View source for Women's cricket

{{Short description|Bat-and-ball game played by women}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox sport
|name=Women's cricket
|image=Southern Stars vs West Indies women's cricket (15519381509).jpg
|imagesize=300 px
|caption={{Longitem|[[Australian women's cricket team|Australian]] batter [[Meg Lanning]] plays a sweep shot while [[Merissa Aguilleira]] of the [[West Indies women's cricket team|West Indies]] keeps wicket during the [[West Indies women's cricket team in Australia in 2014–15|2014 West Indies tour of Australia]] at the [[North Sydney Oval]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of WI Women vs AUS Women 3rd ODI 2014-2016/17 - Score Report |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-women-s-championship-2014-2016-17-772563/australia-women-vs-west-indies-women-3rd-odi-754813/full-scorecard|access-date=2021-04-07|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of AUS Women vs WI Women 2nd ODI 2014-2016/17 - Score Report |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-women-s-championship-2014-2016-17-772563/australia-women-vs-west-indies-women-2nd-odi-754811/full-scorecard|access-date=2021-04-07|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of WI Women vs AUS Women 1st ODI 2014-2016/17 - Score Report |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-women-s-championship-2014-2016-17-772563/australia-women-vs-west-indies-women-1st-odi-754809/full-scorecard|access-date=2021-04-07|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref>}}
|union=[[International Cricket Council]]<br>(formerly [[International Women's Cricket Council]])
|first=26 July 1745, [[Surrey]] (first recorded)<ref name=Sykes2015/>
|contact=[[Contact sport#Non-contact|No]]
|team=11 players per side ([[Substitute (cricket)|substitutes]] permitted in some circumstances)
|mgender=Women only
|type=[[Team sport]], [[bat-and-ball games|Bat-and-Ball]], [[women's sport]]
|ball=[[Cricket ball]], [[Cricket bat]], [[Wicket]] ([[Stump (cricket)|Stumps]], [[Bail (cricket)|Bails]]), [[Cricket clothing and equipment|Protective equipment]]
|venue=[[Cricket field]]
|glossary=[[Glossary of cricket terms]]
|olympic=No
|region=Worldwide (most popular in [[Commonwealth of Nations|the Commonwealth]])
}}

{{Cricket sidebar| all}}
'''Women's cricket''' is the [[team sport]] of [[cricket]] when played by [[woman|women]]. Its 
[[Laws of cricket|rules]]  are almost identical to those in the game played by men, the main change being the use of a smaller [[cricket ball|ball]]. Women's cricket is beginning to be played at [[Professional Sports|professional level]] in 11 of the 12 full members of the [[International Cricket Council]] (ICC),{{Notetag|Women can no longer play cricket in [[Cricket in Afghanistan|Afghanistan]] following the [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|2021 Taliban takeover]].<ref name="Afghanistan"/>}} and is played worldwide, especially in [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth nations]].

The first recorded cricket match between women was held in England on 26 July 1745.<ref name=Sykes2015/> The game continued to be played socially by women until [[Cricket club|clubs]] for women were formed in the late 1800s. In 1926, the creation of the [[Women's Cricket Association]] (WCA) in England began the process of formalising the game and organising [[Women's Test cricket|international matches]]. Like many [[women's sports]], the further development of women's cricket was hampered by [[sexism]] and a lack of structural support.

Although women have historically played [[Women's Test cricket|Test cricket]] and [[first class cricket]], the focus of the women's game in the last 50 years has been mostly on [[limited overs cricket]]. The introduction of [[Twenty20 cricket]] (T20) in 2003 created more opportunities for the growth of the women's game. As well as competing against each other in [[International cricket#Tours|tours]], national teams also compete in several tournaments, including the [[Women's Cricket World Cup|Cricket World Cup]] and the [[ICC Women's T20 World Cup|T20 World Cup]]. Women's cricket has also been part of several [[multi-sport events]].

In domestic cricket, many countries have [[Women's T20 cricket|T20 cricket]] and [[List A cricket]] competitions that are run either alongside or separately from men's competitions. Grass roots cricket is growing, especially in England and [[Women's cricket in Australia|Australia]], although many barriers still remain. Cricket boards often organise competitions that use new formats that are intended to appeal to women. Cricket for women with disabilities is also growing, especially in [[South Asia]].

==History==
{{main|History of women's cricket}}
[[File:Cricket Match Played by the Countess of Derby and Other Ladies, 1779.jpg|right|alt=Watercolor painting of a ladies cricket match|thumb|[[Watercolor painting]] from 1779 of a ladies cricket match played by [[Elizabeth Smith-Stanley, Countess of Derby]] and other women]]

The first recorded cricket match between women was reported in ''The Reading Mercury'' on 26 July 1745; the match was contested "between eleven maids of Bramley and eleven maids of Hambledon, all dressed in white".<ref>{{cite book|title=Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket: A Collection of 1000 Cricket Notices from 1697 to 1800 AD Arranged in Chronological Order |last=Buckley |first=George Bent |publisher= Cotterell |location=Birmingham |year=1935}}</ref><ref name=Sykes2015>{{cite thesis|author1=Judy Threlfall-Sykes|title=A History of English Women's Cricket, 1880-1939|url=https://www.dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/2086/12262/Thesis.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|access-date=29 July 2016|page=55-56|date=October 2015}}</ref>  The first known women's cricket club the [[White Heather Club (cricket)|White Heather Club]] was formed in 1887 in [[Yorkshire]]. Three years later, a team known as the [[Original English Lady Cricketers]] toured England, reportedly making substantial profits before the manager absconded with the money.<ref>{{cite book | last1=Heyhoe Flint | first1=Rachael | author-link1=Rachel Heyhoe Flint | last2=Rheinberg | first2=Netta | author-link2=Netta Rheinberg | title=Fair Play: The Story of Women's Cricket | publisher=Angus & Robertson | date=1976 | isbn=0-207-95698-7 | pages=24–27}}</ref>

In Australia, a women's cricket league was set up in 1894 and [[Port Elizabeth]], South Africa, had a women's cricket team named the [[Pioneers Cricket Club]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stgeorgespark.nmmu.ac.za/content/women/displayarticle.asp?artid=wom_001 |title=The History of the SA & Rhodesian Women's Cricket Association |publisher=St George's Park |access-date=2010-02-09 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208160356/http://www.stgeorgespark.nmmu.ac.za/content/women/displayarticle.asp?artid=wom_001 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In Canada, a women's cricket team in Victoria played at [[Beacon Hill Park]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vdca.ca/index.jsp?page_id=MAIDENS |title=Wicket Maidens Cricket Club, Victoria BC |access-date=2012-03-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727033145/http://www.vdca.ca/index.jsp?page_id=MAIDENS |archive-date=2012-07-27 }}</ref>

In India, cricket teams for women existed as early as the 1920s. [[Delhi Ladies Cricket Club]] beat the men's [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] in a half-day game on [[Marylebone Cricket Club cricket team in India and Ceylon in 1926–27|their 1926–27 tour of India]], one of the only matches they lost on the tour.<ref>{{Cite news |orig-date=25 February 1927 |title=Delhi Ladies Beat MCC |work=[[Bombay Chronicle]] |url=https://twitter.com/outof22yards/status/1434694319781265409}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Smith | first=Martin | title=Not in my Day, Sir: Cricket Letters to The Daily Telegraph | publisher=Aurum | date=2011-06-01 | isbn=978-1-84513-728-1 | page=106}}</ref> Because it was a women's team, the game is omitted from records of the tour.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Home of CricketArchive |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/2/Marylebone_Cricket_Club_in_India_and_Ceylon_1926-27.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=cricketarchive.com}}</ref> During the 1950s and 1960s, cricket was strongest in the urban centres [[Chennai]], [[Mumbai]], [[Delhi]] and [[Kolkata]]. The most-notable club in this period is Albees in Mumbai; many Albees players were female family members of prominent men's Test cricketers.{{sfn|Heyhoe Flint|Rheinberg|p=111}}

In 1958, the [[International Women's Cricket Council]] (IWCC) was formed to co-ordinate women's cricket around the world, taking over from the English [[Women's Cricket Association]] (WCA), which had been working in a ''de facto'' role since its creation 32 years earlier.  In 2005, the IWCC was merged with the [[International Cricket Council]] (ICC) to form a unified body to manage and develop cricket.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

== Laws and gameplay ==
=== Language ===
Much of the [[Glossary of cricket terms|language of cricket]] is heavily gendered; terms such as maiden over, [[Nightwatchman (cricket)|nightwatchman]], and third man are not officially sanctioned but remain in colloquial use.<ref name="Batters">{{Cite news |last=Burnton |first=Simon |date=2021-09-22 |title='Batters': Laws of cricket to be amended by MCC to use gender neutral term |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/sep/22/batters-laws-of-cricket-to-be-amended-to-use-gender-neutral-terms |access-date=2023-07-13 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In 2021, the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] (MCC) amended the rulebook, the ''[[Laws of Cricket]]'', to replace the term "batsman" with the term "[[Batter (cricket)|batter]]" to better reflect the modern game.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title='Batsman' is now 'batter', will 'third man' be 'third'? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/laws-of-cricket-amended-mcc-to-use-gender-neutral-term-batters-instead-of-batsmen-7527143/ |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> There was some derision in parts of the cricketing and wider press but others responded that the term "batter" had been in widespread use through much of the 18th and 19th centuries.<ref name="Batters"/>

=== Rule modifications ===
In ''[[Laws of Cricket|The Laws of Cricket]]'', the only explicit difference between men's and women's cricket is the [[Cricket ball|ball]] size. According to ''The Laws of Cricket'':

{{Blockquote |text='''Clause 4.6.1''' Women’s cricket<br/>Weight: from 4.94 ounces/140 g to 5.31 ounces/151 g<br/>Circumference: from 8.25 in/21.0 cm to 8.88 in/22.5 cm.
| author = [[Marylebone Cricket Club]]
| title = ''The Laws of Cricket''
| source = 2017 Code (3rd Ed. 2022)<ref name="Ball">{{Cite book |title=The Laws of Cricket |institution=[[Marylebone Cricket Club]] |year=2017 |edition=3rd (2022) | section-url=https://www.lords.org/mcc/the-laws-of-cricket/the-ball| section=Rule 4: The Ball}}</ref>}}

For comparison, the ball in the men's game should weigh between {{cvt|5.5|and|5.75|oz}}, and be between {{cvt|8.81|and|9|in}} in circumference.<ref name="Ball"/> Many tournaments and [[forms of cricket]], however, have additional differences in rules between women's and men's games.

[[File:Cricket field M&W.svg|alt=A diagram showing the difference in sizes in a men's and women's cricket field|thumb|The [[Cricket pitch|pitch]] and [[Cricket field|close infield]] is the same size in both the men's and women's games. The infield is smaller but, because the outfield is a range, there's an overlap between the largest women's field and the smallest men's field.]]

==== Test cricket ====
{{See also|Women's Test cricket}}

In the 2023 ICC rules, the main differences from the men's games are:
* Three [[Umpire (cricket)|umpires]] are sufficient in many cases, and they may be appointed by the Home Board (''i.e.'', the country hosting the game).<ref>{{Cite journal |author=ICC |date=June 2023a |title=ICC Women's Test Match Playing Conditions (Effective June 2023) |url=https://resources.pulse.icc-cricket.com/ICC/document/2023/06/25/bf2c9411-5e29-46b4-901f-b7788c8bfcc0/Women-s-Test-Match-June-2023-Clean.pdf |journal=[[International Cricket Council]] |at=Sec 2.1}}</ref> This is to increase the number of women umpires at the highest level.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-16 |title=It's a gentleman's world: A deep dive into why there are such few women umpires in cricket|url=https://www.firstpost.com/art-and-culture/its-a-gentlemans-world-a-deep-dive-into-why-there-are-such-few-women-umpires-in-cricket-10372001.html |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref> In the men's game, all four umpires must be appointed by the ICC from their list of Elite Umpires.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=ICC |date=June 2023b| title=Men's Standard Test Match Playing Conditions (Effective June 2023) |url=https://resources.pulse.icc-cricket.com/ICC/document/2023/05/29/34ab2c5c-0f8b-439c-9cb9-08089227babc/Mens-Standard-Test-June-2023.pdf |journal=[[International Cricket Council]]|at=Sec 2.1}}</ref>
* Except for on the last day, play must continue until a minimum of 100 [[Over (cricket)|overs]], or 17 [[Over rate|overs per hour]], have been completed.{{sfn|ICC|2023a|loc=Sec 12.7.1.1}} For the men's game, the minimum is 90 overs total or 15 per hour.{{sfn|ICC|2023b|loc=Sec 12.7.1.1}}
* On the last day, 83 overs (17 overs per hour) must be completed.{{sfn|ICC|2023a|loc=Sec 12.7.1.2}} The men's game mandates 75 overs (15 per hour).{{sfn|ICC|2023b|loc=Sec 12.7.1.2}}
* If [[Playing time (cricket)|play is delayed]], ''e.g.'' because of rain, the minimum overs are reduced by one for each 3.52 minutes lost{{sfn|ICC|2023a|loc=Sec 12.7.2}} whereas in the men's game, the reduction is one over per four minutes of delay.{{sfn|ICC|2023b|loc=Sec 12.7.2}}
* [[Follow-on]] can be enforced with a lead of 150 [[Runs (cricket)|runs]].{{sfn|ICC|2023a|loc=Sec 14.1.1}} In a men's Test, the lead needed for a follow-on is 200 runs.{{sfn|ICC|2023b|loc=Sec 14.1.1}}
* [[Boundary (cricket)|Boundaries]] must not be "longer than 70 yards (64 metres), and no boundary should be shorter than 60 yards (54.86 metres) from the centre of the pitch".{{sfn|ICC|2023a|loc=Sec 19.1.3}} The boundaries in the men's game are larger with a minimum of 65 yards (59.43 metres) and a maximum of 90 yards (82.29 metres).{{sfn|ICC|2023b|loc=Sec 19.1.3}}
* A [[Fielder (cricket)|fielder]] who is absent for more than eight minutes may be penalised no more than 110 minutes.{{sfn|ICC|2023a|loc=Sec 24.2.3.1}} The maximum time penalty in the men's game is 120 minutes.{{sfn|ICC|2023b|loc=Sec 24.2.3.1}}

==== One Day International cricket ====
{{See also|Women's One Day International}}

By the June 2023 ICC rules for [[Women's One Day International|One Day International]] (ODI) matches, the main differences are:
* Umpires may be local, i.e., not from an impartial third country.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=ICC |date=June 2023c| title=ICC Women's One Day International Playing Conditions (Effective June 2023) |url=https://resources.pulse.icc-cricket.com/ICC/document/2023/06/25/fc98035c-d1e0-4412-a386-5741c96db132/Women-s-Standard-ODI-June-2023-Clean.pdf |journal=[[International Cricket Council]] |at=Sec 2.1}}</ref>
* The [[Playing time (cricket)#Intervals|innings break]] can be between 30 and 45 minutes{{sfn|ICC|2023c|loc=Sec 11.2.2}} whereas in the [[One Day International cricket|men's game]], any interval may be no longer than 30 minutes.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=ICC |date=June 2023d |title=ICC Men's Standard ODI Playing Conditions (Effective June 2023) |url=https://resources.pulse.icc-cricket.com/ICC/document/2023/05/29/a0af0dea-cd10-43a9-a50c-c09f88e6bbcf/Men-s-ODI-June-2023-Clean.pdf |journal=[[International Cricket Council]] |at=Sec 11.2.1}}</ref> The two [[Playing time (cricket)#Intervals|drinks breaks]] are only 60 minutes apart{{sfn|ICC|2023c|loc=Sec 11.5.1}} instead of 70 minutes in the men's game.{{sfn|ICC|2023d|loc=Sec 11.5.1}}
* For a women's ODI, the game is expected to be two [[innings|sessions]] of three hours and ten minutes{{sfn|ICC|2023c|loc=Sec 12.7.1}} with an [[over rate]] of 15.79 overs per hour.{{sfn|ICC|2023c|loc=Sec 12.8.1}} In the men's game, each session is expected to be three-and-a-half hours{{sfn|ICC|2023d|loc=Sec 12.7.1}} with an over rate of 14.28 per hour.{{sfn|ICC|2023d|loc=Sec 12.8.1}}
* As in Test cricket, the [[Boundary (cricket)|boundaries]] must be between 60 yards (54.86 metres) and 70 yards (64 metres).{{sfn|ICC|2023c|loc=Sec 19.1.3}}
* The same difference in penalty times for a fielder as in Test cricket.{{sfn|ICC|2023c|loc=Sec 24.2.3}}{{sfn|ICC|2023d|loc=Sec 24.2.3}}
* The [[Glossary of cricket terms#Infield|infield]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-05-26|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Glossary of cricket terms#Infield|reason= }} is set at 25.15 yards (23 metres),{{sfn|ICC|2023c|loc=Sec 27.8.2.1}} whereas it is 30 yards (27.43 meters) for men.{{sfn|ICC|2023d|loc=Sec 27.8.2.1}}
* There's one [[Powerplay (cricket)|powerplay]] that is identical to the men's first powerplay (10 overs with only 2 [[Fielder (cricket)|fielders]] in the [[Glossary of cricket terms#Outfield|outfield]]). After that, only four fielders are [[Fielding restrictions (cricket)|allowed]] in the outfield. Unlike the men's game, a women's ODI does not have a third powerplay with an additional fielder in the outfield. If the duration of the game is reduced, for example due to rain, the method of calculating the number of overs in the powerplay is slightly different between the two games.{{sfn|ICC|2023c|loc=Sec 27.8.2}}{{sfn|ICC|2023d|loc=Sec 27.8.2}}

==== Twenty20 International cricket ====
{{See also| Women's Twenty20 International}}
By the June 2023 ICC rules, the main differences are:

* As with Test and ODI cricket, umpires may be local (i.e. not from an impartial third country).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=ICC |date=June 2023e |title=ICC Women's Twenty20 International Playing Conditions (Effective June 2023) |url=https://resources.pulse.icc-cricket.com/ICC/document/2023/06/25/ccf73f6f-8bb9-495d-8646-7bd0560e7aa6/Women-s-T20I-PCs-June-2023-Clean.pdf |journal=[[International Cricket Council]] |at=Sec 2.1}}</ref>
* Intervals between innings are 15 minutes long{{sfn|ICC|2023e|loc=Sec 11.2.1}} compared to 20 minutes in a [[Twenty20 International|men's T20]] match.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=ICC |date=June 2023f |title=ICC Men's Twenty20 International Playing Conditions (Effective June 2023) |url=https://resources.pulse.icc-cricket.com/ICC/document/2023/05/29/f107f3dc-4c8f-44d1-936b-5180806e5354/ICC-Men-s-T20I-Playing-Conditions-June-2023-Clean.pdf |journal=[[International Cricket Council]] |at=Sec 11.2.1}}</ref>
* The expectation is each session of a match will be of 75 minutes{{sfn|ICC|2023e|loc=Sec 12.7.1}} with a minimum over rate of 16 overs per hour.{{sfn|ICC|2023e|loc=Sec 12.8.1}} In the men's game, an over rate of 14.11 per hour is expected{{sfn|ICC|2023f|loc=Sec 12.8.1}} and each session is of 85 minutes.{{sfn|ICC|2023f|loc=Sec 12.7.1}}
* The boundaries are again set at between 60 yards (54.86 metres) and 70 yards (64 meters).{{sfn|ICC|2023e|loc=Sec 19.1.3}}
* Penalty time for a fielder absent from the field of play for more than eight minutes is a maximum of 35 minutes{{sfn|ICC|2023e|loc=Sec 24.2.3}} and for the men it is 40 minutes.{{sfn|ICC|2023f|loc=Sec 24.2.3}}
* The infield is set at 25.15 yards (23 metres){{sfn|ICC|2023e|loc=Sec 28.7.3}} and is set at 30 yards (27.43 metres) for men.{{sfn|ICC|2023f|loc=Sec 28.7.3}}
* For overs that are not part of the powerplay, four fielders are permitted in the outfield{{sfn|ICC|2023e|loc=Sec 28.7.5}} whereas men are permitted five fielders.{{sfn|ICC|2023f|loc=Sec 28.7.5}}

=== Clothing and equipment ===
[[File:Miss Wicket and Miss Trigger. Miss Trigger you see is an excellent shot, And forty five notches Miss Wicket's just got. (BM 1935,0522.1.111).jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|A satirical image of a woman cricketer and a woman hunter from 1778. They're both wearing [[1775–1795 in Western fashion|late-Georgian fashion]] with satirically shortened [[hemline]]s and one treads on a piece of paper titled "effeminacy".]]

{{Main|Cricket clothing and equipment}}
Initially, like men, women played cricket in clothes that were similar to their everyday wear. With [[Victorian dress reform|changes in womenswear]] in the [[Victorian era|late Victorian period]], clothes for middle-and-upper-class women to undertake physical activity became more available. The [[Rational Dress Society]] had an outfit for cricket in its 1883 catalogue.{{sfn|Threlfall-Sykes|2015|p=68}}

During the [[interwar period]], women's sportswear became more available and the [[Women's Cricket Association]] (WCA) encountered something they named "the clothing problem".{{sfn|Threlfall-Sykes|2015|p=129}} The debate about what women should wear when playing cricket was intense; a debate about it can be found in the minutes of every [[Annual General Meeting]] of the WCA from its foundation until its last AGM before [[World War II]]. There was tension between the needs of female players who wished to wear comfortable, practical clothing, and the need to appear as "respectable" women to the public and to the male establishment who owned the cricket grounds. There was also anxiety about women [[cross-dressing]] and the need to maintain gender roles while playing sport.{{sfn|Threlfall-Sykes|2015|pp=131-133}}

[[File:Group photograph of the English women's cricket team and the "Woollengong" (sic) women's cricket team 1934-35 (16617860862).jpg|thumb|left|{{smalldiv|Photo from [[English women's cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1934–35|1934–35 England tour of Australia and New Zealand]]. The England team (L) wear [[divided skirt]]s and white [[stocking]]s.{{sfn|Threlfall-Sykes|2015|p=132}} The "Woollengong" (sic) women's cricket team wear trousers, something that was described at the time as disgraceful.<ref name="RN Clothes"/>}}]]

Photographs in the British press in the early 20th century often showed women playing cricket with bare legs and in [[Swimsuit|bathing costumes]] but most played in more-practical clothing.{{sfn|Threlfall-Sykes|2015|pp=117-119}}<ref name="RN Clothes">{{Cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Rafaelle |title=Do female cricketers care about how they look on the field? |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/raf-nicholson-do-female-cricketers-care-about-how-they-look-on-the-field-744317 |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref> Rules about women playing in white dresses and skirts were imposed on high-level women's cricket but in local games, it was common to play in [[Cricket whites|flannels]] of any colour.{{sfn|Threlfall-Sykes|2015|pp=238-240}}

Following [[English women's cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1934-35|England's first tour of Australia and New Zealand]], the [[England women's cricket team|England]], [[Australia women's national cricket team|Australia]] and [[New Zealand women's national cricket team|New Zealand]] teams adopted the white [[divided skirt]]s as part of their uniforms. England continued to play in skirts until 1997.<ref name="RN Clothes"/> Diving for the ball in a skirt risked injury and [[friction burn]]s. The move to trousers eliminated this danger for women players, and the tan lines between the bottom of the skirts and the socks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-08 |title=Bowled over: Sarah Taylor on the professionalism of women's cricket |url=https://sportsgazette.co.uk/bowled-over-sarah-taylor-on-the-professionalism-of-womens-cricket/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Sports Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="NZ">{{Cite web |last=George |first=Zoe |date=2020-12-21 |title=From corsets to culottes then colours; how the uniform contributed to the legacy of cricket |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/300184444/from-corsets-to-culottes-then-colours-how-the-uniform-contributed-to-the-legacy-of-cricket |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref> The New Zealand team were given a sewing pattern and fabric, and were expected to make their uniforms or have them made.<ref name="NZ"/>

[[File:INDIA CRICKET (3387570483).jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|A member of the [[India women's national cricket team|India team]] at the [[2009 Women's Cricket World Cup]]. She wears the same trousers, long sleeve shirt and cap as the men's uniform.]]

According to the 2023 ICC rules, the rules on men's and women's attire in international cricket are identical.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=ICC |date=May 2023g |title=19 Clothing and Equipment Rules and Regulations |url=https://resources.pulse.icc-cricket.com/ICC/document/2023/06/13/125e82c4-20ad-4b8f-9de0-15bef4207859/19-Clothing-and-Equipment-2023-May-.pdf |journal=[[International Cricket Council]]}}</ref> The only gender-specific clothing rule allows cricketers to wear [[hijab]] in ICC events provided it does not obscure any logos and names on the playing uniform. For [[Women's Test cricket|Test matches]], scarves must be black or white but for ODIs and T20s, they can be black or the same colour as the [[Cricket cap|team cap]] but they cannot be white.{{sfn|ICC|2023g|p=46}}

Appropriate equipment has long been an issue for women in cricket. Players have often had to use poorly fitting small men's or juniors equipment, which impeded performance.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 December 2022 |title=Top England cricketer from Preston explains why girls are no longer 'Cinderella' on the pitch |work=[[Lancashire Evening Post]] |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/cricket/top-england-cricketer-from-preston-explains-why-girls-are-no-longer-cinderella-on-the-pitch-3944245}}</ref> England [[wicket keeper]] [[Betty Snowball]] avoided this problem by having her [[Wicket-keeper's gloves|gloves]] and [[Cricket pad|pads]] custom made.<ref name="Fair Play">{{cite book | last1=Flint | first1=Rachael Heyhoe | last2=Rheinberg | first2=Netta | author-link1=Rachael Heyhoe Flint | author-link2=Netta Rheinberg| title=Fair Play: The Story of Women's Cricket | publisher=Angus & Robertson | date=1976 | isbn=0-207-95698-7 | page=132}}</ref> Many women players prefer smaller, lighter [[Bat (cricket)|bats]].<ref name="Greenway">{{Cite news |last=Bull |first=Andy |date=2020-06-12 |title=Lydia Greenway: 'Girls need the right kit, that's why we're doing this' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jun/12/cricket-lydia-greenway-they-might-seem-like-small-things-but-it-makes-a-big-difference |access-date=2023-07-23 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-21 |title=Meet the Aussie mum changing women's cricket in her backyard shed |url=https://7news.com.au/sport/cricket/meet-the-aussie-mum-changing-womens-cricket-in-her-backyard-shed-c-9427720 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=7NEWS |language=en}}</ref> Labeling of equipment has been exclusionary; equipment for children has been labelled as "boys" but this has begun to change.<ref>{{cite news| last=Honnery | first=Chris | title=Olivia a big hit online after going on front foot with letter over female cricket gear | work=[[The Courier-Mail]] | date=2018-08-28 | url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/cricket/olivia-a-big-hit-after-call-for-level-playing-field/news-story/46727ba20558df505848369e40c782e9 | access-date=2023-07-24}}</ref> Present and former cricketers, such as [[Lydia Greenway]],<ref name="Greenway"/> [[Ellyse Perry]]<ref name="Perry">{{Cite web |date=2022-10-09 |title=Exclusive: Aussie game-changer doing it again as Ellyse Perry reveals fix for long-time cricket issue |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/cricket-news-2022-ellyse-perry-new-range-of-gear-staple-womens-cricket-equipment-australian-sports-gamechanger/news-story/ca84a8313a752b9deaa29910100d2678 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}}</ref> and [[Heather Knight (cricketer)|Heather Knight]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Pennington |first=John |date=5 March 2015|title=Cricket Deal Direct Sign Up Heather Knight |url=https://www.cricketworld.com/cricket-deal-direct-sign-up-heather-knight/40299.htm |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Cricket World}}</ref> have been involved with leading changes in the design of equipment for women. The brands [[Kookaburra Sport|Kookaburra]], SM Cricket, Viking, [[Gray-Nicolls]] and JPGavan all now produce equipment intended for women.<ref name="Greenway"/><ref name="Perry"/> The brands NEXX and Lacuna Sports have been launched in the UK to provide clothing and equipment to women who play cricket.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Westbury |first=Ollie |date=2022-09-12 |title=Shropshire pals changing future of women's cricket |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/cricket/2022/09/12/shropshire-pals-changing-future-of-womens-cricket/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=www.shropshirestar.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin |first=NBCC |date=2022-10-09 |title=Lacuna Sports |url=https://noboundariescricketclub.com/lacuna-sports/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== International cricket ==
{{More citations needed|section|date=September 2023}}
{{main|Women's Test cricket|Women's One Day International cricket|Women's Twenty20 International}}

Women's cricket has been played internationally since the inaugural [[Women's Test cricket|women's Test match]] between England's and Australia's women's teams in December 1934. The following year, New Zealand joined them. in 2007 [[Netherlands national women's cricket team|Netherlands]] became the tenth women's Test nation in their debut against [[South Africa national women's cricket team|South Africa]]. A total of 145 women's Test matches have been played.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

[[File:First women's cricket game at Lord's 1976.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.6|Advert for the first [[Women's One Day International]] game to be played at [[Lord's]].]]

[[Women's One Day International cricket|Women's One Day Internationals]] (ODIs) were introduced in 1973 at the inaugural [[Women's Cricket World Cup]]. The 1,000th women's ODI took place in 2016. Australia has dominated the format, having claimed the World Cup six times and won 80% of their matches.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

In 2004, a shorter-still format, the [[Women's Twenty20 International|Twenty20 International]] (T20I) was introduced; matches are restricted to twenty overs per side.  Initially, women's T20 cricket was played little at international level; four matches were played by the end of 2006. The following three years saw a rapid growth in women's T20 Internationals; six matches were played in 2007, ten in 2008 and thirty in 2009, which also saw the first [[ICC Women's World Twenty20]]. In April 2018, the ICC granted its members full women's T20 International status.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

In November 2021, the ICC retrospectively applied [[first-class cricket|first-class]] and [[List A cricket|List A]] status to women's cricket, aligning it with the men's game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/2355517 |title=ICC Board appoints Afghanistan Working Group |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.womenscriczone.com/icc-appoints-working-group-to-review-afghanistan-cricket |title=ICC appoints Working Group to review status of Afghanistan cricket; women's First Class, List A classification to align with men's game |work=Women's CricZone |access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref>

In July 2023, the ICC announced equal prize money will be available for ICC global events, meaning future [[Women's Cricket World Cup]] and [[ICC Women's T20 World Cup|Women's T20 World Cup]] competitions will have the same prizes for winners and runners up as male competitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ICC announces massive boost for women's cricket |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/3589897 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== International rankings ===
{{Main|ICC women's ODI and T20I rankings|ICC women's player rankings}}

The ICC maintains rankings of the 13 teams with [[Women's One Day International|ODI status]] and all teams who play T20I matches.<ref name="rankings">{{Cite web |title=ICC Launches Global Women's T20I Team Rankings |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/877811 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref> {{As of|2023|08}}, [[Australia women's national cricket team|Australia]] top both tables.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ICC Women's ODI Team Rankings {{!}} ICC |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/womens/team-rankings/odi |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ICC Women's T20I Team Rankings {{!}} ICC |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/womens/team-rankings/t20i |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{{#section-x:Template:ICC Women's ODI Rankings|Top 5}}
{{col-break}}
{{#section-x:Template:ICC Women's T20I Rankings|Top 5}}
{{col-end}}

The ICC also maintains individual player rankings in ODI and T20I based on [[Batting (cricket)|batting]], [[Bowling (cricket)|bowling]] and [[All-rounder|all-round]] performance.<ref name="rankings"/>
{{ICC Women's Top 5}}

=== Series trophies === 
The [[International cricket|men's game]] has a long history of [[Test cricket#Perpetual trophies|perpetual trophies]] but there are two only in women's cricket: [[The Women's Ashes]] and [[Rose Bowl series|The Rose Bowl]].

In 1998, the [[Women's Cricket Association]] (WCA) created a set of [[The Women's Ashes#Trophy|Ashes]] to be contested by [[Australia women's national cricket team|Australia]] and [[England women's cricket team|England]]. The [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] and [[England national cricket team|England]] men's teams play for their own set of [[The Ashes|Ashes]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Let there be Ashes |url=https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1123996/let-there-be-ashes |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Cricinfo |language=en}}</ref> In 2013, it changed from being a Test series to a series of ODIs, T20Is and a Test to better reflect the formats of cricket women regularly play.<ref>{{Cite web |title='My brain was hurting after that day of cricket' |url=https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1380389/-my-brain-was-hurting-after-that-day-of-cricket |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Cricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

The Rose Bowl is an ODI series played between Australia and New Zealand, and has been contested since the [[New Zealand women's cricket team in Australia in 1984–85|1984–85 season]], the most-recent being in [[New Zealand women's cricket team in Australia in 2020–21|2020]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rose Bowl Trophy team series results |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/trophy/team-series-results/rose-bowl-69 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

Before the start of the [[South Africa women's cricket team in Pakistan in 2023|2023–24 series]], the [[Pakistan women's national cricket team|Pakistan]] captain [[Nida Dar]] and [[South Africa women's national cricket team|South Africa]] captain [[Laura Wolvaardt]] revealed an as-yet-unnamed new trophy for their teams to contest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-31 |title=Trophy for Pakistan-South Africa Women's T20I series unveiled |url=https://a-sports.tv/trophy-pakistan-south-africa-women-t20i-series-unveiled/ |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=ASports.tv |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Tournaments ===
==== Asia Cup ====
{{Main|Women's Asia Cup}}
The Asia Cup began in 2004 as an ODI competition between members of the [[Asian Cricket Council]] (ACC). It initially ran every two years until 2008, then reformed in 2012 as a T20 tournament. The ACC intend to continue to run in it biannually, although on several occasions it has run every four years. The change to T20 cricket allowed the ACC to include more [[List of International Cricket Council members#Associate Members|Associate nations]] in the tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pradhan |first=Snehal |date=2016-11-30 |title=Why is the cricket Women's Asia Cup such an important tournament for India? |url=https://scroll.in/field/822891/why-is-the-cricket-womens-asia-cup-such-an-important-tournament-for-india |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=All you need to know about the Women's Asia Cup 2022 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-women-s-asia-cup-2022-the-who-what-when-and-where-of-the-tournament-1337188 |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

{{Women's Cricket AC winners}}

==== Cricket World Cup ====
{{Main|Women's Cricket World Cup}}
{{See also|ICC Women's Championship}}

The first ever Cricket World Cup was the [[Women's Cricket World Cup]] organised in [[1973 Women's Cricket World Cup|1973]] by the WCA; it was based on an idea of cricketer [[Rachael Heyhoe Flint]] and businessman [[Jack Hayward]].<ref>{{cite book | last1=Flint Heyhoe | first1=Rachael | author-link1=Rachael Heyhoe Flint | last2=Rheinberg | first2=Netta | author-link2=Netta Rheinberg | title=Fair Play | publisher=Angus & Robertson | date=1976 | isbn=0-207-95698-7 | page=168}}</ref> After the success of the Women's Cricket World Cup, the [[Cricket World Cup|men's tournament]] took place two years later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=England women's cricketers aiming to lift World Cup for third time |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/5023853/England-womens-cricketers-aiming-to-lift-World-Cup-for-third-time.html |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk|date=20 March 2009 }}</ref>

Seven teams competed in the inaugural tournament, which took place in England over five and a half weeks. Each ODI match was 60 overs and every team played each other in a [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin league]] format.{{sfn|Heyhoe Flint|Rheinberg|1976|p=169}} Subsequent tournaments were hampered by lack of funds for women's teams, meaning their scheduling was inconsistent for many years.{{sfn|Heyhoe Flint|Rheinberg|1976|pp=170-171}} The [[1997 Women's Cricket World Cup|1997 World Cup]] was the first to be played with 50 overs and a knock-out stage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ICC Women's World Cup History |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/womens-world-cup/history |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref>

Since the inaugural tournament, there have been 12 World Cups with the 13th planned for [[2025 Women's Cricket World Cup|2025]] in India.
{{Women's Cricket WC winners}}

==== European Cricket Championship ====
{{Main|Women's European Cricket Championship}}
<!-- Expand with description -->
{{Women's Cricket EC winners}}

==== Kwibuka T20 Tournament ====
{{Main| Kwibuka T20 Tournament}}

Originally called the "Kwibuka Cricket for Peace Women's T20 Tournament", the Kwibuka T20 Tournament is an annual T20 tournament that is played in Rwanda. It was founded in 2014 to mark the 20th anniversary of the [[Rwandan genocide]] and to promote peace through cricket. It is unusual among women's tournaments because there is no male equivalent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Times |date=2014-06-09 |title=Ugandan girls win Kwibuka Cricket for Peace T20 Tourney |url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/107689/Sports/ugandan-girls-win-kwibuka-cricket-for-peace-t20-tourney |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=The New Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Musali |first=Denis |date=2019-06-12 |title=25 years on, Rwanda to host 4 team memorial women's T20I event |url=https://emergingcricket.com/news/25-years-on-rwanda-to-host-5-team-memorial-womens-t20i-event/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Emerging Cricket |language=en-GB}}</ref> African nations including [[Botswana women's national cricket team|Botswana]], [[Kenya women's national cricket team|Kenya]], [[Namibia women's national cricket team|Namibia]], [[Nigeria women's national cricket team|Nigeria]], [[Tanzania women's national cricket team|Tanzania]] and [[Uganda women's national cricket team|Uganda]], and the hosts [[Rwanda women's national cricket team|Rwanda]] compete in the tournament. The [[Brazil women's national cricket team|Brazilian]] and [[Germany women's national cricket team|German]] teams have also taken part.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Game: Kwibuka T20 tournament kicks off in Rwanda |url=https://www.t20worldcup.com/news/2167243 |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=www.t20worldcup.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nsabimana |first=Eddie |date=2022-05-31 |title=Rwanda to play Uganda in Kwibuka T20 opener |url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/196339/Sports/rwanda-to-play-uganda-in-kwibuka-t20-opener |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=The New Times |language=en}}</ref>

The word 'Kwibuka' means "to remember" in [[Kinyarwanda]], the Rwandan national language, and is the title of annual commemorations of the genocide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Remember |url=https://www.kwibuka.rw/?remember_unite_renew=remember |website=Kwibuka.rw |access-date=2023-07-27}}</ref>

<!-- Transcludes table from Main page -->
{{#section:Kwibuka T20 Tournament|Kwibuka Results}}

==== T20 World Cup ====
{{Main|ICC Women's T20 World Cup}}
<!-- Expand with description -->
{{Women's Cricket T20 WC winners}}

=== At multi-sport events ===
Following the introduction of T20 cricket, cricket has been included at several [[multi-sport events]]; the women's game is often added after the successful establishment of a men's tournament. {{As of|2023|08}}, five different major games have held women's cricket medal events; a sixth – the [[African Games]] – is scheduled for early 2024 and a seventh – the [[Olympic Games|Olympics]] – is scheduled for 2028.<ref name="final_inclusion_voting">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-16 |title=T20 cricket confirmed as one of five new sports at LA28 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/cricket-at-la28-cricket-confirmed-as-one-of-five-new-sports-at-la28-1403570 |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

==== African Games ====
The [[2023 African Games]] in [[Accra]], Ghana will mark the game's debut in the [[African Games]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-26 |title=Cricket to be included in African Games for the first time at Ghana 2023 |url=https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/cricket-to-be-included-in-african-games-for-the-first-time-at-ghana-2023/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=The Sunday News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

{{Medals table
 | caption        = African Games Women's Cricket Medal Table
 | source         = 
 | flag_template = crw
 | event = African Games
}}

==== Asian Games ====
{{Main|Cricket at the Asian Games}}

[[File:Incheon AsianGames Women Cricket 39 (15131983797).jpg|thumb|[[Hong Kong women's national cricket team|Hong Kong]] playing [[South Korea women's national cricket team|South Korea]] at the [[Yeonhui Cricket Ground]] in [[Incheon|Incheon, South Korea]] during the [[Cricket at the 2014 Asian Games – Women|2014 Asian Games]].]]

Cricket made its debut at the [[2010 Asian Games]] in [[Guangzhou]], China, with men's and women's T20 cricket matches.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-11-12 |title=China catches cricket bug ahead of Asian Games debut |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-11718145 |access-date=2023-07-12}}</ref> It returned for the [[2014 Asian Games]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asian Games Women's Cricket Competition Points Table {{!}} Asian Games Women's Cricket Competition Standings {{!}} Asian Games Women's Cricket Competition Ranking |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/asian-games-women-s-cricket-competition-2014-15-777773/points-table-standings |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref> Cricket was removed from the [[2018 Asian Games]] to reduce the burden on the Indonesian organisers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-20 |title=Cricket removed from 2018 Asian Games programme |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/cricket-removed-from-2018-asian-games-programme-4621045/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

The [[2022 Asian Games]] were delayed because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Asia|COVID-19 pandemic]] but cricket returned when the Games were held in September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 July 2022 |title=Postponed Asian Games 2022 scheduled for September- October 2023 |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/asian-games-2022-2023-new-dates |website=Olympics.com |access-date=2023-07-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BCCI approves India's participation in Asian Games |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/asian-games-2022-bcci-approves-india-s-participation-1386331 |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref> Eight teams competed, including [[India women's national cricket team|India]] who sent a team to the games for the first time and went home with their first gold medal.<ref name="2023 Asian Games"/><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 September 2023 |title=Asian Games: Indonesia, Malaysia win matches in women's cricket |work=Asian News International |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/sports/cricket/asian-games-indonesia-malaysia-win-matches-in-womens-cricket20230919185705}}</ref>
{{Medals table
 | caption        = Asian Games Women's Cricket Medal Table
 | source         = <ref>{{Cite web |date=7 February 2023 |title=Cricket at Asian Games: Emergence of new champions in absence of heavyweights |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/cricket-asian-games-history-winners-champions-list |website=Olympics.com |access-date=2023-07-12 }}</ref><ref name="2023 Asian Games">{{Cite web |date=25 September 2023 |title=Asian Games 2023 women's cricket: Medal winners, results and scores for all matches |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/asian-games-2023-hangzhou-women-cricket-result-score-medal-winners |website=Olympics.com}}</ref>
 | flag_template = crw
 | event = Asian Games
 | gold_PAK    = 2
 | silver_BAN  = 2 | bronze_BAN  = 1
 | gold_IND    = 1
 | silver_SRI  = 1 | bronze_SRI  = 1
 | bronze_JAP  = 1
}}

==== Commonwealth Games ====
{{Main|Cricket at the Commonwealth Games}}
In August 2019, the Commonwealth Games Foundation announced the addition of women's cricket to the [[2022 Commonwealth Games]]. The matches were held at [[Edgbaston Cricket Ground|Edgbaston]], and included eight teams competing in a T20 format<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/womenscricket/commonwealth_games_add_womens_cricket_schedule_2022.html|title=Commonwealth Games add women's cricket to schedule for 2022|access-date= 13 August 2019|publisher=theCricketer}}</ref> during July and August 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/30124399/women-cricket-lines-birmingham-2022-commonwealth-games-debut-opening-day |title=Women's cricket lines up for 2022 Commonwealth Games debut on opening day |work=ESPN Cricinfo |date=16 October 2020 |access-date=16 October 2020}}</ref> Only a women's tournament was part of the Games.<ref name=bbc>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/commonwealth-games/49322435|title=Commonwealth Games 2022: More women's medals as T20 cricket, beach volleyball & Para-table tennis included|date=13 August 2019 |access-date=13 August 2019 |newspaper=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1744521 |title=Two years to go for Commonwealth Games, with women's cricket making debut |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref>

{{Medals table
 | caption        = Commonwealth Games Women's Cricket Medal Table
 | source         = <ref>{{Cite web |date=7 August 2022 |title=Commonwealth Games 2022: Full cricket scores, results and points table |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/commonwealth-games-2022-cricket-results-scores |website=Olympics.com}}</ref>
 | flag_template = crw
 | event = Commonwealth Games
 | gold_AUS = 1 | silver_AUS = 0 | bronze_AUS = 0
 | gold_IND = 0 | silver_IND = 1 | bronze_IND = 0
 | gold_NZL = 0 | silver_NZL = 0 | bronze_NZL = 1
}}

==== Olympic Games ====
{{Main| Cricket at the Summer Olympics}}

Women's cricket has never been included in the [[Olympic Games]]. There was hope T20 cricket would be included in the [[2028 Summer Olympic Games]] in [[Los Angeles]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-21 |title=ICC proposes six-team T20 events for both men and women at 2028 Olympics |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/icc-proposes-six-team-t20-events-for-both-men-and-women-at-2028-olympic-games-in-los-angeles-1355063 |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref> It was on the shortlist for inclusion but was not chosen for the 28-sport provisional list, making its inclusion unlikely.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 2021 |title=Los Angeles 2028 Olympics: Cricket, boxing not on provisional sports list |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/los-angeles-2028-olympics-programme-provisional-list-cricket |website=Olympics.com}}</ref> The ultimate decision was made in October 2023 at a meeting of the [[International Olympic Committee]] Executive board by the nod of inclusion of cricket in 2028.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-10 |title=IOC session in Mumbai critical for cricket in Olympics 2028 |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/ioc-session-in-mumbai-critical-for-cricket-in-olympics-2028/articleshow/100893787.cms |access-date=2023-07-26 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref name="final_inclusion_voting"/>

With the [[2032 Summer Olympic Games]] being hosted in [[Brisbane]], Australia, the governing body [[Cricket Australia]] have also have noted their intention to have the game included.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Reuters |date=2022-08-15 |title=Cricket Australia targets sport's inclusion at Brisbane Olympics in 2032 |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/aug/15/cricket-australia-targets-sports-inclusion-at-brisbane-olympics-in-2032 |access-date=2023-07-12 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==== Pacific Games ====
{{Main| Cricket at the Pacific Games}}
Men's cricket has been part of the [[Pacific Games]] since 1979 and a women's competition was introduced for the [[2015 Pacific Games]] in [[Port Moresby]], Papua New Guinea.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-06-19 |title=Women's cricket squads announced for the 2015 Pacific Games |url=https://www.looppng.com/node/5914 |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Loop PNG |language=en}}</ref> It appeared again at the [[2019 Pacific Games]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cricket |url=https://www.samoa2019.ws/games/cricket/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=www.samoa2019.ws}}</ref> but was dropped for the [[2023 Pacific Games|2023 games]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-14 |title=Cricket Fiji to host Men's/Women's Pacific Island Cricket Challenge 2023 {{!}} Czarsportz Global |url=https://czarsportzauto.com/pacific-island-cricket-challenge-2023/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |language=en-US}}</ref>

{{Medals table
 | caption = Pacific Games Women's Cricket Medal Table
 | source = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.samoa2019.ws/games/cricket/ | title=Cricket }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://pg2015.gems.pro/Result/Event_PO_T_T.aspx?Event_GUID=1c4dbbbf-8d09-423c-b1ce-1f1aadedf327&SetLanguage=en-GB&Section=&Gems_ScreenWidth=1280&Gems_ScreenHeight=720&Gems_ScreenAvailWidth=1280&Gems_ScreenAvailHeight=680 | title=2015 Pacific Games - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea }}</ref>
 | flag_template = crw
 | event = Pacific Games
 | gold_SAM = 2
 | silver_PNG = 2
 | bronze_FIJ  = 1
 | bronze_VAN  = 1
}}

==== South Asian Games ====
{{Main| Cricket at the South Asian Games}}
Women's cricket made its debut at the [[2019 South Asian Games]] in [[Pokhara]], Nepal, in the T20 format. [[Maldives women's national cricket team|The Maldives]] set one of the lowest scores in International Women's Cricket, all out for 8 runs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 December 2019 |title=Records tumble as Maldives women's cricket team are dismissed for eight |work=news.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/records-tumble-as-maldives-womens-cricket-team-are-dismissed-for-eight/news-story/b1adc3671483917b5048919528ac8cb6}}</ref>

{{Medals table
 | caption = South Asian Games Women's Cricket Medal Table
 | source = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.13sagnepal.com/sport/cricket/ | title=Cricket }}</ref>
 | flag_template = crw
 | event = South Asian Games
 | gold_BAN  = 1
 | silver_SRI = 1
 | bronze_NEP  = 1
}}

==== Southeast Asian Games ====
Cricket made its debut at the [[2017 Southeast Asian Games]] in [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Malaysia]]. It did not appear in another [[Southeast Asian Games]] until the [[2023 Southeast Asian Games|2023 Games]].<ref name="SEAG Olymp">{{Cite web |date=26 April 2023 |title=Cricket at Southeast Asian Games 2023: Full schedule and where to watch live |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/southeast-asian-games-2023-cricket-schedule-live-broadcast |website=Olympics.com}}</ref>

Unusually among modern multi-sport events, the SEA Games do not keep to just the T20 format. For the [[Cricket at the 2017 SEA Games – Women's twenty20 tournament|2017 tournament]], women only played T20 but for the [[Cricket at the 2023 SEA Games – Women's tournament|2023 tournament]] they competed in [[Short form cricket#Six-a-side cricket|6s]], [[T10 cricket|T10]], T20 and 50-over competitions and each had medals available.<ref name="SEAG Olymp"/>

{{Medals table
 | caption        = Southeast Asian Games Women's Cricket Medal Table
 | source         = <ref>{{Cite web |date=17 May 2023 |title=Southeast Asian Games 2023: All cricket scores, results and medal winners |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/southeast-asian-games-2023-cricket-scores-results |website=Olympics.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sea-games-w20-2017-1116805/match-schedule-fixtures-and-results | title=SEA Games W20 Schedule &#124; 2017 SEA Games Women's Twenty20 Cricket Competition Fixtures }}</ref>
 | flag_template = crw
 | event = Southeast Asian Games
 | gold_THA    = 4
 | gold_INA    = 1  | silver_INA = 3
 | silver_PHI  = 2
 | bronze_MAS  = 4
 | bronze_MYA  = 1
}}

==Domestic ==
The majority of high-level women's domestic cricket in [[List of International Cricket Council members|ICC Full Member countries]] consists of [[Limited overs cricket|50-over]] and [[Women's Twenty20|Twenty20]] competitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belinda Clark: Not Tests, focus for women's cricket 'needs to continue on the shorter formats' |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/belinda-clark-focus-for-women-s-cricket-needs-to-continue-on-the-shorter-formats-1259822 |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

===Afghanistan===
Since the [[2021 Taliban offensive]] and the [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|Fall of Kabul]] in 2021, cricket for women is in practice banned due to the [[Treatment of women by the Taliban|Taliban's policies on women]].<ref name="Afghanistan">{{Cite web |last=Lavalette |first=Tristan |title=Afghanistan Will Not Be Sanctioned As Women's Cricket Remains Unlikely To Restart Amid Taliban Rule |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tristanlavalette/2023/07/05/afghanistan-to-avoid-sanctions-as-womens-cricket-remains-unlikely-to-restart-amid-taliban-rule/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

===Australia===
{{Main|Women's cricket in Australia}}
Eight state-based teams play 50-over cricket in the [[Women's National Cricket League]], which has run since the 1996–97 season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WNCL: All You Need To Know|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/wncl-all-you-need-to-know-guide-breakers-roar-scorpions-fire-meteors-fury-victoria/2019-09-20|access-date=26 July 2023|website=cricket.com.au|language=en}}</ref> Since the 2015–16 season, eight city-based franchises have played T20 cricket in the [[Women's Big Bash League]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-19/ca-announces-women27s-big-bash-league/6146036 |title=Women's Big Bash League announced by Cricket Australia, teams mirrored to men's competition |date=19 February 2015 |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>

===Bangladesh===
{{Main|Cricket in Bangladesh#Women's cricket}}
The [[Bangladesh Women's National Cricket League]] has been played variously as a 50-over and a Twenty20 competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/BDESH.html |title=Tournaments in Bangladesh |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>

===England===
Eight regional teams compete in the 50-over [[Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy]] and the Twenty20 [[Charlotte Edwards Cup]], while eight city-based teams compete in [[The Hundred (cricket)|The Hundred]], a [[100-ball cricket]] competition.<ref name="ecbplan">{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/1373377/ecb-launches-new-plan-to-transform-women-s-and-girls-cricket#:~:text=%23InspiringGenerations-,The%20England%20and%20Wales%20Cricket%20Board%20has%20launched%20its%20action,Generations%20strategy%20for%202020%2D2024.|title=ECB launches new plan to transform women's and girls' cricket|publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board|access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref> The [[County cricket|English counties]] play in the [[Women's Twenty20 Cup]].<ref name="englandcomps">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG.html |title=Tournaments in England |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>

Previously{{when|date=September 2023|reason=When did this arrangement finish?}}, the English counties played in the [[Women's County Championship]], while six semi-professional teams played in the [[Women's Cricket Super League]].<ref name="ecbplan"/><ref name="englandcomps"/>

To grow women's participation in the game, including those who have never played cricket, in 2017, the [[England and Wales Cricket Board]] created a format called [[softball cricket]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-10 |title=Women's Soft Ball Cricket Festivals |url=http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/376461 |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=www.ecb.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> It uses a modified scoring system, has 6-to-8 players per team and lasts just over an hour. It has a more-relaxed playing style than hardball cricket; for example [[underarm bowling]] is allowed and more-complicated rules such as [[leg before wicket]] are not included.<ref>{{Cite web |author-link=England and Wales Cricket Board |title=Player Guide Women's Soft Ball Cricket |url=https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Player-Guide-Softball-Festival.pdf |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=Kent Cricket}}</ref> Conventional cricket played by women is occasionally called "women's hardball cricket" to distinguish it from softball cricket.<ref>{{cite web |title=Women's Cricket |url=https://www.durhamcricket.co.uk/play-cricket/women-and-girls/womens-cricket/ |website=Durham Cricket |date=3 October 2017 |publisher=Durham Cricket Board |access-date=9 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

===India===
{{Main|Cricket in India#Women's domestic competitions}}
Several domestic women's cricket competitions exist in India. State teams play for the 50-over [[Women's Senior One Day Trophy]] and the [[Women's Senior T20 Trophy]], while composite teams play for the 50-over [[Senior Women's Challenger Trophy]] and the [[Women's Senior T20 Challenger Trophy]]. Domestic [[First-class cricket|first-class]] women's cricket was last played in India in the form of the [[Senior Women's Cricket Inter Zonal Three Day Game]], which ended after the 2017–18 season.<ref name="indiacomps">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/IND.html |title=Tournaments in India |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref> The domestic red-ball game for women has been revived in the 2023-24 season with the Senior Women's Inter-Zonal Multi-Day Trophy. A total of six zonal teams competed in a knockout format.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pandey |first=Devendra |date=January 14, 2024 |title="BCCI to revive domestic red-ball for women's team, expected to start post WPL 2024" |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/bcci-to-revive-domestic-red-ball-for-womens-team-expected-to-start-post-wpl-2024-9108183/ |work=The Indian Express}}</ref>

In 2018, women's franchise cricket in India began with the [[Women's T20 Challenge]], which began as a two-team competition. The following year, the competition was expanded to a three-team tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26677961/women-t20-challenge-step-towards-ipl-harmanpreet-mandhana-co |title=Women's T20 Challenge a step towards an IPL for Harmanpreet, Mandhana and Co |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>  The [[Women's Premier League (cricket)|Women's Premier League]], a five-team franchise T20 competition, was created in 2023 to replace the T20 Challenge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inaugural Women's IPL likely to be played from March 3 to 26 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/wipl-2023-inaugural-womens-ipl-likely-to-be-played-from-march-3-to-26-1348845 |date=9 December 2022|access-date=26 July 2023 |website=ESPN Cricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

===Ireland===
The [[Women's Super Series]] in Ireland in contested by three teams. From 2021, the competition has been split into separate 50-over and Twenty20 sections.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/bigger-and-better-than-ever-arachas-super-series-returns-to-three-team-form |title='Bigger and better than ever' - Arachas Super Series returns to three team format in 2022 |publisher=Cricket Ireland |date=9 March 2022 |access-date=26 July 2023 |archive-date=13 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313040335/https://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/bigger-and-better-than-ever-arachas-super-series-returns-to-three-team-form |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===New Zealand===
{{Main|Cricket in New Zealand#Women's Teams}}
Six regional-based teams compete in the 50-over [[Hallyburton Johnstone Shield]], which has existed since the 1935–36 season, and the Twenty20 [[Super Smash (women's cricket)|Super Smash]], which began in the 2007–08 season.<ref name="History">{{cite web | url=http://www.cricketwellington.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/The-History-of-Womens-Domestic-Cricket.pdf | title=The History of Women's Domestic Cricket in New Zealand | date=October 2015 | access-date=26 July 2023 | author=Watkin, Evan | publisher=[[Cricket Wellington]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411134035/http://www.cricketwellington.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/The-History-of-Womens-Domestic-Cricket.pdf | archive-date=11 April 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Pakistan===
The 50-over [[Pakistan Women's One Day Cup]] has run since the 2017–18 season while the [[PCB Women's Twenty20 Tournament]] began in the 2019–20 season. Previously, state and departmental teams competed in the [[National Women's Cricket Championship]], the [[Women's Cricket Challenge Trophy]] and the [[Departmental T20 Women's Championship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/PAK.html |title=Tournaments in Pakistan |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>

===South Africa===
{{Main|Cricket in South Africa#Women}}
Provincial teams play in the 50-over [[CSA Women's Provincial Programme]], previously the CSA Women's Provincial One-Day Tournament, which has run since the 1995–96 season, and in the [[CSA Women's Provincial T20 Competition]]. which began during the 2012–13 season. Since 2019, composite teams have played in the [[Women's T20 Super League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/RSA.html |title=Tournaments in South Africa |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>

In August 2023, [[Cricket South Africa]] announced a new structure for domestic cricket. It will be composed of six teams that will have increased funding to professionally contract more players and hire full-time coaching staff.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Africa's women's team to get equal match fees as the men |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/south-africa-news-csa-announces-equal-match-fees-for-women-cricketers-1393742 |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

===Sri Lanka===
The 50-over competition is the [[Sri Lanka Women's Division One Tournament]]. Several Twenty20 competitions have taken place, including the Super Provincial T20 Tournament and the Super 4 Twenty20 Competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/SL.html |title=Tournaments in Sri Lanka |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>

===West Indies===
The nations that make up the West Indies have competed in the [[Women's Super50 Cup]] since 1975 and in the [[Women's Twenty20 Blaze]] since 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/WI.html |title=Tournaments in West Indies |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>

In 2022, [[Cricket West Indies]] and the [[Caribbean Premier League]] jointly launched two women's competitions: a [[T10 cricket]] competition called [[The 6ixty]] and the [[Women's Caribbean Premier League]], both with three teams that are aligned with men's sides.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CPL to launch inaugural T10 tournament 'The 6ixty' in August |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/cpl-to-launch-inaugural-t10-tournament-the-6ixty-in-august-1320902 |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Women's CPL to be hosted alongside men's tournament in 2022 |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/womens-cricket/caribbean-premier-league-2022-womens-tournament-alongside-mens/article38455761.ece |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=Sportstar |date=14 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The 6ixty was partly inspired by the women's exhibition T10 matches that were played just before the [[2019 Caribbean Premier League]] playoff matches.<ref>{{Citation |title=The 6IXTY Launch Show | date=22 June 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HigFeAC2vaU |language=en |access-date=2022-07-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CPL to host women's T10 matches in Trinidad |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1365719 |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Zimbabwe===
The 50-over competition is the [[Fifty50 Challenge]] and the Twenty20 competition is the [[Women's T20 Cup]], both of which are competed for by four teams that are aligned with men's sides.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ZIM.html |title=Tournaments in Zimbabwe |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>

== Disability cricket ==
=== Blind cricket ===
{{Main|Blind cricket}}
Women are known to have playinged [[blind cricket]] in Australia since at least the 1940s, when they competed with and against men.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) - 4 Jan 1952 - p6 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1751125 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Trove |language=en}}</ref>

England and Nepal have had women's international teams since at least November 2014, when Nepal beat England 3-0 in a three game series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Records and Records Holders |url=https://www.cabnepal.org.np/records-and-records-holders/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Cricket Association of the Blind - Nepal |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2018, England toured the West Indies and won the series 4–1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UK Women's Blind Cricket Team |url=https://www.skysports.com/iframe/widget/video/EyYzJ2ZjE6jg20q5lHqPsnKZ93zLNlGy |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=www.skysports.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-03 |title=UK Women's VI Cricket Team Results – Blind Cricket England & Wales |url=https://bcew.co.uk/international/uk-womens-vi-cricket-team-results/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603054423/https://bcew.co.uk/international/uk-womens-vi-cricket-team-results/ |archive-date=3 June 2023 }}</ref>

The first international series played in Pakistan was held in January and February 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=From where I stand: "We won the First International Women's Blind Cricket Series" {{!}} UN Women USA |url=https://unwomenusa.org/fwis-bhagwati-bhattarai-baral |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=unwomenusa.org}}</ref> The [[Pakistan Blind Cricket Council]] formed a national women's team in 2018 that played the Nepalese blind women's team in five T20 games. The Pakistani team were publicly supported by [[Sana Mir]] and other professional cricketers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mallick |first=Maryam |title=It's a sport, go and enjoy it- PBCC's message to squad ahead of historic tour |url=https://www.womenscriczone.com/its-a-sport-go-and-enjoy-it-pbccs-message-to-squad-ahead-of-historic-tour |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=www.womenscriczone.com |language=en}}</ref> Nepal won the series 4–0.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jain |first=Nishtha |date=2019-02-07 |title=Nepal Blind Women's Cricket team clinched series against Pakistan 4-0 |url=https://femalecricket.com/female-cricket-blogs/1584-nepal-blind-women-s-cricket-team-clinched-series-against-pakistan-4-0.html |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Female Cricket |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2019, the [[Cricket Association for the Blind in India]] created a blind cricket league for women consisting of teams from seven [[States and union territories of India|states]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhawsar |first=Prajakta |date=2019-12-15 |title=First domestic national cricket league for blind women supported by Brian Lara |url=https://femalecricket.com/women-cricket-news/8111-first-domestic-national-cricket-league-for-blind-women-supported-by-brian-lara.html |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Female Cricket |language=en-US}}</ref> Odisha won the inaugural tournament, beating Karnataka 218/8 (20.0) to Karnataka's 131/8 (20.0).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Women's CricZone |title=Odisha crowned champions in first Women's National T20 Tournament for Blind |url=https://www.womenscriczone.com/odisha-crowned-champions-in-the-first-womens-national-t20-tournament-for-blind |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=www.womenscriczone.com |language=en}}</ref> The 2020 and 2021 tournaments were cancelled because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=They're women. They're blind. This Indian cricket team is determined to win, despite the odds |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-insider/women-blind-india-cricket-team-2537091 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref> It expanded to 14 states for the 2022 tournament, which was won by Karnataka.<ref>{{Cite web |title=INDUSIND BANK WOMEN'S NATIONAL T20 CRICKET TOURNAMENT FOR THE BLIND - 2022 |url=https://blindcricket.in/indusind-bank-womens-national-t20-cricket-tournament-for-the-blind-2022/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=CRICKET ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND IN INDIA |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IndusInd Bank Womens National T20 Cricket Tournament For The Blind 2022 - Cricket live Scores, Matches, Fixtures, Teams, Result, Stats, Points Table and news - CricHeroes |url=https://cricheroes.com/tournament/378564/IndusInd-Bank-Womens-National-T20-Cricket-Tournament-For-The-Blind-2022/past-matches/1 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=cricheroes.com}}</ref> The 2023 tournament had 18 teams. Odisha regained the title.<ref>{{Cite web |title=INDUSIND BANK WOMEN'S NATIONAL T20 CRICKET TOURNAMENT FOR THE BLIND 2023 |url=https://blindcricket.in/indusind-bank-womens-national-t20-cricket-tournament-for-the-blind-2023/ |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=CRICKET ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND IN INDIA |language=en-US}}</ref>

India formed a national team in 2020 but had to cancel its intended 2021 tour of England because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cricket |first=Team Female |date=2020-07-27 |title=India's first National Blind Women's cricket team to be formed |url=https://femalecricket.com/women-cricket-news/13823-indias-first-national-blind-womens-cricket-team-to-be-formed.html |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Female Cricket |language=en-US}}</ref> Their first tour was in Nepal in April 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chaudhary |first=Harsh |date=2023-04-11 |title=India's first-ever Women's team for the Blind Announced, will tour Nepal from 25th April |url=https://femalecricket.com/women-cricket-news/31215-indias-first-ever-womens-team-for-the-blind-announced-will-tour-nepal-from-25th-april.html |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Female Cricket |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-15 |title=Meet Priti, first DU woman to make it to women's cricket team for blind |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/meet-priti-first-du-woman-to-make-it-to-womens-cricket-team-for-blind-8557040/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Nepal won that series 3–1.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Himalayan News |date=2023-06-07 |title=Cricketers honoured |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/cricketers-honoured |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Himalayan Times |language=en}}</ref>

The 2023 [[IBSA World Games]] in [[Birmingham|Birmingham, England]], included cricket for the first time and India was the first country to announce it would be sending a team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cricket Association for the Blind in India: Indian women cricket team for blind to participate in IBSA World Games, Birmingham |url=https://www.cricketnmore.com/cricket-news/story-of-indian-women-cricket-team-for-blind-to-participate-in-ibsa-world-games-birmingham-124380 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Cricketnmore |language=en}}</ref> England and Australia also sent teams to the Games; it was the Australian team's international debut.<ref>{{cite web |last= |date= 12 July 2023 |title=Fixtures announced for World Blind Games and Disability Premier League |url=https://www.cricketworld.com/fixtures-announced-for-world-blind-games-and-disability-premier-league/88232.htm |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Cricket World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-24 |title=Australian women's blind cricket team has been competing in its first international tournament |url=https://www.sportbible.com/cricket/australian-womens-blind-cricket-team-697338-20230824 |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=SPORTbible |language=en}}</ref> The Pakistani team was unable to participate due to lack of funds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.app.com.pk/sports/pbcc-to-announce-team-for-ibsa-world-games-in-late-june/|title=PBCC to announce team for IBSA World Games in late June|date=6 June 2023 }}</ref> India was the first team to reach the finals by winning their first three matches and won all four matches of their group games. Australia won the other place with a higher [[net run rate]] than England.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Athani |first=Ansh |date=2023-08-25 |title=Indian women's blind cricket team to face Australia in IBSA World Games Final |url=https://www.insidesport.in/indian-womens-blind-cricket-team-to-face-australia-in-ibsa-world-games-2023-final/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=Inside Sport India |language=en-US}}</ref> India beat Australia in the final and were publicly praised by [[Prime Minister of India|Indian Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2023-08-26 |title=IBSA World Games: Indian women's visually challenged cricket team wins gold |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/ibsa-world-games-indian-womens-visually-challenged-cricket-team-wins-gold/article67239689.ece |access-date=2023-09-10 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Records ==
Cricket values records and statistics. Women's records have often been overlooked, especially when a women's record precedes or exceeds a men's record.<ref name="5 Facts">{{Cite web |last=Cricket |first=Team Female |date=2022-03-17 |title=5 Lesser-Known Facts About Women's Cricket That Will Blow Your Mind! |url=https://femalecricket.com/women-cricket-news/22941-5-lesser-known-facts-about-womens-cricket-that-will-blow-your-mind.html |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Female Cricket |language=en-US}}</ref> For example, [[Belinda Clark]] made the first [[Double Century|double century]] in ODI cricket in the [[1997 Women's Cricket World Cup|1997 World Cup]], 23 years earlier than [[Sachin Tendulkar|Sachin Tendulkar's]] 200* in 2010.<ref name="5 Facts"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=AUS-W vs DNK-W, Hero Honda Women's World Cup 1997/98, 18th Match at Mumbai, December 16, 1997 - Full Scorecard |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/hero-honda-women-s-world-cup-1997-98-61222/australia-women-vs-denmark-women-18th-match-67194/full-scorecard |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref> [[Betty Wilson]] became the first player to score a [[Century (cricket)|century]] and take [[Ten-wicket haul|ten wickets]] in a Test match in 1958.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women Test matches {{!}} All-round records {{!}} 100 runs and 10 wickets in a match |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/100-runs-and-10-wickets-in-a-match-287369 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref> [[Ian Botham]] did not achieve this until 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Test matches {{!}} All-round records {{!}} 100 runs and 10 wickets in a match |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/100-runs-and-10-wickets-in-a-match-287370 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:BettyWilson.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|left|<small>[[Betty Wilson]], the woman with the highest bowling average in Test cricket, photographed in 1951. She was also the first cricketer of either sex to score a [[ten-wicket haul]] and a [[Century (cricket)|century]] in a single Test.<ref name="5 Facts" /></small>]]

=== Test cricket ===
{{Main|List of women's Test cricket records}}{{See also|List of centuries in women's Test cricket|List of women's Test cricketers who have taken five wickets on debut}}

Among Test nations, Australia holds the record for the most wins, having won 21 of their 77 Test matches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women Test matches {{!}} Team records {{!}} Results summary |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/results-summary-283305 |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

The all-time-leading women's Test batter is [[Denise Annetts]] of Australia with a Test [[Batting average (cricket)|batting average]] 81.90.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women Test matches {{!}} Batting records {{!}} Highest career batting average |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/highest-career-batting-average-284197 |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref> {{As of|2023}}, she is third behind [[Donald Bradman|Don Bradman's]] famous 99.94 and [[Saud Shakeel|Saud Shakeel's]] current 87.50.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Batting records {{!}} Test matches {{!}} Cricinfo Statsguru {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;orderby=batting_average;template=results;type=batting |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=Cricinfo}}</ref>{{notetag|Criterion for inclusion on the women's record list is to have batted 10 Test innings. All three meet this criterion but Shakeel has yet to reach the 20 innings needed for inclusion on the men's record list.}}

The player with the highest [[bowling average]] is Australian [[Betty Wilson]] with an average of 11.80.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women Test matches {{!}} Bowling records {{!}} Best career bowling average |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/best-career-bowling-average-283916 |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref> This puts her second to the 10.75 of [[George Lohmann]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Test matches {{!}} Bowling records {{!}} Best career bowling average |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/best-career-bowling-average-283256 |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

=== ODI cricket ===
{{Main|List of women's One Day International cricket records}}{{See also|List of centuries in women's One Day International cricket|List of five-wicket hauls in women's One Day International cricket}}
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=== International T20 cricket ===
{{Main|List of women's Twenty20 International records}}{{See also|List of centuries in women's Twenty20 International cricket|List of players who have scored 2,000 or more runs in Women's Twenty20 International cricket|List of five-wicket hauls in women's Twenty20 International cricket}}
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=== Other records ===
{{Main|List of women's international cricket hat-tricks}}
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==See also==
{{Portal|Cricket|Sports}}
*[[Lists of women Test cricketers]]
*[[Lists of women One Day International cricketers]]
*[[Lists of women Twenty20 International cricketers]]
*[[ICC Women's Player Rankings]]

== Notes ==
{{Notefoot}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Women's national cricket teams}}
{{International women's cricket}}
{{Forms of cricket}}
{{Women's sports}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Women's cricket| ]]
[[Category:Cricket]]