While cricket has been played at the Commonwealth Games before – men's 50-over Cricket was played at Kuala Lumpur 1998 where South Africa took home the gold - this is the first time that Women’s cricket and the T20 format are part of the Games.  

The eight teams taking part in the competition are: Australia, Barbados, India, Pakistan, England, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sir Lanka. And after the preliminary round, Australia, India, England, and New Zealand were through to the semifinals.  

We were lucky enough to catch up with two cricketers, whose teams are now in the finals at Edgbaston Stadium on 7 August: Jemimah Ivan Rodrigues, from team India and Darcie Brown from Team Australia. Rodrigues played hockey for the Under-17 Maharashtra squad and is an all-rounder for the Mumbai women's cricket team, while Brown competes for the South Australian Scorpions in the Women's National Cricket League and the Adelaide Strikers in the Women's Big Bash League as a speed bowler (WBBL).  

For both cricketers it is an unbelievable opportunity to be in the Games. "I never imagined I’d be playing cricket in the Commonwealth Games, seriously, I can’t believe it, but I am so grateful,” Rodrigues said. Brown echoed this sentiment: “It is a dream being here. I used to watch the Games on TV and now we are playing here”. 

While both cricketers feel proud of representing their countries, there’s something else that they are equally proud of and that is making women’s cricket more visible. Brown commented: “I know young girls are watching us and it is important and special for us to make the sport visible and inspire them.” For Rodrigues being a reference for young girls is also something important: “It's a motivation for me because many young girls are watching me and that makes me want to do my best and set the right example for the generation coming after me”. Women’s Cricket has been growing in momentum over the last few years and having a place on the Commonwealth Games stage should certainly help increase the popularity of the sport.  

When we chatted with both cricketers just before the semifinals, they didn’t have any wild celebrations planned if they won and instead, they were focused on reaching the final [which they both successfully did] and getting the gold medal – both were focused on taking each stage one step at a time. However, they were also certain that if their countries won, team celebrations would occur. For Rodrigues the Closing Ceremony would be the place to celebrate as her team couldn’t go to the Opening Ceremony as they were competing the following day. Brown also plans on celebrating with her team: “We will probably go partying if we win”.  

When asked about their plans for after the Games, Rodrigues said she hasn’t thought that far ahead yet; while Brown’s plans are more fixed: “After the Games I will be in London for few days to enjoy my break before going back home to start training again”.  

The Village 

Being in the Games means living in the Villages and spending time with other athletes. Both cricketers enjoyed their time in their Village. Rodrigues: “Today [last Thursday 4 August] is the first time we came to the Village [Commonwealth Games Village Birmingham] and meeting our hockey players and other athletes is very exciting”.

Both cricketers are staying at the Park Regis Hotel with the Beach Volleyball athletes. Brown noted that the Australian cricket team haven’t socialized much because of their COVID rules but they do support their mates when watching the Games and, even without the opportunity to socialize, Brown has still met other Athletes: “I met people from places I’ve never heard about before when we went to CGB to have food from the food trucks.” Rodrigues also spoke fondly of her time at the Village: “This is one memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life”. 

As both cricketers face off in the finals tomorrow, judging by the packed stadium and press coverage that Women's Cricket is receiving, even if they are not on the Team that wins they have achieved their goal of promoting Womens Cricket.