England women cricketers triumph again
2nd July 2009
Women’s cricket is riding high after the England team were crowned world champions for the second time this year.
The team, who overcame New Zealand to win the ICC World Twenty20 at Lords, say Sport England’s support has played an important role in their success.
Claire Taylor was named player of the tournament after helping England to a six-wicket victory in the final with an unbeaten 39.
Captain Charlotte Edwards said:
“Sport England’s investment in women’s cricket through the ECB has played a major role in our success. To be perfectly honest we're the envy of a lot of the other international teams.
“We are determined both to build on our success as a team and to inspire more women and girls to take up this great game. On Tuesday, I and several of my team mates were back in the classroom sharing our experiences of the game with children at some of the 1,000 state and primary schools that had signed up for National Cricket Day.”
The team are now the world champions in both limited-overs formats, having won the 50-over World Cup in March.
Women and girls’ cricket is a major part of the ECB’s plans for the next four years, in which Sport England is investing more than £37 million. The ECB’s focus is on providing a nationwide network of clubs offering high quality coaching and competition programmes for women and girls.
Our Chief Executive, Jennie Price, said:
“The achievement of captain Charlotte Edwards and the whole England women’s cricket team in winning two World Cups within four months is something the whole country should celebrate.
“This win on home soil will inspire more young people – and especially girls – to take up the game, so it’s our job to ensure that quality sporting opportunities are available right across the country.”