womens Twenty20 before mens Twenty20

[jemo27]

will beintresting if the proposal of Austrlai playing England before Aus V India on Feburary 1 goes and how the domestic matchs are recived.

espeically if this happens

Women's World Twenty20 to run alongside the men's

Exclusive by Jenny Thompson

December 19, 2007



Australia's captain Karen Rolton and team-mate Lisa Sthalekar could soon be competing alongside their men in the teams' bid to put the World Twenty20 cups in their cabinets © GNN Photo




Women's cricket is set for a massive boost as the ICC has provisionally approved a World Twenty20 to run alongside the men's. The move, which is subject to budget approval, would come into effect for the next tournament in England in 2009.

This is potentially huge news for the game as this could open the door to big sponsorship deals and increased exposure both on television and at the grounds themselves. Women's cricket has been fighting to improve its image and attract new fans to the game but with little exposure sponsors have largely stayed away, trapping it inside a vicious circle.

But the ICC could help them break out in a move which ticks the box of financial feasibility. With matches running at the same grounds, there would be no extra set-up costs for the TV companies, with the cameras and crew already in place for the men.

The ICC's finance and commercial affairs committee will meet early next year to make the crucial decision which could mean that the women, like the men, play two World Cups in a year, with the 50-over version in Australia earlier that year.

An ICC spokesperson confirmed to Cricinfo: "The ICC board, in its last meeting in Dubai in October, approved the women's ICC World Twenty20 which will be played simultaneously with the men's ICC World Twenty20 in England in 2009."

The news comes following several successful trials this year of scheduling women's domestic games as curtain raisers for the men's in Australia and England.

As the ICC have not officially announced the tournament, no captains, players or coaches were allowed to speak to Cricinfo for comment, however it is a fair bet that they will be privately delighted with the news as their sport is on the brink of getting some of the recognition it sorely needs.

Austalian women's cricket could benefit in particular from the exposure. While the game already features on TV in England at least twice a year, as Sky are obliged through their ECB deal to show at least two one-dayers, and regularly in New Zealand and India, the last time it was shown in Australia - the fourth major player in the women's game, and arguably the best - was as a one-off, the 2005 World Cup final in South Africa which Australia won.

There are already encouraging signs, however, as Cricket Australia could schedule Australia women's Twenty20 against England as the curtain-raiser for Australia men's match against India on February 1 which could be televised.

Since the World Cup final, against India, Australia have retained the Rose Bowl against New Zealand, beaten England in a one-day series and won the quadrangular tournament in India which features the world's top teams. But while netball and basketball are covered comprehensively alongside women's tennis, swimming and athletics, the country's No 1 sport of cricket - in which Australia women are the No 1 team in the world - remains elusive.

Nevertheless CA are making efforts to attract women to the game. Australia was the first country to schedule domestic Twenty20s as curtain raisers to the men's state game in January earlier this year. England following suit in June and in the same month the Afro-Asia women's XI played before the men's equivalent.

But TV is the next major step and Twenty20 yet again may be the answer early next year, and in the years to come.

Jenny Thompson is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

[cover drive man]

Doesn't matter itbt. No offense.

[Richard]

Touch on the odd side title TBH.

[Matt79]

Are they going to have dancing men in swimsuits at the women's 20/20 matches, to provide equivalence to the cheerleaders at the men's games?

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by Matt79

Are they going to have dancing men in swimsuits at the women's 20/20 matches, to provide equivalence to the cheerleaders at the men's games?

At the mens 20/20 Championship in South Africa they had equal amount of female and male dancers.

Good on the women cricketers.

[sideshowtim]

I wouldn't mind watching women's cricket if it wasn't like watching a couple of Under-15 rep sides go head to head. I'm sorry, but that's the reality of it. Women's cricket is absolutely horrible to watch.

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by sideshowtim

I wouldn't mind watching women's cricket if it wasn't like watching a couple of Under-15 rep sides go head to head. I'm sorry, but that's the reality of it. Women's cricket is absolutely horrible to watch.

When I watch women cricket I just think everyone is batting and bowling with there bad hand..

[Perm]

Would only watch women's cricket if there was some decent talent out there. In all sense of the word.

[Matt79]

Maybe if it was beach cricket, a la beach volleyball...

[sideshowtim]

Originally Posted by Matt79

Maybe if it was beach cricket, a la beach volleyball...

Mate, have you seen any female cricketers?

In 99% of cases, I'd prefer they keep their clothes on...

[Perm]

Originally Posted by NUFAN

At the mens 20/20 Championship in South Africa they had equal amount of female and male dancers.

Good on the women cricketers.

Not that I was paying a great deal of attention ,but there seemed to be 1 man and 2 women for every platform in the Twenty20 games I've seen from South Africa.

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by Perm

Not that I was paying a great deal of attention ,but there seemed to be 1 man and 2 women for every platform in the Twenty20 games I've seen from South Africa.

I thought i saw 2 and 2 and it was because Twenty20 is as much targeted to girls as guys.

[sideshowtim]

Originally Posted by NUFAN

I thought i saw 2 and 2 and it was because Twenty20 is as much targeted to girls as guys.

If Twenty20 is aimed at women, New Zealand should seriously start looking towards dropping Scott Styris from their T20 side.

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by sideshowtim

If Twenty20 is aimed at women, New Zealand should seriously start looking towards dropping Scott Styris from their T20 side.

I reckon some of the Grannies would have a crack at Styris.

[Matt79]

Well, maybe they need to look at their selection criteria.

BTW, when does this thread begin to need to be moved to the 'cricket humour' section.