Then. Now. Forever. Inspiring inclusion and rewriting #HERstory

This International Women’s Day, we take a deeper look at some of those players that have shaped the women’s game and inspired the next generation.

They have all featured in our #HERstory campaign in 2024, as we countdown to the Women’s IT20 at Edgbaston between England and Pakistan on Saturday 11 May.

Over 9,000 tickets have already been sold and history will be rewritten once again. Early Bird tickets are available now from only £15 but don’t wait long as these prices end at midnight on Tuesday (12 March).

Rachael Heyhoe-Flint

Sometimes change needs someone to stand up and be heard. This is exactly what Rachael Heyhoe-Flint did for women’s cricket. Her accolades speak for themselves, leading England to World Cup victory in the first edition in 1973. The first men’s World Cup didn’t come until two years after.

In 1991, Heyhoe-Flint ruffled feathers amongst the cricketing community by becoming the first female to apply for MMC membership, the club which owns Lord’s. It wasn’t until eight years later in 1999 that the rule changed and women could become members, Heyhoe-Flint was awarded an honorary life member at this time. A true pioneer of the women’s game, the wider cricket community recognised her work to gain parity for females as she was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2010.

Sadly Heyhoe-Flint passed in 2017, before seeing the full impact her work has had on the shift of perspective on women’s cricket. The current women’s game now looks completely different, with full-time professionals, live broadcasted game and two regional competitions, one which honours Heyhoe-Flint herself.

Charlotte Edwards

You don’t stumble across many all-time greats in sport that often but Charlotte Edwards is definitely one. From making her international debut at 16 to captaining the national side for over eight years, Edwards’ cricketing CV is full of standout moments. However, as like many female cricketers she made her name in boys’ teams first.

The harsh reality that many internationals went through, the lack of women’s and girls’ programmes in cricket, created a natural barrier for those to get involved in the sport. Edwards broke these barriers and seemingly left them behind throughout her career, for the love of the sport she desired to play. In 2014 Edwards became one of the first professional contracted women’s players in England by the ECB, times were changing.

Since retiring from international playing duties, Edwards has had an array of roles within the women’s game, with the wealth of knowledge from her playing days, anyone would be lucky to bolster their coaching department with Edwards. From playing to coaching, Charlotte Edwards has had a colossal impact on the how the women’s game now looks, sharing the mantle with Heyhoe-Flint with the regional T20 competition named after the England great.

Sophia Dunkley

In recent years Dunkley has become one of the exciting prospects for the future of women’s cricket in England, she finds herself in the middle of transforming the game for future generations. In 2021, Dunkley became the first black female to play Test cricket for England, it’s not only boundaries the England opener is smashing.

However, none of this was on the mind of a young girl who was introduced to the sport by a neighbour, Zak in 2006. It was a way to pass the time and spend time with a close friend, little did they know twelve years later the all-rounder would be part of the National set-up for the first time.

From playing in a cul-de-sac to stepping out at some of the world’s most regarding venues, nothing has changed for England’s trailblazer, she’s still playing the sport she loves and having fun with some of her closest friends. However, the impact Dunkley is having on the next generation, inspiring boys and girls to take up cricket is immeasurable.