In What Year Was the First-Ever Women’s ODI World Cup Played?

by karan — May 13, 2025 in Cricket

In what year was the first-ever women’s ODI World Cup played? It was in the summer of 1973 when cricket history was quietly made on the fields of England.

This pioneering tournament wasn’t just another cricket competition – it was a revolutionary moment that changed the course of women’s sports forever.

What many cricket fans don’t realize is that this women’s tournament actually preceded the men’s Cricket World Cup by two years, setting a template that the men’s game would later follow.

From June 20 to July 28, 1973, seven teams gathered across various venues in England to compete in a round-robin format that would crown the first-ever women’s world champions.

With limited resources but unlimited passion, these trailblazing cricketers defied the conventions of their time to establish what would eventually become one of cricket’s most prestigious competitions.

Table of Contents

In What Year Was the First-Ever Women’s ODI World Cup Played?

The story behind this inaugural event reveals the determination, vision, and resilience of women who refused to accept that international cricket championships should be reserved only for men.

Their efforts laid the groundwork for the growth and eventual professionalization of women’s cricket that we see today.

Historical Context: Women’s Cricket Before the World Cup

The Long Road to Recognition

Women’s cricket had existed in organized form since the early 20th century, but it operated largely in the shadows of the men’s game:

The Women’s Cricket Association in England was formed in 1926
The first women’s Test match between England and Australia was played in 1934
By the 1960s, women’s Test cricket had expanded to include New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies
Despite this progress, women’s cricket received minimal funding, limited facilities, and little media attention

The concept of international cricket tournaments was still developing in the early 1970s. The idea of a World Cup-style competition was revolutionary even for men’s cricket, which had been organized internationally since the 1870s but had not yet staged a world championship tournament.

Social Context of the Early 1970s

The early 1970s were a period of significant social change for women’s rights globally:

The women’s liberation movement was gaining momentum
Legislation like the Equal Pay Act (1970) in the UK was beginning to address workplace discrimination
Title IX was passed in the USA in 1972, dramatically expanding women’s sports opportunities in education
Traditional gender roles were being increasingly questioned and challenged

Against this backdrop, the idea of women competing in an international cricket championship seemed less radical than it might have a decade earlier, though it still faced considerable skepticism and resistance.

The Visionaries: Making the Dream a Reality

The Crucial Partnership

The tournament came to life through the remarkable collaboration between:

Rachael Heyhoe Flint – England’s captain and a tireless advocate for women’s cricket
Sir Jack Hayward – A wealthy British businessman with a passion for cricket

Their partnership began when Heyhoe Flint, a journalist as well as cricketer, interviewed Hayward for a newspaper article. During their conversation, she mentioned her dream of organizing a women’s world cricket competition. Impressed by her vision and passion, Hayward offered to provide financial backing.

“I thought it was about time the women had their chance on the world stage,” Hayward later recalled. “They played the game with such skill and enthusiasm, yet received so little recognition.“

Financial Backing and Planning

Sir Jack Hayward’s contribution was decisive:

He pledged £40,000 (approximately £500,000 in today’s money)
This covered essential expenses, including:
- Travel costs for overseas teams
- Accommodation for all participants
- Ground fees for venues
- Equipment and umpires
- Administrative support

With this financial foundation secured, the International Women’s Cricket Council (IWCC) took on the enormous challenge of organizing the tournament. Key figures in this planning process included:

Netta Rheinberg – Secretary of the Women’s Cricket Association
Audrey Collins – Treasurer of the Women’s Cricket Association
Mary Pilling – IWCC representative

These administrators worked tirelessly for over a year to coordinate the logistics of bringing teams from three continents together for the first time in a competitive tournament.

The Participating Teams: Pioneers from Around the World

The Seven Competing Nations

The inaugural Women’s Cricket World Cup featured a diverse group of teams:

Team	Captain	Coach	Prior Experience
England	Rachael Heyhoe Flint	Ruth Westbrook	Test cricket since 1934
Australia	Miriam Knee	Mary Allitt	Test cricket since 1934
New Zealand	Trish McKelvey	Netta Davies	Test cricket since 1966
Jamaica	Louise Browne	Lorna Lee	Regional competitions
Trinidad & Tobago	Louise Brown	Jean Pierre	Regional competitions
International XI	Audrey Disbury	Various	Mixed experience
Young England	Lesley Clifford	Mollie Hunt	Development squad

Each team brought its unique background and challenges to the tournament:

England entered as favorites, given their home advantage and extensive experience
Australia arrived with a formidable reputation from Test matches but limited one-day experience
New Zealand was emerging as a competitive force with a young, talented squad
Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago participated separately rather than as a unified West Indies team
The International XI included players from countries not otherwise represented
Young England was essentially a development team featuring promising younger players

Player Backgrounds and Sacrifices

The women who participated came from remarkably diverse backgrounds:

Teachers made up a significant portion of the players
Office workers had to use their annual leave to participate
Factory workers often faced the greatest financial sacrifices
Students had to fit tournament commitments around academic requirements
A few professional athletes from other sports brought valuable competitive experience

Unlike today’s professional cricketers, these women received no payment for representing their countries. Most had to:

Self-fund their cricket training and equipment
Take unpaid leave from work to participate
Maintain fitness and practice around full-time jobs
Create their support networks without formal coaching structures

These personal sacrifices make their achievements all the more remarkable.

Tournament Structure and Playing Conditions

Format and Rules

The inaugural Women’s Cricket World Cup featured several distinctive elements:

Round-robin format, where each team played all others once
60 overs per side (compared to today’s 50 overs)
No fielding restrictions throughout the innings
Traditional cricket attire (white clothing)is worn by all teams
Red cricket balls are used rather than white balls
One ball per innings (not replaced during the innings)
No reserve days for rain-affected matches
Points system: 2 points for a win, 1 for a tie, 0 for a loss

The champion would be determined by total points accumulated across all matches, with no separate final – though the schedule was arranged so that England and Australia, expected to be the strongest teams, would meet in the last match of the tournament.

Venues and Facilities

Matches were played across various grounds in England:

Edgbaston (Birmingham) – Hosted the decisive England vs. Australia match
The Oval (London) – Hosted several key matches
County grounds including Worcester, Hove, and Taunton
Club grounds including Exmouth, Dulwich, and Ealing

The quality of facilities varied significantly:

Major grounds provide professional standard pitches
Some smaller venues had limited amenities
Dressing room facilities were often basic
Practice facilities were inconsistent
Spectator accommodation ranged from proper stands to simple boundary ropes

These conditions reflected the still-developing infrastructure for women’s cricket, even in England, the sport’s birthplace and most established market.

The Tournament Journey: From First Ball to Final Match

Early Stages: Establishing the Hierarchy

The tournament began on June 20, 1973, with England facing Jamaica at Hove. From the early matches, a clear hierarchy emerged:

England dominated their early matches, showcasing their home advantage and greater experience
Australia demonstrated its typical competitiveness, winning convincingly against most opponents
New Zealand established itself as the best of the rest, showing promising signs for its future development
The Caribbean teams struggled against the established powers but showed flashes of the talent that would later make the West Indies a formidable force
The International XI produced some entertaining cricket despite their lack of cohesion as a team

The domestic media coverage gradually increased as the tournament progressed, though it remained limited compared to men’s cricket events.

Standout Performers Emerge

Several players began to establish themselves as the stars of the tournament:

Enid Bakewell (England) – Her all-around abilities with both bat and ball made her the tournament’s most valuable player
Lynne Thomas (England) – Provided explosive starts at the top of the order
Sharon Tredrea (Australia) – Her pace bowling troubled batters from all teams
Janette Brittin (Young England) – Though still developing,she showed glimpses of her future greatness
Lesley Clifford (Young England) – Led by example despite her team’s inexperience

The tournament also showcased different playing styles, with England’s technical proficiency contrasting with Australia’s aggressive approach and the Caribbean teams’ natural flair.

Building Toward the Climax

As the tournament progressed through July, the England-Australia clash emerged as the decisive encounter. Both teams remained unbeaten heading into the final stages, setting up their July 28 meeting as a de facto final.

The anticipation built as:

Both teams completed their other fixtures successfully
The points table confirmed that the winner of their match would be crowned champion
Media interest increased with the prospect of a climactic finish
Princess Anne confirmed her attendance for the presentation ceremony
Edgbaston prepared for what would be the largest crowd of the tournament

The Decisive England-Australia Showdown

Setting the Stage

The date was July 28, 1973. The venue was Edgbaston, Birmingham. England and Australia were both undefeated, and the winner of this final scheduled match would be crowned the first Women’s Cricket World Cup champions.

The conditions on the day were:

Clear skies and warm temperatures
A firm pitch that promised good batting conditions
A larger than usual crowd for women’s cricket
Princess Anne is in attendance to present the trophy
A sense of historic significance appreciated by both teams

England won the toss and elected to bat first – a decision that would prove crucial.

England’s Batting Masterclass

England’s innings was built around two magnificent performances:

Enid Bakewell played the innings of her life, scoring 118 runs with elegant stroke play all around the wicket
Captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint contributed a determined 64 runs, providing stability in the middle order
Their partnership of 124 runs effectively took the game away from Australia
England finished with 273/3 from their 60 overs – a formidable total for the era

The innings showcased the technical excellence of England’s batters, who combined watchful defense with calculated aggression.

Australia’s Valiant Chase Falls Short

Australia’s response began positively but gradually faltered:

A solid opening partnership provided hope
England’s disciplined bowling slowly built pressure
Key wickets fell at crucial moments
Australia’s middle order struggled to maintain the required run rate
They eventually finished on 187/9 from their 60 overs

England’s victory by 92 runs was comprehensive and confirmed them as deserving champions.

The player of the match was undoubtedly Enid Bakewell, whose all-round contribution (118 runs and economic bowling) epitomized England’s superiority.

Celebration and Recognition: The Aftermath

The Victory Moment

The conclusion of the match sparked jubilant scenes:

Princess Anne presented the trophy to Rachael Heyhoe Flint
The England team took a victory lap around Edgbaston
Sir Jack Hayward joined the celebrations, seeing his financial investment vindicated
The players enjoyed a reception at the ground with officials and supporters
There was a sense of having made cricket history

For the players, this recognition represented validation of their sporting abilities and years of dedication.

Official and Public Reception

Following their triumph, the England team received several honors:

A reception at 10 Downing Street hosted by Prime Minister Edward Heath
Civic receptions in the hometowns of various players
Increased media coverage in newspapers and BBC television
Personal congratulations from male cricket stars ,including Gary Sobers and Ian Botham

While modest by today’s standards, this recognition was unprecedented for women’s cricket and helped raise the profile of the sport.

Impact on Women’s Cricket Development

Immediate Benefits

The successful staging of the tournament brought several immediate advantages for women’s cricket:

Increased visibility and public awareness
Enhanced credibility with cricket authorities
Expanded media coverage (though still limited)
New sponsorship opportunities (albeit modest)
Inspiration for young girls to take up the sport

Perhaps most importantly, it demonstrated that women’s cricket could sustain an international tournament format – something that would prove vital for the sport’s continued development.

Regional Effects

Different cricket regions experienced varying impacts from the tournament:

In England, it reinforced their position as the leading women’s cricket nation and increased domestic interest
For Australia, it motivated to improve and challenge England’s dominance
In New Zealand, it accelerated the development of competitive structures
For the Caribbean, it demonstrated the need for a unified approach, eventually leading to the formation of a West Indies women’s team
In India and Pakistan (though not participants), awareness of the tournament encouraged development efforts

These regional responses would shape the evolution of women’s cricket over the following decades.

FAQs About the First Women’s Cricket World Cup

Why was there no unified West Indies team in the first tournament?

In 1973, women’s cricket in the Caribbean was still developing on an island-by-island basis. The administrative structures to support a unified West Indies women’s team weren’t yet in place, unlike in men’s cricket where a unified West Indies team had competed since the 1920s. Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago participated separately, but the experience gained at the World Cup helped demonstrate the benefits of a unified approach, which would come in later years.

What was the average age of players in the tournament?

The average age of players varied significantly by team:

England and Australia featured experienced players, with an average age of around 27-28
New Zealand had a younger squad, averaging approximately 24-25 years
Young England was specifically a development team, with most players in their late teens or early 20s
The International XI had the widest age range, from 19 to 40

Most players were in their mid-to-late 20s, having developed their skills through years of domestic cricket with limited international opportunities.

Were any special modifications made to the rules for women’s cricket?

No significant modifications were made to the fundamental rules of cricket. The women played according to the standard Laws of Cricket with only minor adjustments:

Ball size was slightly smaller (5 ounces versus 5.5 ounces for men)
Pitch length remained the standard 22 yards
Boundary sizes were sometimes slightly reduced at some venues
No other rule changes or concessions were made

This reflected the players’ insistence that women’s cricket should be taken seriously as the same sport played by men, rather than a modified version.

How many spectators attended the matches?

Attendance varied significantly across venues:

The England vs. Australia match at Edgbaston attracted approximately 1,500-2,000 spectators
Matches at major grounds typically drew several hundred spectators
Some games at smaller venues had fewer than 100 spectators
Attendance generally increased as the tournament progressed
The final weekend saw the highest numbers

While modest by today’s standards, these figures represented a significant increase in spectator interest for women’s cricket at the time.

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Conclusion: The Legacy of 1973

The 1973 Women’s Cricket World Cup stands as a watershed moment in the history of women’s sport.

What began as a visionary idea brought to life through determination and generous sponsorship blossomed into a tournament that would forever change the landscape of women’s cricket.

The significance of this inaugural event extends far beyond the cricket field. It represented a powerful statement about women’s capabilities and rights during a period of social change.

The players who participated weren’t just competing for a trophy – they were challenging stereotypes, breaking barriers, and creating opportunities for generations of women to follow.

England’s victory as the first champions was fitting given their role in organizing the tournament, but every team that participated contributed to its success and historical importance.

From the established Test nations to the Caribbean islands and the composite International XI, each brought their unique spirit to this pioneering event.

From those humble beginnings in the English summer of 1973, with minimal funding and limited recognition, the Women’s Cricket World Cup has evolved into a global sporting spectacle.

Today’s tournaments feature professional athletes, substantial prize money, worldwide broadcasts, and packed stadiums – a transformation that would have seemed almost unimaginable to those pioneering players who competed simply for the love of the game.

Perhaps the most powerful legacy of the 1973 tournament is how it demonstrated that with vision, determination, and the courage to challenge conventions, meaningful change can be achieved.

The players who took the field that summer weren’t just playing cricket – they were making history and opening doors that would never close again.

As women’s cricket continues to grow in popularity and professionalism, the debt owed to those 1973 pioneers remains immeasurable.

Their legacy lives on in every women’s international match, in every girl who picks up a cricket bat, and in the continued progress toward equality in sport.

In What Year Was the First-Ever Women’s ODI World Cup Played?

In What Year Was the First-Ever Women’s ODI World Cup Played?