Discover a fascinating insight into the inspirational and colourful history of women’s cricket, with acclaimed cricket writer and sports lecturer Professor Rafaelle Nicholson, who will lead a talk about her fascinating book 'Ladies and Lord's: A History of Women's Cricket in Britain', and hear from leading women’s cricket experts and legends of the game in a panel discussion led by journalist Isabelle Duncan.
The event includes access to the Evolution of Women’s Cricket exhibition, the first major display of its kind, which contains memorabilia from the inspirational women who pioneered and transformed the game. An original ‘Red’ English Lady Cricket costume from 1888 and Betty Snowball’s trunk used during England’s first tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1934-1935 will be on display, as well as the first-ever women’s World Cup from 1973, which predates the men’s tournament.
Tickets can be purchased at £25 for adults and £15 for students.
Locations: Lord’s Cricket Ground – Long Room
Event itinerary:
10.30 Arrival and refreshments
11.00 Morning session and introduction by Clare Connor
13.15 Lunch (cold sandwich buffet) and exhibition visit
14.30 Afternoon session
16.00 Drinks in the Bowlers’ Bar (not included in ticket price)
Raf Nicholson is a journalist, academic and a leading authority on women’s cricket. She completed her doctorate in 2015 and recently published the first academic study of the history of women’s cricket in Britain from the eighteenth century to the present day, Ladies and Lords (2019). She is a lecturer at Bournemouth University, a regular writer for The Guardian and sits on the executive committee of The Cricket Society.
Isabelle Duncan is a cricketer, coach, BBC commentator, and writer. In October 1998, she appears on the cover of Wisden Cover Monthly in an MCC jumper, shortly before the MCC voted to admit women as members and has continued to influence the game ever since. She sat on MCC Main Committee twice and is trustee of the MCC Foundation, president of The Cricket Society Trust, and author of Skirting the Boundary: A History of Women’s Cricket (2013). In the close season, she can be found skiing or on a real tennis or an elephant polo pitch in Bangkok.
Barbara Daniels not only represented England, but also played a major part in some the most important decisions in the recent history of women’s cricket. Few can claim to have influenced the game in England more in the last few decades. A top-order batter, Daniels made her debut in the 1993 World Cup, helping England win the tournament. She played a total of 55 ODIs for England and 9 Tests, posting a top score of 160 against New Zealand in 1996. She effectively halted her career as an English teacher to devote herself to the game, serving as Executive Director of the Women’s Cricket Association (WCA) between 1996 and 1998, and the first National Manager of women’s cricket thereafter, all while playing for England. She was instrumental in the growth of the sport in these years and was the driving force behind the WCA’s merger with the ECB in 1998.
Claire Taylor played for England 168 times over all three formats between 1998 and 2011, cementing herself as one of the best top-order batters of all time. In 2006, she surpassed Sir Viv Richards to record the highest ever ODI score at Lord’s, with a commanding 156* against India, and in 2009 became the first woman to be named a Wisden cricketer of the year. That year she was also named ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year and player of the tournament in both the World Cup (averaging 64.80) and World Twenty20 (averaging 199.00), helping England win both trophies. Having captained the University of Oxford hockey team and represented England at U17 and U19 level, thankfully she chose to focus on cricket and undoubtedly helped raise the profile of the women’s game. In July 2018 she became only the seventh women’s player to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
Jane Powell, Performance Director, England Lacrosse. Born in Yorkshire, Jane Powell is a former England International in both hockey and cricket. Jane played cricket for England between 1979 and 1991. Jane also captained the side during the 1988 World Cup in Australia, where the team reached the final only to eventually lose to the host nation. Regarded as one of England's leading female coaches, she took on the role of Head Coach of England prior to the arrival of John Harmer in 2000. Between 1988 and 1998, Jane held the position of Head Coach with England Hockey at U14, U17, U18 and U21 level. She has also worked as a Talent Identification Coach and acted as a consultant to England Hockey on tutor training, assessor training and coach assessments. Jane also spent over 20 years as a PE teacher, including Head of PE at the Chase School, Worcestershire. In 2013 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for services to British Sport, so is now a Doctor of Science from the University of Worcestershire
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