “After Riyadh, we are working on a camp in other cities and we will announce it soon,” he said.

In collaboration with the International Cricket Council, the SACF is also organizing the Women’s Criiio Festival, promoting women’s cricket in the different cities.

SACF runs a social media campaign ahead of the events, encouraging cricket-lovers to join the program in their city.

“Don’t miss out on a weekend of fun, energy, and unforgettable moments!” the SACF posted on X, promoting the campaign.

Earlier this month, the SACF, represented by Alaa Alduaijy, also participated in the ICC Asia Women’s Development Conference, joining discussions on the growth of women’s cricket in the region.

The conference focused on development strategies, collaboration opportunities, and initiatives to further advance women’s cricket.

Last year, the federation launched the Schools Cricket program, aimed at promoting the sport among boys and girls across the Kingdom.