CA boosts investment into female cricket

Cricket Australia has announced a new $4 million investment into female cricket, particularly targeted at growing participation among teenagers.

The move comes on the back of a successful inaugural WBBL last summer, and will involve a $1 million investment per year over four years, half of which will go directly to cricket clubs, associations, and secondary schools through the new Growing Cricket for Girls Fund.

The other half will be used to employ full-time female participation specialists across Australia to provide ongoing support to clubs, associations and secondary schools.

"Girls and women are playing cricket in record numbers and participation growth last summer was fuelled by the incredibly successful launch of the Women's Big Bash League," James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive said.

"Whilst cricket has had a national female competition for 70 years, we are committed to further investment to grow the female game with the Women's Big Bash League at the forefront.

"The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars are the world's number one ranked women's team - and our female cricketers are deservedly the best paid of all women's team sports in our country.

"Our female cricketers are wonderful role models and we are delighted to see their increasing exposure is inspiring more and more girls to play cricket."

Cricketer Alyssa Healy said: "It's exciting to see this new investment in cricket. I know from my own experience of coming through community cricket that dedicated competitions for girls to play against other girls of the same age will have a huge impact on the development of them as cricketers and female cricket in general."