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Australian Women's Cricket Championships

The Australian Women's Cricket Championships was a women's cricket competition which ran from 1931 until 1996. It usually operated as a first-class competition, with matches played over two days. Later editions included limited overs cricket instead of, or alongside, two-day matches.

Australian Women's Cricket Championships
CountriesAustralia
FormatFirst-class, Limited overs
First edition1930–31
Latest edition1995–96
Tournament formatRound robin and/or knockout
Most successfulVictoria (36 titles)

For the most part, the competition was held annually within a two-week timeframe and contested primarily by teams from the six states of Australia plus the ACT. Player performance at each tournament was used as a guide to determining Australian team selection for future international fixtures. It was the country's first formalised interstate women's cricket competition, with teams having previously only played one-off and friendly matches. Victoria was the most successful team, winning a total of 36 titles. The tournament was replaced in 1996–97 by the Women's National Cricket League.

History

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1931–1940: Pre-War years

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The inaugural edition of the Australian Women's Cricket Championships took place from 21 to 25 March 1931, involving New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. Matches were played with two innings per team in a single day and are not considered to have first-class status.[1] The first match, between New South Wales and Victoria, was abandoned without a ball bowled.[2] New South Wales and Victoria then both won their respective matches against Queensland.[3][4] A second match was played between New South Wales and Victoria, resulting in victory for the former.[5] Records kept by Women's Cricket Australia—the national governing body for the female branch of the sport until its merger with the Australian Cricket Board in 2003—indicate New South Wales were crowned as champions.[6]

Matches were extended to two days for the 1933–34 tournament and were considered to have first-class status for the first time.[7] South Australia joined in 1934–35, taking the number of teams up to four,[8] and made their second appearance in 1936–37 which coincided with the debut of Western Australia.[9][10]

1947–1972: Guest teams

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After a hiatus caused by World War II, the tournament resumed in 1946–47 which saw Victoria defeat New South Wales in the final.[11] South Australia won their first title in 1951–52.[12] In 1956–57, New Zealand made a one-off appearance, while Queensland and South Australia fielded a combined team. For the 1959–60 tournament,[13] New Zealand domestic team Auckland and a Victoria Second XI made sole appearances, while Queensland and South Australia—for the second and last time—once again fielded a combined team.[14] In 1960–61, Queensland and Western Australia fielded a combined team for the first and only time.[15] In 1962–63, Canterbury featured for a single occasion,[16] while in 1967–68 fellow New Zealand domestic team Otago also made a one-off appearance.[17][18][19][20]

1973–1978: Single-innings matches added

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Following the introduction of One Day International cricket, the 1972–73 season saw the addition of single-innings matches to the competition for the first time. The tournament, which was won by Victoria, used a 60-overs-per-side format for all games as preparation for the inaugural Women's Cricket World Cup.[21] The next three editions reverted to two-day first-class matches,[22][23][24] before the 1976–77 tournament was once again played as a limited overs competition ahead of the second Women's Cricket World Cup.[25][26]

1978–1990: Expansion

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Australian Capital Territory joined the competition in 1978–79 and Tasmania made their first appearance in 1985–86.[27][28] Matches from 1978–79 to 1989–90 were held over two days with the exceptions of 1981–82 and 1987–88, when they played as 60-over affairs as preparation for upcoming World Cup tournaments. The number of matches increased during this period, with each team playing as many as 12 matches in 1987–88. Western Australia won their first title in 1986–87.[29][30][31][32][33][28][34][35][36]

1990–1996: Hybrid format, WNCL succession

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The 1990–91 tournament introduced a hybrid format whereby group stage games were played as 60-over matches, followed by a finals series with matches played over two days. From 1991–92, 50-over matches were played instead of 60-over matches. The hybrid format lasted for five seasons.[37][38][39][40][41]

The 1995–96 tournament was the final edition of the Australian Women's Cricket Championships. It was played as a 50-over competition with no two-day matches.[42] Victoria won the tournament, beating New South Wales in the final by ten runs.[43] The competition was succeeded by the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) which took place for the first time in 1996–97.[44][45] The introduction of the WNCL meant the country's top domestic competition would change from a two-week tournament to a fully-fledged national league in which games would be played on a home-and-away basis across the course of a season.[6] Women's cricket in Australia has since undergone a highly successful transformative phase, especially with regards to the sport's rising level of professionalism among its elite female players.[46][47][48][49]

Teams

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Team First Last Titles
Auckland 1959–60 1959–60
0
Australian Capital Territory 1978–79 1994–95
0
Canterbury 1962–63 1962–63
0
New South Wales 1930–31 1995–96
13
New Zealand 1956–57 1956–57
0
Otago 1967–68 1967–68
0
Queensland 1930–31 1995–96
0
Queensland–South Australia 1956–57 1959–60
0
Queensland–Western Australia 1960–61 1960–61
0
South Australia 1934–35 1995–96
5
Tasmania 1985–86 1990–91
0
Victoria 1930–31 1995–96
36
Victoria Second XI 1959–60 1959–60
0
Western Australia 1936–37 1995–96
1

Source:[6]

Results

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Season Winner Runners-up Match format Ref
1930–31 New South Wales Victoria 1 day [1]
1931–32 New South Wales Victoria 1 day [50]
1932–33 New South Wales Victoria 1 day [51]
1933–34 Victoria New South Wales 2 days [7]
1934–35 Victoria New South Wales 2 days [8]
1935–36 Victoria New South Wales 2 days [9]
1936–37 New South Wales Victoria 2 days [10]
1937–38 New South Wales Victoria 2 days [52]
1938–39 Victoria Queensland 2 days [53]
1939–40 Victoria New South Wales 2 days [54]
1940–41 Not contested due to World War II
1941–42
1942–43
1943–44
1944–45
1945–46
1946–47 Victoria New South Wales 2 days [55]
1947–48 Victoria 2 days [56]
1948–49 Victoria 2 days [57]
1949–50 Victoria 2 days [58]
1950–51 New South Wales 2 days [59]
1951–52 South Australia 2 days [12]
1952–53 Victoria 2 days [60]
1953–54 Victoria 2 days [61]
1954–55 Victoria 2 days [62]
1955–56 Victoria 2 days [63]
1956–57 Victoria New South Wales 2 days [13]
1957–58 Not contested due to English tour of Australia
1958–59 New South Wales 2 days [64]
1959–60 Victoria 2 days [14]
1960–61 Victoria 2 days [15]
1961–62 New South Wales 2 days [65]
1962–63 New South Wales 2 days [16]
1963–64 Victoria 2 days [66]
1964–65 Victoria New South Wales 2 days [17]
1965–66 Victoria South Australia 2 days [18]
1966–67 Victoria New South Wales 2 days [19]
1967–68 Victoria South Australia 2 days [20]
1968–69 Not contested due to English tour of Australia
1969–70 Victoria 2 days [67]
1970–71 Victoria New South Wales 2 days [68]
1971–72 Not contested
1972–73 Victoria New South Wales 60 overs [21]
1973–74 Victoria New South Wales 2 days [22]
1974–75 New South Wales Victoria 2 days [23]
1975–76 Victoria New South Wales 2 days [24]
1976–77 Victoria Western Australia 60 overs [25]
1977–78 Victoria 2 days [26]
1978–79 Victoria New South Wales 2 days [27]
1979–80 South Australia 2 days [29]
1980–81 Victoria South Australia 2 days [30]
1981–82 Victoria New South Wales 60 overs [31]
1982–83 Victoria South Australia 2 days [32]
1983–84 New South Wales South Australia 2 days [33]
1984–85 Not contested due to English tour of Australia
1985–86 Victoria 2 days [28]
1986–87 Western Australia New South Wales 2 days [34]
1987–88 Victoria New South Wales 60 overs [35]
1988–89 Not contested due to World Cup in Australia
1989–90 New South Wales Victoria 2 days [36]
1990–91 Victoria New South Wales 60 overs, 2 days [37]
1991–92 South Australia New South Wales 50 overs, 2 days [38]
1992–93 South Australia New South Wales 50 overs, 2 days [39]
1993–94 New South Wales Victoria 50 overs, 2 days [40]
1994–95 South Australia Victoria 50 overs, 2 days [41]
1995–96 Victoria New South Wales 50 overs [42]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1930/31". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  2. ^ "New South Wales Women v Victoria Women". CricketArchive. 21 March 1931. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  3. ^ "New South Wales Women v Queensland Women". CricketArchive. 23 March 1931. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Queensland Women v Victoria Women". CricketArchive. 25 March 1931. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. ^ "New South Wales Women v Victoria Women". CricketArchive. 24 March 1931. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Womens Cricket Australia - All and Sundry Statistics". Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1933/34". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1934/35". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1935/36". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1936/37". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  11. ^ "New South Wales Women v Victoria Women". CricketArchive. 11 March 1947. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1951/52". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1956/57". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1959/60". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1960/61". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1962/63". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1964/65". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1965/66". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1966/67". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1967/68". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1972/73". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1973/74". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1974/75". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1975/76". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1976/77". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  26. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1977/78". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1978/79". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  28. ^ a b c "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1985/86". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  29. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1979/80". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  30. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1980/81". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1981/82". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  32. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1982/83". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1983/84". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  34. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1986/87". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  35. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1987/88". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  36. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1989/90". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  37. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1990/91". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  38. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1991/92". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  39. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1992/93". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  40. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1993/94". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  41. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1994/95". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  42. ^ a b "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1995/96". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  43. ^ "New South Wales Women v Victoria Women". CricketArchive. 13 January 1996. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  44. ^ "WNCL | Cricket Australia". www.cricketaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  45. ^ "Women's National Cricket League 1996/97". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  46. ^ "Australia's women cricketers now playing for love and money". www.abc.net.au. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  47. ^ "Australia's female cricketers leap ahead in pay race". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  48. ^ "Women big winners in cricket pay deal". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  49. ^ "Cricket pay deal lauded as biggest windfall in women's sport". www.abc.net.au. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  50. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1931/32". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  51. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1932/33". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  52. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1937/38". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  53. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1938/39". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  54. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1939/40". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  55. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1946/47". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  56. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1947/48". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  57. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1948/49". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  58. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1949/50". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  59. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1950/51". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  60. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1952/53". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  61. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1953/54". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  62. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1954/55". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  63. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1955/56". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  64. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1958/59". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  65. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1961/62". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  66. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1963/64". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  67. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1969/70". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  68. ^ "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1970/71". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
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