England captain Heather Knight says her team are relishing the spike in interest in women’s sport and ready to build on the triumph of last summer when she lifted the World Cup trophy in front of a full house at Lord’s.
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The World Cup was watched by an estimated 180 million across the globe and culminated in a nail-biting final, as Anya Shrubsole’s six-wicket haul inspired a smash-and-grab nine-run victory over India. It was the most-watched game of cricket shown on Sky last year and a game-changing moment for the women’s game as a whole.
It’s not just women’s cricket that’s on the rise. There has also been a sharp increase in viewing figures and media coverage of netball, women’s rugby, football and golf, and Knight says she feels part of something bigger.
“I found it tough to hear,” agrees Sciver. “I got a bit defensive about the fitness comments. But it was good to have a new outlook because I guess we were going around in circles and not really making massive strides on our fitness or our skill levels. We were still doing well as a team but plateauing a bit. They were big statements but, looking back, probably what we needed at the time.”
England Women begin their summer fixtures with an ODI series against South Africa starting on June 9 before a T20I tri-series against the same opposition and New Zealand, and then a 50-over series against the White Ferns in July.
