Is womens' cricket weaker than other womens sports? if so, why?

[Brook's side]

I haven't watched any of the world cup going in South Africa (maybe I've missed out?) other than a few clips on the BBC website.

It might be an unfair representation, but in most of the clips I've seen, the standard has been absolutely appalling. Substantially below village green cricket in some cases.

I've been surprised as ladies' football and rugby can be to a very high standard (let alone sports like tennis where the professional players are absolutely elite performers).

What's going on with the cricket?

 

[Gremlin]

Simple answer.... money.

There are some excellent women cricketers but generally they are in one of the 4 semi finalists sides. There's a gulf to the next level.

 

[slippy888]

ain't the women's ipl well payed

 

[Flem274*]

Womens cricket is currently on fast forward. It's gone from shithouse amatuer stuff to fully professional in less than 20 years.

Womens tennis, football and golf is probably the gold standard (I haven't seen much WNBA) but cricket and rugby are improving almost yearly. I really enjoy womens cricket atm and the rugby world cup was something else.

There is some way to go but that's going to require actual effort from the nations themselves. I watched Bangladesh women have a net in person and they were really bad. An NZ (or Aus or English) girls high school side would give them serious trouble (I've played against one 15 years ago and their skillsets are so much more developed than most boys at the same age because girls can't just boof it or huck it like us dickheads - also they sometimes have provincial starters who are still at school).

The womens NRL makes cricket look space age though.

 

[Brook's side]

Womens cricket is currently on fast forward. It's gone from ****house amatuer stuff to fully professional in less than 20 years.

Womens tennis, football and golf is probably the gold standard (I haven't seen much WNBA) but cricket and rugby are improving almost yearly. I really enjoy womens cricket atm and the rugby world cup was something else.

There is some way to go but that's going to require actual effort from the nations themselves. I watched Bangladesh women have a net in person and they were really bad. An NZ (or Aus or English) girls high school side would give them serious trouble (I've played against one 15 years ago and their skillsets are so much more developed than most boys at the same age because girls can't just boof it or huck it like us dickheads - also they sometimes have provincial starters who are still at school).

The womens NRL makes cricket look space age though.

Watching England, France, New Zealand, would suggest that rugby deserves its place in the gold standard club?

I wonder if another factor in some countries is low player pools. It's difficult to imagine that there are many women who play cricket in Bangladesh for instance.

 

[Stefan9]

A large part of the women's game is still amateur. Last year was the first year SA had central contracts for them while the men have had them since readmission.
The game is developing rapidly now but it has been behind some of the other codes.