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Aspiring Journalist Attends Women's Cricket Symposium

Sixth Form

11 March 2022

Sixth Former Polly had the opportunity to attend a Symposium on Women’s Cricket at Lords Cricket Ground in London, held to celebrate the opening of the Women’s Cricket section of the MCC Museum. She reports on her fantastic experience.

“The symposium took place on International Women’s Day on 8th March 2022 and was held in the prestigious Long Room, a place where women were not allowed into until 1998 – rather fitting to be there on International Women’s Day! 

“I have had an interest in cricket for as long as I can remember but it was only in 2017 when I attended the 2017 Women’s World Cup Final at Lords - which England won, I must add - that I discovered Women’s cricket. Cricket has become a large part of my life both playing it, writing about it, coaching it and hosting a podcast about it. When the opportunity arose to attend, it was an offer I could not turn down. I also was aware that it would be both useful for my EPQ, which is about the development of Women’s Cricket in England and also for contacts within the sports journalism field considering I am interested in pursuing a career in sports broadcasting and journalism. 

“The symposium took place on International Women’s Day on 8th March 2022, contained a talk on the history of women’s cricket by Dr Raf Nicholson, someone whom I am inspired by greatly and then Q&A panels with former England players: Barbara Daniels, Jane Powell and Claire Taylor and other key figures in Women’s cricket such as Amara Carr, one of the first professionally contracted domestic players, Danni Warren, the Regional Director of Women's Cricket in London and Kent and Beth Barrett-Wild who is the Head of The Hundred Women's Competition & Female Engagement. It was a fascinating day full of inspirational women. 

“I was lucky enough to experience the infamous Lords Lunch followed by a personal tour of the MCC museum by Raf Nicholson who’s research was used for the exhibition. Towards the end of the day, I was fortunate enough to have conversations with some of the panel such as Claire Taylor and Amara Carr and I also had discussions with former Dutch player Esther de Lange and the West Midlands Regional Director of Women’s Cricket, Laura Macleod and many more! It was an incredible chance for me to ask for some work experience and get my name out there in the cricket world. 

“I was one of the last people left and ended up having a personal tour of the world-renowned dressing rooms where the honours boards are kept which has been a lifelong dream to see. I had the opportunity to stand on the balcony where players either nervously wait to bat – or sit disheartened that they have got out! Looking out at Lords from the balcony as the sun was setting was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity. This summer there will be a record-breaking amount of international and domestic women’s cricket matches at Lords and hopefully I will be able to go back to Lords to watch those games.”
 

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