worcestershire women’s rapids are in action at New Road on sunday against essex in a ecb county championship match.
but the forerunners to girls and women’s cricket in the county stretches back at least 130 years.
an hk foster’s x1 played a worcestershire ladies x1 at New Road in august 1909.
prior to that there are local newspaper reports of a ladies versus gentlemen’s match at rock, near bewdley in 1888.
women’s cricket teams included crowle and tibberton ladies and barbourne ladies participated in matches from the late 19th century.
in 1927 the recently founded women’s cricket association held its first cricket week at colwall and malvern.
an all ladies match took place at New Road in 1933 with the west taking on the south.
in 1948 ex alice ottley pupil mary duggan was selected for the england tour of australia and new zealand.
international women’s cricket came to the county’s headquarters in 1951 with england taking on australia and has continued to the present day.
women’s cricket has gradually grown in prominence at international and domestic level.
now all eyes will be on the rapids this sunday as they attempt to retain their division two status by pulling off a third successive win in the competition.
a reminder that play gets underway at 11am and admission is free.
