Offer Test Matches For Women Or Risk Losing Top Players

Stuart Broad made his Test debut at the age of 21.

Over the course of the next six years he played a total of 66 Test matches of a possible 77. Kate Cross has now reached the same age as Broad was at this stage in his career: 27 years and 5 months. Cross, by contrast, has played only three Test matches of a possible five over the same period, making her Test debut when a year older than Broad.

Cross might not have been ready for Test cricket at 21. Not good enough perhaps or, simply, inexperienced? Multi-day cricket, in whites, with a red leather number was, and is, non-existent in the women’s game at anything below international cricket. Even then, it is only fleeting. Practice for the real thing? Non-existent.

Cross’ returns since suggest a particular affinity for the red ball; 14 wickets for 209 runs at an average of 14.92. Why then, was Cross not selected for the most recent Test? A quick look at the dates answers the question; it wasn’t that Cross’ performance in the format didn’t merit her selection, but that the gap between that Test and the previous, in which Cross had played, was more than two years. At the time of selection for the last Test, Cross’ form with the white ball, which was the only international form on offer, didn’t merit it.

Broad has played 126 Test matches and taken 437 wickets. He is considered one of the most prolific new ball bowlers ever to have worn an England shirt. If Broad Snr had contributed an X-chromosome rather than a Y to this particular pairing, Stuart Broad’s international career would probably have ended years ago.