London
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has taken a significant step towards gender equality in cricket by announcing an immediate increase in match fees for the women’s national team to align them with the fees paid to the men’s side. This decision ensures that parity in match fees will come into effect during England Women’s upcoming white-ball home series against Sri Lanka. England now joins the ranks of cricketing nations such as New Zealand, India, and South Africa, which have already equalized match fees for their respective international men’s and women’s teams. The move is part of a broader effort to enhance the women’s game and make cricket more appealing to girls and young women. The ECB has witnessed substantial growth in the women’s cricket sector, highlighted by record-breaking attendance figures of 110,000 during this summer’s Women’s Ashes series in June and July. England set new attendance records for women’s international matches at Edgbaston, the Kia Oval, and Lord’s. Matches at Taunton, Bristol, and Hampshire were sold out during the series against Australia. England Women’s captain, Heather Knight, expressed her enthusiasm for this landmark development and thanked the PCA (Professional Cricketers’ Association) and England Women’s Player Partnership for their support in advancing the professional game. The ECB emphasized that this increase in investment follows salary hikes in domestic competitions earlier this year and a significant boost in salaries for women’s players participating in The Hundred. Additionally, female cricketers now have enhanced earning opportunities in various international tournaments, making cricket one of the most lucrative options among female team sports. The commitment to the growth of the women’s and girls’ game remains a priority for the ECB.
