​A group of young cricketers from Worcester believes the historic first women’s Test at Lord’s, England versus India this weekend, could help shift the perception that cricket is “a boys’ sport.” This match marks the first time the home of cricket has hosted a women’s Test, and it comes soon after England made more history there by hosting a major match in the same week. More than 28,000 spectators filled Lord’s on Sunday for the Women’s T20 World Cup final, in which Nat Sciver-Brunt’s England were defeated by Australia.
Elsa, Naomi, Cat and Esme, who all play for RGS Worcester, told the BBC that witnessing female cricketers on such a grand stage is inspiring and should further promote the sport. England’s Lauren Bell celebrated a wicket on day one of the first Women’s Rothschild Test at Lord’s, captured by PA Media.
Cat is finishing Year 12 and already plays internationally for Spain. She watches the England team’s approach and aims to bring that leadership into her own captaincy at RGS Worcester next year. She said: “Nat Sciver‑Brunt is one of my role models. I’ve looked up to her since I started playing cricket at ten, and seeing her take on England captaincy has been incredibly inspiring and something I’d definitely want to bring to RGS next season.”
Elsa captains the Under-15s and has played cricket at school since year 3. She told the BBC that more schools should offer cricket to girls because it builds teamwork and leadership skills that carry into everyday life. Naomi, 15, believes watching England’s women step onto such a big stage is a powerful reminder of what is possible, and she hopes it will shift attitudes about the sport. “Many people say it’s mainly a boys’ sport, and when they see how strong our team is, they’re surprised. They might say, ‘Oh my gosh, I didn’t know a girl could bowl that fast or hit that far.’”
Esme, also 15, is excited to attend the Test at Lord’s. She said: “Seeing how the crowd gets involved and how everyone backs their country is really inspiring. We’re used to it in football and men’s cricket, but seeing England flags at girls’ cricket is uplifting.”
Adam Witt coaches the girls’ teams at RGS Worcester and emphasises inclusivity. He explained the club’s approach: “We foster a very positive culture around our girls’ teams and want to include everyone—whether they’ve played cricket before, whether they play club cricket outside of school, or whether they’re completely new to the sport when they join RGS Worcester.” He added that people should recognise that the skills required for men’s and women’s sports are the same: the same dedication and time are needed to learn and improve.