To mark the start of Women’s Big Cricket Month, here is our A-Z of women’s cricket in Warwickshire. More details of all the programmes mentioned can be found on our website.

A – All Stars. The All Stars programme is a fun introduction to cricket for 5-8 year olds, learning the basic skills of cricket.

B – Gabby Basketter. WCB’s Women and Girls’ Officer, Gabby will be coordinating Women’s Big Cricket Month and you will see her at many of the participating clubs this summer.

C – Central Sparks. The new regional women’s cricket team in the West Midlands, with five professional players, competing nationally in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint competition.

D – Dynamos. This is a new programme aimed at 8-11 year olds, who can either be new to cricket or graduates from All Stars. Dynamos is linked to the new Hundred competition and teaches children cricket in a game-based environment.

E – Eights. The Super 8s women’s hardball competition is a competitive pairs cricket competition for women’s club teams across Warwickshire.

F – Festivals. Women and girls’ softball cricket festivals will be running throughout the summer at clubs across Warwickshire, providing lots of fun for all involved as players, officials or spectators.

G – Sarah Ginn. Sarah has been an important part of Warwickshire women and girls’ age groups and club cricket as a player, coach and manager. She is a great role model for those wanting to get involved in coaching and managing in the women’s game.

H – The Hundred. This is the ECB’s exciting new 100 ball tournament. The Birmingham Phoenix women’s and men’s Hundred teams will play their home matches at Edgbaston.

I – Inclusion. Cricket is for Everyone! Whatever your age, level of ability, or circumstances, there will be a cricket programme for you.

J – Junior cricket. There are lots of junior cricket programmes running across Warwickshire, including All Stars, Dynamos, Chance to Shine Schools & Street, and many junior hardball and softball leagues. There are flourishing U15 and U13 girls’ hardball leagues.

K – Marie Kelly. Marie is Warwickshire and Birmingham Bears women’s captain, and she also coaches girls across the county. Marie was captain of the Bears T20 national title winning team in 2019.

L – Leaders. We are fortunate in Warwickshire women’s cricket to have some amazing leaders. In 2020 Faizah Hashmi was announced as national cricket charity Chance to Shine’s Young Leader of the Year in recognition of her work in Birmingham.

M – More! There are more women and girls in Warwickshire playing cricket, officiating or volunteering than ever before, and numbers continue to grow. Come and join us!

N – New. Cricket might be a ‘new’ game to many women and girls but we are sure you will enjoy making that step into a new adventure, with bat and ball.

O – Dominic Ostler. Dom is a legendary Bear and coach of the Warwickshire Women. This summer he will be part of the coaching team with the Central Sparks.

P – Prosecco. A sparkling drink, enjoyed with friends at some women’s softball festivals.

Q – Quiz. Team quizzes are a popular way to spend time during breaks for rain.

R – Runs. They’re the aim of the game!

S – Street Cricket. The WCB runs street cricket programmes for girls in Birmingham and Coventry.

T – Teachers. There are hundreds of teachers across Warwickshire who are introducing girls (and boys) to cricket-based learning through Chance to Shine.

U – Umpires. Sue Redfern and Malinda Underdown are female umpires who officiate in both women and men’s cricket. You can find out more about umpiring courses on our website to follow in their footsteps.

V – Verification. The WCB is rolling out the ECB’s new safeguarding system this year to verify that all club coaches and managers in the women and girls’ game have the necessary safeguarding checks and qualifications.

W – Wickets. If you ask the bowlers, they’ll tell you these are the aim of the game!

X – X-Ray. Not a feature of the women’s softball game, but occasionally required for the odd hardball finger injury.

Y – Young Cricket Officials & Young Activators courses. As well as providing support to players, the WCB also provides courses and opportunities for women and girls to become officials and volunteers.

Z – Mina Zahoor. Mina is the WCB’s Diverse Communities Officer and runs WCB programmes in inner city Birmingham, particularly for South Asian women and girls.