England are in vanguard of women's game

The quality of cricketers within the England environment has and continues to improve with the investment of the ECB. Years ago, they stole a march over other nations, who, stung by it, have now started stronger investment programmes themselves and are seeing the dividends from it.

The persistent tendency to belittle women's cricket in comparison to men's is just irksome, in a way that tends not to happen in individual sports. This week, the fact that Maria Sharapova in all probability would not take a game, or scarcely a point for that matter, from Rafa Nadal will not diminish her. England women cricketers possess superb skills and high aesthetics, and have only physical constraints. But they still bat with flair, hit sixes, swing the ball, spin it, and field with athletic brilliance.