I’ve been a fan of New Zealand’s national men’s cricket team – the Black Caps – since I was 13. That summer I injured my foot while swimming at Mahia [hmm, I sense a theme here] and spent much of the hot weather on the couch. These were the days when cricket was still shown on free-to-air, when New Zealand regularly beat Australia [sigh]. The good old days. By the end of that summer I was hooked on this subtle, quirky, convoluted, long-drawn-out game.
Over 20 years later it’s hard work being a Black Caps’ fan. This summer has been dismal for New Zealand cricket. The team should have won the series in Australia, but let it slide. Now they’re playing a home series against India and it’s painful to watch. On the rare occasion play isn’t stopped for rain, India has been toying with New Zealand like a cat with a mouse before closing in for an agonising death. We did scrape a consolation win in the weekend, but it was too little too late.
Meanwhile, in a galaxy far, far away, New Zealand’s national women’s cricket team – the White Ferns – is playing at the World Cup in Australia. So far they’ve lost to the best team in the competition, England; but they’ve defeated Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa. They beat South Africa by 199 runs which, for those who don’t know about cricket, is a good old-fashioned thrashing. In that match White Fern Aimee Mason had bowling figures of 2/4 [that’s four wickets for two runs] – the sort of figures her brother, former Black Cap Michael Mason, could probably only dream of.
While the Black Caps’ woes are splashed all over the newspapers and the television news [actually, squeezed in behind the rugby], what coverage do you suppose the White Ferns’ winning ways get? One sentence at the end of a sports bulletin, a brief on the back page of the newspaper. You have to go looking for information on the White Ferns. I once saw an interview with two members of the team who said when they tour they have to arrange time off work because they’re not professionals [unlike their male counterparts], and they have to stump up some of the tour money themselves.
Said our sports editor when I point out the White Ferns’ latest win: It’s a dangerous thing when a woman picks up a cricket bat.
Well, yes. She might score some runs!
I’d like to see more recognition, more support and more funding given to our female sports teams. I’d like to see the White Ferns’ success being the number one item on the news. Sure, some sports in New Zealand do recognise the achievements of women, such as netball, rowing, tennis and cycling. But how often do we hear about New Zealand women’s hockey, cricket, basketball or our amazing, kick-arse, women’s rugby team?
Whatever country you’re reading this from, and whatever code you follow, give your women’s teams a cheer. They deserve it.
Go the mighty White Ferns!
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Edit added 17th March: Today the White Ferns beat India by five wickets, and they're now just one win away from booking a place in the finals of the world cup. It seems I'm not the only cricket fan to bemoan the lack of respect shown to women's cricket. You can read Paul's take on it here, Ludditejourno's perspective here. And Aussie Miss Field has her say, here. It seems mainstream media might be getting wind of the support for the White Ferns. Sky Sport 3 showed the NZ-India match; TV3 this evening had an actual item on the match, not just a quick note at the end of the bulletin.
Monday, March 16, 2009
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5 comments:
Well said, Anne-Marie. I might add we heard a fair bit about the women's hockey team when the male reporters were leering over the high-profile blonde woman (I forget her name, but the sudden rush of interest in women's hockey was pretty obvious).
The Under-20 women's football (soccer) team did well and got reasonable attention at the time, but as soon as the event was over, they might as well not have existed.
Incidentally, in that NZ-SA match when Aimee Mason took 4 for 2, Suzie Bates also took 4 wickets for just 7 runs. Phenomenal.
Women and sport? Don't make me laugh!!!!
Anon, trolling? How original.
Anne-Marie, the competition's been great, the venues are good and easy to get too and the crowds and entertainment fantastic for families. It's been a great tournament and a pity the print media haven't covered it more in NZ. It's been good here although Australia dipping out early has muted interest. Still, the game today will be a great one and everything I've read suggests NZ have a strong chance.
Hi Pete - oh yeah, I forgot about the perving factor. Female cricketers don't wear bikinis [I wonder why??] so they're not worth watching.
Hi Backin15 - thanks for visiting and for the comment. I guess you've been to some of the matches? Lucky you! Sounds like fun. NZ has an even better chance of making it to the final now they've beaten India. Hooray!
I find it deeply ironic and depressing that the women's football team in the UK consistently play well and have more trophies than the men's - yet get nowhere near the funding.
Very few women only versions of sport get airtime here - like women's snooker (though i don't understand why they can't play against the men in this one)
They've recently had a woman driver on (UK Driving Programme) Top Gear whose succeeded in kicking all their asses on the race track without breaking into a sweat...
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