Heather Knight calls on ICC to ensure women's game doesn't lose momentum

The England captain added that her side are keen to support the Black Lives Matter movement during the upcoming series and that she would be speaking to West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor about how best to show their solidarity

Heather Knight has called on the ICC to ensure that women’s cricket does not lose its momentum as England prepare for their first action since the coronavirus pandemic altered the course of their summer plans.

Knight’s side had been due to face India and South Africa in two bilateral series ahead of the 50-over World Cup, which was due to take place in February next year, but has now been postponed until 2022 as a result of the impact of Covid-19.

It was initially hoped that the season would build on the success of the T20 World Cup in Australia, which culminated in a crowd of 86,174 turning out for the final at the MCG. However, those plans changed almost as soon as the tournament came to an end.

Austria faced Germany in mid-August as women’s international cricket made its return but England’s five-match T20I series against West Indies will signal the resumption of the women’s game at full member level.

“There’s a real chance that a lot of women’s teams won’t play much cricket because there’s obviously a lot more that goes into playing cricket at the moment in terms of secure bubbles, time and effort and money that is required,” Knight said of the challenges facing the game’s resumption in current times, including the finances involved in putting together a bio-secure bubble.

“So, I think now is a real time for the ICC to step up and support those countries and get women’s cricket on. It’s going to be a huge boost to obviously get us back playing but we want people to play against and we want high competition throughout world cricket.

“You just hope now that boards do take women’s cricket seriously and do put it on. I do think that the World Cup in Australia showed how much it’s grown again from another world event that has been hugely successful. It’s important now that all cricket continues and women’s cricket is a part of that.”

^{Heather Knight was in fine form for Western Storm during two Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy outings}

With that in mind, Knight is encouraged by news that the third match of the series will be broadcast on BBC television - the first time women’s international cricket in the UK has been on free-to-air television since the 1993 Women’s World Cup final.

“It’s a chance for us to showcase what we can do as players and go and entertain, so it’s really exciting,” she added.

“Sky have done a brilliant job in supporting the women’s game and getting it out there, but the reach the BBC can give is slightly different, so that’s hugely exciting. To have that prime slot on a Saturday as well is great and hopefully we can go out and inspire some young girls.

“It’s such an important thing to be able to do – that visibility in women’s sport hasn’t been as visible this summer because of the pandemic, so I think it’s hugely important that women’s sport continues to be visible and people are able to see it.”

When South Africa pulled out of their tour due to travel restrictions out of the country and the World Cup was pushed back a year, it looked as though England Women might be consigned to a summer without international cricket, with the men’s team ultimately fulfilling all of their pre-scheduled fixtures.

Knight admits that “there were thoughts in the back of your mind that it might happen” but adds that the ECB’s attitude and commitment to the women’s game meant that hope rarely wavered.

Even before an international series was confirmed, the national governing body reaffirmed its dedication to the advancement of the women’s game, pushing through retainer contracts for 25 domestic players, while also introducing the one-off Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy to ensure that elite cricket took place beneath international level.

A group of 24 players, meanwhile, was selected to begin training in June ahead of any international cricket that might materialise, with England playing four T20 intra-squad warmup games at Loughborough, before arriving at Derby’s Incora County Ground, where the West Indies series will take place.

^{England haven't played since their T20 World Cup semi-final was ruined by rain in Sydney}

“It’s going to be so nice,” Knight said of the feeling of representing England once again. “It’s been a long time coming, I think. It’s been great to see everyone get back playing, but we’ve been a little bit jealous to not be out there playing. So now it’s set in stone, I just can’t wait really.

“The things that have gone on behind the scenes have been absolutely amazing; the ECB have been brilliant. So much hard work has gone into it and we’re just excited to get those Three Lions back on.

“We knew as players that they were going to do everything in their power to try to get some cricket on. They’ve done exactly what they would have done for the guys, which is real progress. I don’t think that would have happened three or four years ago. I think we knew there was a good possibility that we’d be playing, so it’s great that it’s locked in.

“It’s been a very surreal time for us all, I think. Now, we’re getting back to some sort of normality and getting back to playing for England, so I think we’re all just really excited and very grateful as well to West Indies for filling the void.

“I think it was a ten-day turnaround to get them locked in to come over. I probably didn’t believe it until they landed, so we’re obviously massively grateful to them and to their board and to the ECB for making it all happen.”

Knight added that she had exchanged text messages with West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor about a show of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and that England were keen to display their support.

“We’ve had a chat as players and we definitely want to do something to honour the movement and give our support to it and keep the conversation happening,” she explained.

“I’ll speak to Stafanie over the next few days to work out exactly what that looks like for both teams. But us as players, we want to do something and we’re keen to support it and we’ll also be wearing the Black Lives Matter logo on our shirts.”

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