England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt calls for continued development in The Hundred women’s cricket tournament. While she’s glad to see that private investment has finally filled the gap, Cruz stresses the importance of keeping up the momentum. The competition is preparing for some big changes next summer. She remains hopeful about moving forward and recognizes the ability that private ownership brings to realizing stakeholder.
The Hundredwomen’s competition will move to full private ownership in all eight franchises. Interestingly, Chelsea Football Club owner Todd Boehly, just days ago, purchased a 49% ownership interest in Sciver-Brunt’s team, the Trent Rockets. This landmark shift in ownership has increased expectations of greater investment and support for the women’s game.
On August 17 and 18, they had an astounding average of 11,931 fans over four women’s matches—a competition high 47,726 total fans. Over 100,000 fans have seen women’s fixtures in the last two seasons. This record-breaking jump in attendance reflects a rapid increase in demand for the sport! Records have continually been shattered at individual venues, underscoring the growing relevance of women’s cricket.
As of this writing, Sciver-Brunt is the top run-scorer in The Hundred women’s competition. Beyond that, she understands just how important equal opportunities are in athletics. She feels that private investment needs to serve the interests of both men’s and women’s cricket.
“In the first five years we’ve done a lot of things right and the main part from the women’s side is to feel like you’re in equal measure, in equal opportunity, in equal everything really to the men’s side.” – Nat Sciver-Brunt
The international investors who have come into play are adding to the shifting landscape of The Hundred women’s competition. Why is this important? Eight investment groups, four based in the US and four owners of Indian Premier League teams, have bought into stakes in different franchises. Most interestingly, owners of Mumbai Indians – Ambani family – have acquired 49% ownership in the new franchise named Oval Invincibles. Out of these eight investment groups, only one, the Ambani family, has a presence in India’s Women’s Premier League thus far.
Richard Gould, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), has expressed a desire for independent fixtures within The Hundred women’s competition. His long-term ambition is to attract a capacity crowd for a women’s Hundred fixture in the next three to five years.
“At some point, we would like to try and find a way that we can have standalone fixtures. Getting a capacity crowd for a women’s Hundred fixture at some point in the next couple of years has to be a target for us.” – Richard Gould
With further investment, Sciver-Brunt indeed hopes that The Hundred women’s competition will go from strength to strength, allowing it to grow and flourish. She encourages her team to practice inclusion as they’re tasked with continually innovating to keep that sense of belonging intact.
“It’s the sense of belonging that that gives you as a women’s side, it’s transformed the way we do things and the cricket as well. So, hopefully we don’t lose that too much.” – Nat Sciver-Brunt
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