New Delhi: 23 July 2017 will be Indian women cricket team’s date with destiny as they face hosts England in the ICC Women’s world Cup final at Lord’s. Suddenly the focus of the world’s second largest nation has shifted to women’s cricket and the big final in a way that no one could have ever imagined.
But it’s not only the final that is the reason; the whole of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 has been a monumental event in the history of the game. As 22 ladies get gelled up to be featured in the history books, we look at 5 things that have made this World Cup, one like never before.
England Vs India final to be the most watched Women’s cricket game ever
The World Cup final, between England and India, will probably be the most watched women's cricket game ever. More than 50 million people around the globe have already tuned in to watch this tournament, which is an 80% increase from 2013, and in India, the world's largest consumer of cricket, there has been a 47% hike in audience participation.
The Lords’ final with a sold out crowd
The tournament has already had two sellout crowds, and the final is set to join the list, with more than 26,500 people expected at the ground. It couldn’t have been better for the ICC, with the final being hosts England playing India who obviously are expected to outnumber the English fans in the final.
According to the ICC, average ticket sales in the tournament have been almost 1,700 per game – which is the highest in World Cup history.
"We're seeing that crowd attendances are not made up of just family and friends. It's of people who want to see women's cricket.” said Holly Colvin from the ICC.
"There's been support all around the country - 50% of attendance was made up of women and girls, and 30% of them were under 16. That's been an exciting part."
A Lords’ final- Beginning of an Era
A World Cup Final played in the Mecca of cricket, Lords’, the stuff that dreams are made of. The venue itself has had the strings of inception with the Indian cricket, which can be clearly traced when one goes back to 25 June 1983. Kapil Dev lifted the World Cup in the Lords’ balcony by defeating a seemingly invincible West Indies team. The event brought about a revolution in Indian cricket and 34 years later, here we are, a World Cup final, the same venue, against a different opposition, but a win here could work wonders for Women’s cricket in India.
ICC’s take on Prize money and broadcasting
The International Cricket Council (ICC) increased prize money for this tournament from $200,000 (£153,750) in 2013 to $2m (£1,537,500) this year, while every match was broadcast live for the first time.
Chance to get a new world champion
This could also be the first time that we get a new world champion in Women’s Cricket other than Australia and England, if the Women in Blue manage to get the better of the hosts in the final. In 9 of the previous editions, Australia have won it 6 times while England have got their hands on it thrice. India last featured in a final in 2005 when Mithali Raj’s side lost to a dominant Australian side by 98 runs in Centurian.