The importance of International Women's Day
To help mark International Women’s Day 2023, we caught up with some of the Western Storm squad to discuss the importance of the day.
We also discussed the growth of the women’s game and how they would like to see cricket develop over the next few years.
We were joined by Fran Wilson, Dani Gibson, Sophia Smale, Nicole Harvey, Nat Wraith and Chloe Skelton.
We began by asking them about the importance of International Women’s Day.
Fran Wilson: “International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate the contributions of women across the country. It’s important to raise awareness to inspire and make all environments equally accessible to women.”
Dani Gibson: “It’s important to me to recognise how far women’s cricket has come and the support we have had to grow and to keep growing.”
Sophia Smale: “International Women’s Day is massively important as we get to recognise those female figures who have had a great impact on society and who have inspired many. It also highlights what women can achieve.”
Nicole Harvey: “It’s really important to celebrate all the amazing women in the world and what incredible things we have achieved and continue to achieve. It’s vital to show that we can achieve anything we set our minds to.”
Nat Wraith: “It’s good to highlight the improvements that have been made in the women’s game and what more can be done.”
Chloe Skelton: “I think it’s important because it’s a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women.”
WHAT DOES BEING A PROFESSIONAL CRICKETER MEAN TO YOU?
FW: “Being a professional cricketer gives me belonging and purpose in a team. This gives me an opportunity to inspire people to get involved in cricket, provide entertainment and be a part of an occasion for people to get together and have a good day out with friends and family.”
SS: “Being a professional cricketer is the best job in the world. I’m very blessed to say that is my job. Since I was six, I knew this is what I wanted to do, so to be able to get the opportunity at a young age and make a living out of it is a dream come true.”
NW: “It means I get to have a job that I enjoy!”
CS: “It means a lot to have achieved my goal of becoming a pro. I’m thrilled to be involved in a professional cricket environment while also taking this opportunity to hopefully encourage and inspire younger girls to get involved in cricket.”
NH: “It’s an honour to play the game and to be able to inspire the generations to come.”
DG: “Being a professional cricketer is a dream. It’s what I’ve wanted since being a kid. To be able to come into ‘work’ and play cricket is great. I feel extremely lucky that it’s an option for me and for women and girls from a young age now.”
WHAT ONE THING WOULD YOU DO TO IMPROVE THE GAME?
NH: “We need to continue to showcase the talent we have on tv, etc.”
SS: “Increase women’s test matches. If men play them then so should we. It’s the best format of cricket and in my opinion the hardest test.”
CS: “More coverage of the women’s game.”
NW: “Get more people watching women’s cricket.”
FW: “One thing I would do to improve the game is that you can’t be out first ball!”
WHERE DO YOU THINK THE WOMEN’S GAME WILL BE IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?
NH: “Hopefully, it will be bigger, better, and lots more women and girls will be playing and involved in all aspects of the game, enjoying and inspiring each other.”
DG: “I think there will be at least 15 full time pros at each region, meaning the players can fully commit. The game will be so much more developed with more players being able to be full time. There could be a change in the rules e.g. boundary sizes or number or fielders outside the ring. Who knows? I think women’s cricket will be very exciting in five years’ time.”
FW: “In five years’ time, I hope that the professional women’s game will have equality across the board with men’s professional teams at all levels.”
NW: I’d like to see whole squads being professional in the regional game.”
CS: “Hopefully, there will be more professional female cricketers in the game to continue the growth of womens cricket.”
SS: “I hope there will be more franchise opportunities worldwide as well as many more Test matches. I would also like to see multi-day cricket at regional level to help give people more opportunity to to be picked in Test matches when they happen. I hope to see more and more girls taking up cricket in Wales and England.”
