England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announces an increase in match fees for the women’s side that will bring them on par with the men’s team.
ECB Announces Equal Match Fee For Women’s, Men’s Cricketers
England joined India, New Zealand and South Africa in introducing pay parity for men’s and women’s teams in international cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) have already announced equal prize money for men’s and women’s teams at the ICC events.
“Following record-breaking crowds of 110,000 at this summer’s Women’s Ashes series, the ECB today announces it is increasing match fees for England Women to bring them in line with England Men’s match fees,” said a statement from ECB.
England set new women’s international attendance records at Edgbaston, The Oval and Lord’s and sold out matches at Taunton, Bristol and Hampshire in their series against Australia.
Regarding the announcement, ICC’s statement reads “This news comes at the back of a highly successful Women’s Ashes. While the urn was retained by Australia, England showed great fight and managed to win the ODI and T20I series after losing the one-off Test”.
“Not only was the series competitive on the field but it also managed to draw record crowds during the summer. It set new women’s international attendance records at stadiums like Edgbaston, the Oval and Lord’s, while also managing to sell out games at Taunton, Bristol and Hampshire”, the statement reads.
The increase in match fee will take effect immediately starting with England’s next international assignment on 31 August against Sri Lanka.
England Women’s captain, Heather Knight, proclaimed the series as “the best there has ever been in the history of the women’s game.”
Cricket Board to give equal match fees for Men’s and Women’s cricketers:
- BCCI – India
- NZC – New Zealand
- CSA – South Africa
- ECB – England
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Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “This summer’s thrilling Women’s Ashes series demonstrated how women’s cricket is continuing to grow at pace in this country, with record attendances and TV viewing. Growing the women’s and girls’ game is a key priority for us, and in recent years we have considerably increased investment both in building a domestic women’s structure to produce the players of the future, and in increasing player rewards.”
“In the years ahead, we will continue to invest ahead of revenues. We are currently considering all the recommendations made by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, but equalising match fees is one immediate step we are pleased to make now. We all want cricket to be the team sport of choice for female athletes, and with the investments we are making – and increasingly lucrative opportunities around the world – we are seeing cricketers become some of the highest-earning female athletes in UK team sports. However, we know there is still much further to go as we ultimately strive for equality across the game.”
“As we continue to grow women’s cricket, we will continue to focus on making considered investments that stretch far and wide across the women’s cricket structures, delivering a thriving, profitable and future-proofed game,” he concluded.
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Heather Knight, England Women’s Captain, said: “It is really important that we continue to drive the women’s game forward and it is fantastic to see equal match fees for England Women and England Men.”
“The direction of travel for the women’s game has always been the most important thing, creating a sustainable product that people want to watch and play, and I’m sure this will make cricket an increasingly attractive sport to girls and young women as we continue to grow the game.”
“I would also like to thank the PCA (Professional Cricketers’ Association) and England Women’s Player Partnership for their support in representing the players and the growth of the professional game,” she concluded.
