Major boost to come from women's World Cup

Australia's captain Karen Rolton: 'We are honoured to be hosting the event' © Getty Images

Ehsan Mani, the ICC president, has said that he believes the next two women's World Cups, in Australia in 2009 and India four years later, will take the sport to a new level. The tournaments will be the first since the ICC merged with the International Women's Cricket Council last year.

"This is an exciting time for the women's game and the fact the venues for the next two World Cups have now been decided is a further illustration of that fact," said Mani. "Both tournaments will benefit from the increased financial and logistical support that we can offer as the worldwide governing body. And, on top of that, there will be the extra exposure and profile that comes with being an ICC event.

"Those factors will combine to make both tournaments the best ever in the history of women's cricket and they will ensure the game is taken to a new level."

And players and administrators from both Australia and India expressed their pleasure and excitement at the prospect of hosting the next two tournaments.

"We will be looking to showcase the women's game to the world in 2009," said James Sutherland, Cricket Australia's CEO. "The tournament is a good platform to keep driving the growth of the game and increasing participation and interest among females, which is a priority for Australian cricket over the next few years."

Karen Rolton, the captain of holders Australia, added: "We are honoured to be hosting the event in 2009 and the Australian team is certainly looking forward to playing in front of our home crowd as we try to defend the World Cup title.

"I was only 14 years old when Australia hosted the 1988 World Cup, but I have heard about how that was a source of inspiration for young girls in the country to start playing cricket. Hopefully we can generate a similar result over the coming years.

"Having played World Cups in India, New Zealand and South Africa, it is great that we have the chance to now play on home soil and also get some certainty with where the [next two] tournaments will be staged."

In 2013, the World Cup will return to India after a 16-year absence, and Mithali Raj, India's captain, was thrilled at the prospect. "It's fantastic that the Women's World Cup will be held in India," she said. "Having the World Cup here will be very beneficial as it will create an even greater awareness of women's cricket than already exists."

"The media are a great support to women's cricket in India and coverage of the World Cup will take the game to every corner of the country. And as a result of the exposure the tournament will provide, we are extremely hopeful that it will lead to a significant increase in women playing the game in India."