Women’s cricket, once overshadowed by the men’s version of the game, has proved itself a powerful and inspiring force. The increased visibility of the sport has helped redefine the game, breaking down significant barriers into the sport and inspiring thousands across the UK.
We sat down with Oval Invincibles and Sunrisers Cricket star Jo Gardner and spoke with her about the women’s form of the game and how it’s developed over the years. Sunrisers Cricket is a women’s cricket team that represents the London and East region, one of eight regional hubs in English domestic women’s cricket. They play their home matches at various grounds, including the County Cricket Ground, Chelmsford, which is home to Essex Cricket. The Oval Invincibles is a franchise 100-ball cricket side based in South London. The team represents the historic counties of Surrey and Kent in the newly founded The Hundred competition, which took place for the first time during the 2021 season. See what Jo had do say below.
What barriers did you face getting into cricket (if any) and how did you overcome these?
“One of the main barriers I faced was not having a woman and girls’ section at my local club, meaning I could only play junior boy’s cricket. It wasn’t until a neighbour of mine helped connect me to a club in the county that I was living in at the time, which had an establishing woman and girls’ section. I was then able to play youth cricket with other girls and develop into the senior team. Moving to this club then allowed me to break into the girl’s county pathway at Northants in the U13 age group, which has helped me to where I am today.”
If you could talk to your younger self and give any advice, what would you say?
“The biggest piece of advice I could give to the younger generation of the game is to celebrate your success, regardless of magnitude, because the game can be tough at times and bring you back down to earth before you know it! I’d also tell my younger self to not be too hard on myself when things don’t go to plan, as we know, nobody is perfect and mistakes can happen, we are humans not robots!”
What are your thoughts on the future of women’s cricket as a sport, and how do you see it evolving in the coming years?
“I think the growth we’ve seen in the game over the past 5 years, with the increase in professionalism and the emergence of a robust, competitive domestic competition and structure, has helped provide players with a strong platform to showcase their skills at a high level. The Hundred competition has helped prepare a plethora of individuals for international cricket and franchise tournaments, and has provided a number of brilliant opportunities and experiences to players, including myself, that we could have only dreamed of growing up!
Moving forward, the game is in a really bright place in this country. With the new tiered structure, which Essex are part of, taking place next season, I believe the game will be able to springboard forward and bring a larger fan base to the domestic game compared to previous years. The talent pool has also increased in recent years as a result of the investment and support from the ECB and there are so many talented youngsters out there that undoubtedly will become future England stars, challenging the Aussies on all fronts!
What are the most important qualities you think a successful cricketer should have?
“There are no set ingredients to become a successful cricketer, but a strong work ethic and a desire to always want to get learn and improve, will definitely help you on your journey. Your attitude and the way you hold yourself in any given environment is crucial, as this sends a message to your coaches, teammates and peers, and can be infections to the culture as a whole.”
What advice would you give to young aspiring cricketers who are looking to make a career in professional cricket?
“I’d tell you to embrace and learn from as many different people and environments as you can. No matter what challenges you face, keep working hard and take the opportunities that will inevitably present themselves as a result. Give your best efforts, that’s all anyone can ever ask from you when playing any sport or taking part in anything, and most importantly of all, smile and enjoy playing the game. The more you have fun, the more you will want to learn!”
There are currently 26 women’s cricket teams in Essex, with this number rising season after season. The importance of growing the game now is more important than ever, and allowing children and young people to find what’s right for them has never been easier through our #MoveWithUs campaign!
