Croatia, Denmark qualify for Nations League quarterfinals with draws

Amongst the plethora of men’s cricket tournaments being played around the world, it might seem easy to overlook a number of women’s events also taking place — which are indicative of the latter’s remarkable growth over the last decade.

At present, a Women’s Ashes series is being played in Australia and an International Cricket Council Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia. And Bangladesh’s women are touring the West Indies for a three-match series in both T20Is and One-Day Internationals.

In Australia, the 50-over Women’s National Cricket League resumed after the final of the Women’s Big Bash League on Dec. 1, 2024, which concludes on March 2. In New Zealand, the final of the women’s Super-Smash tournament is scheduled for Feb. 1.

One of New Zealand’s most prominent players and captain, Sophie Devine, will take no further part in that tournament. She is to take an immediate break from the game. This means she will miss the Women’s Premier League 2025 in India, in which she is part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

According to New Zealand Cricket, this is to “prioritize her well-being” after receiving professional advice. The statement added that a “decision on Devine’s playing future will be announced in due course.”

This all sounds a little ominous for Devine, who is now 35. Since October 2024, when she was part of the T20 World Cup winning team, Devine has played in an ODI series against India, in the WBBL for the Perth Scorchers and in an ODI series against Australia in late December.

In her career, she has played almost 300 international games. The amount of cricket now played by top players, albeit well rewarded, takes its toll, both mentally and physically.

Such a toll is being felt very keenly by England’s women’s cricketers in Australia. The Ashes series consists of three ODIs, three T20 matches and a single Test match. A points-based system is used to determine the winning team. Two points are awarded for an ODI and T20I win, one point each for a tie or no result.

Victory in a Test match earns four points, with two each in a draw. The England team has suffered the chastening experience of being beaten in all three ODIs and in all three T20Is. This provides Australia with 12 points and, going into the Test match which started on Jan. 30, were in determined mood to complete a clean sweep.

This would be historic. England won the first series under the points-based system in August 2013 and then defended that position in Australia in early 2014. However, Australia regained the trophy in England in 2015 and, since then, have not let hold in five consecutive series.

The series in 2017/18 and 2023 were drawn at eight points each, Australia retaining the Ashes as holders. A clean sweep in 2025 would be an embarrassment for England.

It will place increased pressure on both the coach, Jon Lewis and the captain, Heather Knight, who has led England 199 times in international matches. There has been a focus on why England’s performances have been so disappointing. One suggestion came from a recent former England player, Alex Hartley, now working as a commentator and pundit.

After England’s surprise elimination in the Women’s T20 World Cup last October, she questioned the physical fitness of some team members. In Australia, she has reiterated this theme. It has been clear throughout the series that the Australian players are super-fit, display an unmatched athleticism and an indomitable will to win.

Hartley’s comments have brought her into conflict with some of her former teammates, who have shunned her, even refusing to be interviewed. Although there have been denials that fitness is an issue, a siege mentality appears to have developed within the squad.

This does not augur well for an improved performance in the Test match. It also brings into sharp focus the boundaries between what constitutes acceptable criticism from former teammates. Hartley wants England to do better and justifies her criticism as a push for them to achieve improvement.

It will require a big push to catch up with the Australians. The current coach of the Australian under-19 women’s team is in no doubt that the current senior squad have pushed performance and athleticism to new heights. In the U-19 Women’s World Cup, Australia have reached the semifinals, along with South Africa, whom they will play on Jan. 31, England and India. All four teams deserve their places but, in a possible pointer for the future, the Nigerian team came within a point of reaching the semifinals.

On this evidence alone, there is proof that the women’s game is growing both in geographical reach and playing numbers. This is one of the achievements of which the ICC is proud. A prime mover behind this has been its CEO, Geoff Allardice.

This week it was announced that Allardice would be stepping down after four years in the post, to “pursue new challenges.” His departure, in the early days of Jay Shah’s tenure as chair, follows those of the heads of the anti-corruption unit, events and the general manager of marketing and communication.

Under Shah’s watch, women’s cricket is set to reach new levels. These will be driven not just by ICC tournaments but by national boards. They need to attract and develop higher quality talent to the game, all in competition with other sports.

Australia is helped by having a stable domestic structure, whereas that in England and Wales has changed three times since 2015. Attracting talent is also driven by salary levels.

Significantly, within the last 10 years, the cricket boards in Australia and England introduced professional central contracts for women. In Australia’s case, a new five-year deal has increased salaries by two-thirds.

The top international players now have the opportunity to boost their incomes through domestic and franchise tournaments, plus endorsements.

One can understand the frustrations of commentators — such as Hartley who are aware of the similar rewards for top women players in both England and Australia — watching the latter being so dominating.