Number of full-time female cricketers in UK rises to 58 in step towards professionalisation
The England and Wales Cricket Board have taken the total number of female full-time domestic players to 41, in a major step in the professionalisation of the women's game.
The landmark moment sees the number of women in the UK paid year-round to play cricket rise to 58, including the 17 centrally contracted England Women's squad. Covid-19 forced the delay of these domestic contracts from their planned June roll-out, with 25 retainer agreements allocated instead, but on Thursday those 25 and an additional 16 players signed on the dotted line as full-time professionals.
The list comprises of five players from each of the eight regions, who will be paid by the ECB, plus an additional player selected at Western Storm, who will be funded by the team and Glamorgan CCC.
The recipients include former England all-rounder Jenny Gunn and Southern Vipers' Georgia Adams, who drew headlines for excelling in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy this season.
“We’re delighted that these 41 young women are able to call themselves full-time professional cricketers and we wish them every success," ECB Managing Director of Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said. “The introduction of these 41 professional players, in addition to our 17 Centrally Contracted England Women’s players is the most significant step forward for the women’s game in recent years.
“In terms of the health of women’s cricket in England and Wales, we cannot overestimate the importance of these 41 players having the opportunity to train and work on their skills full-time, with access to high quality coaching and facilities across the eight regions. Today’s news is not only wonderful for the players themselves, it represents a step change for our whole domestic game and for young girls who will now be able to see more opportunity and aspiration in front of them."
England follows the lead of Australia, where the professional Women's Big Bash League and national team contracts have helped elevate the level of their women's cricket and seen them dominate on the world stage - most recently winning the T20 World Cup on home soil in February.
In previous years in England, domestic women cricketers had been paid to play in the now-defunct Kia Super League, but these contracts will see them receive year-round financial support. It will be in addition to The Hundred's first season next summer where the women's competition will be played at the same grounds as the men's fixtures and enjoy terrestrial television coverage.
“When you add in the profile opportunity of The Hundred next year, the landscape looks even more exciting," Connor added. "After a challenging year in the wake of the pandemic, I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made in 2020, just one year after launching our action plan to transform women’s and girls’ cricket.”
