Alyssa Healy, the Australia wicketkeeper-batter, believes the prospect of playing four major women’s competitions – the rescheduled ODI World Cup, a T20 World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, and part of the Ashes – in 2022 is “obviously daunting”. Then again, in her view, a glut of high-profile international events in a unmarried year could also serve as an “exciting” possibility to “showcase the women’s game” further, will have to teams have adequate preparation.
“Possibly we could label it ‘international women’s year’ whether that’s going to happen, and have four big major events all during that year and no men’s sports being played – that would be unbelievable,” Healy said in jest throughout a chat with ESPNcricinfo approximately Beyond the Boundary, the ICC’s recently released documentary on the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup.
Originally scheduled for February-March next year in New Zealand, the ODI World Cup used to be recently deferred until 2022, with the event’s CEO Andrea Nelson confirming that the uncertainty around the preparedness of the teams for the qualifying tournament being the prime reason in the back of the postponement. The rescheduling added a fourth major women’s event to the 2022 calendar, with a T20 World Cup in South Africa, the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the women’s Ashes, because of begin late next year in Australia, also jostling for space.
“Look, it’ll be interesting to see how they [the ICC] are ready to balance all those events,” Healy said. “Enabling all of the international sides to have proper preparation for those big tournaments is key, and whether that isn’t ready to take place, then they are obviously going to take a look at rescheduling one of the events.
“The possibility to play four big major worldwide events in one year is obviously daunting, but additionally it is exciting for us to showcase the women’s game on an international scale as big as that. I think lots of the girls all over the world would be chomping at the bits to be a part of it.”
Healy, who used to be named in the 18-member national squad on Friday for the upcoming series against New Zealand, is gearing up for a engaged home season ahead. The pandemic permitting, Australia’s limited-overs bilateral assignment – three T20I and as many ODIs – against New Zealand begins on September 27, which will be followed by the sixth edition of the WBBL in October-November and a three-match ODI series in January against India.
The T20 World Cup in Australia used to be the final multi-team tournament this year before the sport came to a shuddering halt because of the Covid-19 pandemic. And while international cricket has resumed, the cancellation of India and South Africa women’s tours to England in the final two months and the postponement of the 2021 ODI World Cup have taken absent the possibility to build on the success of the T20 World Cup. In this type of climate, Healy believed the ICC’s documentary, which premiered final week, rekindled the desire among women cricketers to receive back on the field.
“The very last thing that everyone remembers [about women’s cricket] is the [T20] World Cup, and to relive that through the documentary used to be well, in my brain. For us players, it reignites the craving to go in the market and play cricket,” Healy said. “Fortunately for us, we are fortunate enough to have a series against New Zealand that’s taking a look like it’ll go ahead. Unfortunately, there’s numerous series all over the world that are not happening. We are truly grateful for the possibility so that you could go out and play cricket for our country.
“The ODI World Cup postponement used to be obviously a disappointing object for the women’s game, but there are bigger factors are at play here. We need everyone to be secure, we need everyone to be healthy. For us, confidently, we will be best prepared for the next ODI World Cup. With a bit of luck, we will see some bilateral series popping up in the close future when they are secure to take action.”
Earlier in the day, Australia captain Meg Lanning said despite the fact that the 2021 ODI World Cup looked like “a bit of light at the end of the tunnel” amid the current uncertainties hampering women’s tours, she used to be hopeful that Australia’s home series against New Zealand would be a good starting point to lead into 2022, which, in her assessment, is set to be a “massive year”.
“No doubt we were disappointed the World Cup got pushed back by a year; we were gearing up for that as a bit of light at the end of the tunnel but at the same time we understand the decision,” Lanning said throughout a video press convention. “There’s such a lot that goes into those things and probably a lot we do not realize or understand and that’s the reason the decision the ICC has made.
“Now we’re just taking a look towards 2022, which is going to be a massive year for us and could potentially be a few world tournaments in there and a Commonwealth Games. In order that’s something we’re taking a look forward to and we’re going to get started with this series coming up and then build toward 2022.”