Says India is “such an untapped market” and “they will be unbeatable in 10 years” with the launch of Women’s IPL
“The announcements from those matches are pretty good,” said Healy on the sidelines of the women’s ODI World Cup. “It’s exactly where we thought the women’s game should go. That was the next step.
“We’ve had a really successful WBBL and the Kia Super League went really well, now in the Hundred – there are sort of thriving domestic leagues [around the world]so to see the announcement of the IPL, especially to be able to grow the game in India, is incredible.”
Healy has long been a supporter of a WIPL. Like several other international cricketers from around the world, she had previously called for the rollout of a WIPL to boost the growth of India’s women’s national team.
Healy, who appeared in the inaugural one-off exhibition game of the now four-match Women’s T20 Challenge, said: “It [India] is such an untapped market, I guess, in the women’s game.
“With so many people, they’re definitely going to be unbeatable in 10 years. They just really needed a helping hand in that home setting to show what these amazing women can do, so it’s really exciting.”
“I think the more cricket we can play at a lower level than the domestic stuff, and that’s why CPL will become so big for us, the better.”
Hayley Matthews on WCPL
“Planning is going to play a part,” Healy said. “Obviously what that looks like, I’m not 100% sure, but we’ll have to find out if international players will be available for all domestic leagues with an increase in international cricket or if there’s a focus on these domestic competitions – I’m not 100% sure.
“But first of all, it’s just great to see them being talked about [and] hopefully they see them take off and if they want a 32-33 year old lead-off hitter who can chirp a bit behind the stumps, I’m available.”
“I think the more cricket we can play at a lower level than the household stuff, and that’s why CPL will become so big for us, the better, hopefully we can get some more young girls through the system,” says Matthews. , the West Indian all-rounder, said after her team’s loss to Australia in the World Cup semi-finals in the Basin Reserve.
“Obviously for this group of players this could be their last World Cup for a lot of players I’m not sure but at the same time it would be really good if we could raise some younger players over the domestic cricket season and yes get some more people filtering for West Indian stuff.”
Annesha Ghosh is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @ghosh_annesha