India Vs Australia: History Beckons Women’s Cricket as T20 World Cup Reaches a Befitting Finale at MCG
Over the years, cricket, as a sport, has been thoroughly dominated by men. Whether it is the viewership, brand endorsements, or prize. The ladies playing their trade the game, more often than not, fail to urge their due. But, while it’s still extended thanks to choosing the parity to prevail within the women’s T20 world cup game. It’s safe to mention that the days are changing permanently.
Public interest in women’s cricket
The public interest in women’s cricket is now quite ever before. There are even private T20 leagues that continue to provide much-needed exposure to female cricketers. By playing with cricketers from different nations.
Take the on-going ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for instance. The tournament has not only enthralled the spectators inside the Australian stadiums. But reaching out to cricket fans across the globe. The matches have been widely followed and social media continues to be abuzz with the exploits of the participating nations.
After playing 20 group-stage matches and two semi-finals, the Women’s T20 World Cup has found its finalists in India and Australia. It has been quite a journey for both the cricketing giants. While the Indian team has enjoyed the four-match unbeaten run to reach the summit clash. While the Australian side, following their defeat in the tournament opener, made a phenomenal comeback to win three group matches.
Semi-finals
In the semi-finals, Team India did enjoy some luck as their highest points in the group stage saw them securing a berth in their maiden T20 World Cup final following the wash-out against England.
For Australia, a five-run win (D/L) in the rain-hit 2nd semi-final against South Africa saw them bagging their spot for the all-important clash on 8th March.
But, Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), won’t be a standard day or a standard match. While both India and Australia will try to outsmart each other to get their hands on the elusive World Cup trophy. The ‘massive final’ isn’t going to be just about them.
In 2017, The ICC Women’s World Cup that year had been a massive success. Wherein the tournaments final was a sold-out clash at Lord’s alongside record television audiences. While women’s cricket had been quietly going about its business. It was probably for the time that the world saw its true potential.
New benchmarks
The on-going tournament has set new benchmarks, including the very best attendance at a standalone women’s match in Australia. When 13,432 spectators attended the opening clash between Australia and India at Sydney Showground Stadium on 21st February.
Sunday’s final is competing against the FIFA Women’s World Cup summit clash in 1999. The final between the USA and China saw 90,185 individuals attending the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. A record for attendance at a women’s sporting fixture that has stood tall for over two decades now.
On 6th March, the ICC confirmed that quite 75,000 tickets had already been snapped up for Sunday’s final.
It remains to be seen whether MCG gets filled or not this Sunday. And, for India and Australia, being crowned World T20 champions. And holding the coveted trophy will surely dominate their thoughts.
