Women’s World Cup – the journey from 1973 to 2009

The captains of West Indies, India, England and Sri Lanka pose with the Women's World Cup trophy before the 2013 tournament. © AFP

Women’s cricket was first played at the international level when Australia faced England at the Gabba in Brisbane in December 1934, a match England won by nine wickets. In the 1970s, the metamorphosis that men’s cricket underwent with the entry of the limited-overs version was transferred to women’s cricket too. Indeed, the concept of only a day’s cricket was probably very attractive to women, so much so that the first Women’s World Cup was held in England in 1973, a good two years before the men’s World Cup. Since then, nine Women’s World Cups have been held — in England (2), India (2), Australia (2), New Zealand (2) and South Africa (1).  The current edition – the tenth – marks the third time India are hosting the tournament, making them the most prolific hosts.

Australia have been the most successful side in the Women’s World Cup history by  a distance, winning five titles. They are followed by England (3) and New Zealand (1).

A look at the past World Cup records detailed below reveal some big names and important events that graced women’s international cricket. The first international double century in One-Day International cricket was scored by a woman in a World Cup match in Mumbai almost 13 years before the men came up with one. Similarly, the Australian women too came up with a 400-plus total as far back as 1997, also in Mumbai, much before their more famous male counterparts crossed the 400-barrier in 2006.

Women’s World Cup: Winners, runners-ups and the rest

Summary of results for all teams from 1973 to 2009

Highest team totals

Highest team totals batting second

Lowest team totals

Biggest wins

There have been 12 instances of a team winning by 10 wickets, with Australia (7) doing it the most times.

Narrowest wins

There have been four instances of teams winning with only two wickets to spare.

Three matches in the history of Women’s World Cups have ended in ties. On January 10, 1982, New Zealand (147 for 9 in 60 overs) and England (147 for 8 in 60 overs) played out a tie in Auckland. Three weeks later, on February 2, 1982, England (167 for 8 in 60 overs) were involved in another tie, this time with Australia (167 all out in 60 overs) at Christchurch. The third instance was on December 17, 1997, when New Zealand (176 for 9 in 50 overs) tied with India (176 all out in 49.1 overs) at Indore.

Leading run-getters

Leading wicket-takers

The highest individual score in Women’s World Cup is Belinda Clark’s 229 not out for Australia against Denmark at Mumbai on December 16, 1997.  On the same day, Charlotte Edwards hit 173 not out for England against Ireland a few miles away in Pune – the second highest score in Women’s World Cup history.

Several bowlers have taken five-wicket hauls in the Women’s World Cup, but only two have gone on to take six wickets in an innings. Jackie Lord of New Zealand has the best bowling figures in Women’s World Cup history, 6 for 10 against India in Auckland on January 14, 1982. She beat the record of Glenys Page, also from New Zealand, who took 6 for 20 vs Trinidad and Tobago at St Albans on June 23, 1973.

Top partnerships for any wicket

Highest partnerships for each wicket

Best allround performance in a match

Note:
** Brits opened the batting and bowling
** Edwards was captaining the side
** Badham is a New Zealand player

Top allrounders