The International Cricket Council (ICC) is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first-ever Cricket World Cup, the Women’s World Cup held in England on June 20, 1973.
In a five-week long tribute leading up to the anniversary of the final match on July 28, the ICC will be sharing content that celebrates this historic event, which marked the global initiation of women’s and men’s cricket, while paying homage to the heroes of that era.
The tournament began on an unfortunate note, as the opening match between Jamaica and New Zealand was washed out without a ball being bowled. However, it culminated in England emerging as the champions with a resounding 92-run victory over Australia at Edgbaston on July 28, 1973. The winning captain, Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, proudly received the trophy.
Featuring seven teams, namely Australia, England, an International XI, Jamaica, New Zealand, Trinidad & Tobago, and Young England, the inaugural Cricket World Cup was brought to life through the generous sponsorship of British businessman Sir Jack Hayward, who contributed GBP 40,000.
The unique distinction of having a women’s World Cup precede a men’s global event sets cricket apart from other major sports on the international stage.
To kick off the celebrations, the ICC has shared a series of photographs from the event on their social media channels, showcasing memorable moments. Among these images is a photograph of Jamaican cricketer Paulette Lynch alongside ICC Hall of Famer Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, who features prominently in many of the pictures.
Several former players have enthusiastically shared their memories of the inaugural event and reflected on its significance for themselves and the sport.
Enid Bakewell MBE, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, reminisced about her father’s proud moment after she scored a century:
“My main memories of 1973 are seeing my dad with his rug over his arm coming to me after I had scored a century! After the final had been won by England, we were presented to Princess Anne who later gave me an MBE at Buckingham Palace. Rachael Heyhoe-Flint was the real super woman who fought to promote the women’s game. She took her ukulele to Lord’s and played it outside the ground on the street to let people know that women played cricket. She was a real inspiration on and off the field.”
Lynne Thomas, the second leading run-scorer and opener for England, expressed her pride in representing her country:
“It was a great honor for me to represent England in the first-ever World Cup in 1973. I felt I was also representing my home country, Wales, of which I am very proud. It was a hugely successful tournament played in a true sporting spirit. The staging of the World Cup in 1973 put a tournament format into the women’s cricket calendar for the first time. It took place every four years and is still being played today.
I think that its success has contributed to the forming of other women’s world events such as the T20 World Cup. Being introduced to Her Royal Highness Princess Anne before the final and holding the Cup after the presentation were also major highlights. I have fond memories of the happy times the team spent together. The closeness of the team members, how we blended together and the fun we had. We all enjoyed playing cricket, and the friendships we formed will last forever.”
Louise Browne, the captain of Trinidad & Tobago, shared her reflections:
“It does not seem as though 50 years have gone by since I was asked to lead the Trinidad and Tobago women’s team to the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1973. Four members of our squad had attended Cricket Week in Malvern (England) in 1971, but the rest of the team had not traveled beyond the Caribbean borders. At that inaugural World Cup, we placed fifth among the seven participating teams, with wins only against Young England and Jamaica.
Our participation, however, brought recognition to women’s cricket, not only in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica but throughout the Caribbean region. It is a pleasure to know that women can now play cricket professionally. The franchise tournaments being established worldwide have added excitement to the game. I hope that the present players will continue to be true ambassadors for our sport, and they will represent their country or region with the passion and pride that we did. Women’s cricket in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean, and the world still has a long way to go, but we are on the right track.”
Margaret Jennings from Australia reflected on the significance of the tournament:
“It was the first time I had ever traveled to the UK, along with most of my teammates. Previously, tours had been once every 10 years, but here we were playing against the best teams in the world before anyone else had even thought of it. It was such a wonderful feeling to play against different countries and provided all of us with experiences money could not buy.
Thanks to Rachel Heyhoe-Flint and Sir Jack Hayward, we were treated well, and we all felt like real international cricketers in 1973. The concept of playing against all teams was one to be savored, and the final game against England, where we were well and truly beaten, didn’t matter as cricket was the winner.”
Sharon Tredrea, also from Australia, emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the tournament:
“This was the biggest thing to ever happen in women’s cricket, a World Cup format, prior to the men, none of which would have occurred without the amazing work of Rachel Heyhoe-Flint and her friend, Sir Jack Hayward, who sponsored the entire tournament. For me, representing your country is such a proud moment. To have had the opportunity to participate in this World Cup, now 50 years ago, was a privilege.
The competition during the World Cup was fierce but played in a very sporting way, with a lot of respect for opponents. This World Cup showcased the best of the best from around the world and opened the eyes of many who dismissed women’s cricket. The build-up, once we arrived in England, was incredible. It was like nothing any of us had experienced before. Every day, news articles in the major newspapers were published, and to have the opportunity to play on major grounds in the UK was mind-blowing.
It created a tournament that has carried on for 50 years, albeit with format changes, now 50 overs instead of 60. But it was the catalyst for more regular international competitions and the precursor to the game we see today, with professional women cricketers worldwide. I was fortunate to go on and play in three more World Cups, winning those three as a member of the Aussie team. Although it was bitterly disappointing to lose that first final to England, the media loved it, and it provided unprecedented publicity for the women’s game globally.”
Geoff Allardice, ICC Chief Executive, paid tribute to the pioneers of women’s cricket:
“Today is not just a celebration of 50 years of the Women’s Cricket World Cup but the first-ever Cricket World Cup, giving us the opportunity to recognize the women who were pioneers of our sport. By staging the first-ever Cricket World Cup, they laid the foundation for the vibrant women’s cricket landscape we enjoy today. The global growth of women’s cricket is one of the ICC’s top priorities.
We aim to increase the number of female cricket fans and participants worldwide and ensure that ICC women’s events receive equal recognition and standing as men’s events. The launch of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009, the professionalization of women’s cricket worldwide, and the establishment of numerous global franchise T20 leagues are all fruits of the seed that was planted by Rachel Heyhoe-Flint and her fellow players back in 1973.”
