Hit that cricket ball to females

ZOE REISS

Cricket – a sport for everyone. That is the message that Nelson Cricket want to spread with the launch of the new Women’s Cricket Club, a key initiative in Nelson Cricket’s Women & Girls Strategy.

The new female club was launched at the beginning of August, and with around 40 women and girls registered with the club, the hope is that more will join them.

“Traditionally, cricket has been very male-driven and New Zealand Cricket, over the last few years, has really put an emphasis on growing the women’s space as well, and led with a few great initiatives and a few great programmes,” says Jake Inwood, general manager of Nelson Cricket.

He says the club aims to provide options for women and give them a chance to play.

“We don’t have many female players in our region, despite having some very talented ones come through the region,” Jake says.

“Cricket is New Zealand’s summer game, and it’s a game that should be for everyone, and we want to keep people in the game for as long as possible.”

This season, Nelson Women’s Cricket Club will form one youth team at college level, one junior hardball team and another junior softball team, as well as a women’s team entered into the president’s grade social competition.

The season starts in the first week of November and runs for 14 weeks. Nelson Women’s Cricket Club will train in the indoor centre and play at cricket grounds around the region.

“The club’s open to anyone and everyone, and it’s specifically designed like that. So, whether it’s someone who’s a seasoned player and already playing, whether it’s someone who’s played in the past and wants to come back and doesn’t know how to get involved, or it’s someone completely new to the game who just wants to give it a go.”

Members will learn various fundamental cricket skills, develop confidence in their abilities and have a really good time in doing it with their mates, mentions Jake.

“One of the long-term ambitions for us is to increase the number of females playing cricket to the point where we’ve got a standalone female competition.

“There’s a profession that can be had in this space now for female cricketers, and we play an important role in the start of that journey.

“How can we make them fall in love with the game and then push on to see where they want to go, whether that’s just playing on a Saturday with their mates or going on to the highest honours,” Jake says.

To register for the season or find more information visit nelsoncricket.org.nz/nelson-womens-cricket-club