Historic First for Women's Cricket on Kew Green
What is believed to be only ever all-female fixture in 291 years played
Players on the green in Kew. Picture: Stephen Butler
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August 31, 2023
A piece of history was made this Wednesday (23 August) when Kew Cricket Club’s women’s team took on Chiswick women on Kew Green.
This is believed to be the first competitive women’s cricket match ever to have been played on the pitch in the middle of Kew Village. The ground has been used as a cricket pitch for at least 291 years.
The first recorded game of cricket at the location was one in August 1732 which the Whitehall Evening Post reported that Frederick, Prince of Wales, the father of King George III, attended although the teams playing are not named.
The London Evening Post of 16 July 1737 refers to a match between a Prince of Wales XI and The Duke of Marlborough XI.
The match gets underway. Picture: Stephen Butler
The pitch on Kew Green was meant to be the location of the first ever Women’s World Cup in 1973. Jamaica was due to play New Zealand but no spectators turned up to watch and the game had to be abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain. England played Australia in the final at Edgbaston as, at that point, women were not allowed to use the pitches at Lords.
The Kew Women received a good luck message from Test Match Special presenter Ebony Rainford-Brent ahead of the inaugural fixture against Chiswick however, it was the visitors that prevailed.
The two teams celebrate the historic occasion. Picture: Stephen Butler
The women’s section at Chiswick Cricket Club was started last year. Training takes place every Wednesday evening 6-8pm and the team plays in T20 games in the Derick Morgan League on Sunday afternoons. The annual subscription for the season is £100 And the match fee is £10 payable after the match. If you are interested in joining contact leonorayorath@gmail.com or 07963817271 for more information.
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