Australia’s T20 World Cup-winning cricketers are “simply the best” — ever
It’s also a testament to the evolution of the domestic game over the past three decades, as a predominantly amateur and tiny sport has grown into a global professional powerhouse whose current Australian stars are now able to play full-time around the world to play.
It was no coincidence that Cricket Australia, now in its 35th year working closely with CommBank, has invested heavily in building all levels of the game – from the grassroots at local club level through to the national squads.
It’s a partnership that literally pays off, as the last World Cup victory underscored.
“CommBank’s generous support for the Australian Women’s Team and initiatives including the Growing Cricket for Girls Fund have been instrumental in the explosion in female participation,” said James Allsopp, Executive General Manager of Community Cricket and Capability at Cricket Australia.
“The inspiration of the Australian women’s team together with the grassroots support of CommBank has helped us to reach the incredible milestone of 20,000 girls under the age of 12 in registered cricket programs and competitions. We are very grateful for how our partnership with CommBank is helping to promote and grow women’s cricket at all levels.”
His comments were echoed by CBA’s chief marketing officer, Jo Boundy. “We are just amazed at how this wonderful team of cricketers just keeps winning and all of us at CommBank could not be prouder of what they have achieved,” she said.
“Not only does it underscore how far women’s football has come over the past 30 years, but to be considered one of the greatest Australian sports teams of all time – female or male – is a true testament to their professionalism, their skill, their commitments and their belief in one and another.
“Her performance at this World Cup, in addition to her previous triumphs, has set a global benchmark and thereby provided further inspiration, when needed, for the next generations of women cricketers in Australia.”
Outperforming other nations, the international dominance of the national team has only increased the respect of their rivals in the way they play the game and lead by example.
South African skipper Sune Luus summed it up best after the host country lost by 19 runs in Sunday’s final.
“I think the level of professionalism is insane and I think their team has had the world looking up to them for a very, very long time and they’re the best for a reason,” she said at the post-game media conference.
“I think if you look at the structures and pipelines, everything just fits and everything is fine. I think that’s definitely something we’re striving for as a country. And I think we will of course look at the structures and want to see how we can best do this in our country.
“But obviously they’re the best in the world for a reason. And all we can do is try to keep getting better and better to knock on those doors, to eventually slam them.”