Is women’s cricket coming to the Commonwealth Games?

SHE CAPTAINED the England Cricket Team which won the Women’s Cricket World Cup held in England just two years ago. Now Heather Knight has welcomed the news that women’s cricket may be one of the new sports being played at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The Executive Board of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has voted to include women’s cricket, beach volleyball and para-table tennis at the Games. Now the 71 member associations of the CGF must confirm the decision, a process expected to take around six weeks. Sadly for followers of shooting and archery, the Executive has decided not to recommend that they be included in the Birmingham Games.

Heather Knight said, “It is brilliant news. I knew the ICC and ECB had pushed for it to be included and it has all clicked into place perfectly. Birmingham is the ideal place to hold it too, it’s a city that loves its cricket and will really get behind the team.

“As cricketers, you never really think about the Commonwealth Games, it is all about the Ashes and World Cups. But I used to love watching the Olympics and Commonwealth Games as a kid, following the stories and the athletes representing their country and winning golds.

“Hopefully this will take women’s cricket to a new audience, to other countries who never really saw it as a priority and increase its funding. Hopefully, I will still be playing in 2022 too!

“All the girls would love to be a part of it, it is a little bit different and unique. Everyone relates to the Commonwealth Games and representing England makes me very proud so to do so there would be special. If you look at what the Commonwealth gold did for English netball after last year you can see what an amazing impact it could have on women’s cricket in this country.

“To be back in England will be special too after winning the World Cup on home soil back in 2017 but it will have the added clout of being a part of the Commonwealth Games and all the other major sports involved.

“To have an international competition in this country again is amazing. I was 11 when the Commonwealth Games in 2002 was held in Manchester but I can remember some of it and seeing English athletes winning gold. Things like that always inspired and pushed me and I hope young girls will be the same.”

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