March 8, 2020 almost ushered in a new era in women’s cricket. A record 86,174 people turned up to cheer India and Australia in the T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It raised hopes of a brighter future, more competition and better structure for women’s cricket. But it also marked the onset of the pandemic. And understandably, the interest generated in Melbourne faded.
Come Friday, the focus will again be on women’s cricket when the ICC 50-over World Cup gets under way in New Zealand. The eight-nation tournament, originally scheduled from February 6 to March 7, 2021, was pushed back by a year due to the pandemic.
