The two main sports which I have taken an interest in and played, albeit at modest levels, from my childhood onwards, were Football (typically played in the English Winter) and Cricket (typically played in the Summer) although these days, especially given international interest and an abundance of coverage, played all the year round.

While girls and women did play football and cricket back in my childhood days, most people around me didn’t take them seriously, considering these were games for the boys and men. While I have blogged about women’s football, I have never, until now, done so regarding cricket (despite blogging several times on cricket). While I was aware of women playing cricket at a high level, it was not something that before now had particularly interested me, until the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI Cricket World Cup, which ended yesterday.

Thanks to the excellent BBC coverage along with some fascinating comments found on social media, I became aware the competition was in progress during the knock out phase, becoming increasingly interested in the tournament taking place in India and Sri Lanka, both from a cricketing perspective and the sort of personalities involved. The knock out phase entailed the eight best teams in the world playing each other in the 50 over format, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals. While luck played a part, as often happens in competitions like these, with teams needing to pace themselves, peaking when it matters, as did the weather (some games couldn’t be played due to the rain), few would argue that it wasn’t the best four teams, in the order Australia, England, South Africa and India, that made it through to the semi-finals.

The two semi-finals were particularly fascinating. I confess to following both through the BBC updates and live commentary. Firstly, England played South Africa, who they had trounced during the group stages. But South Africa won, and did so emphatically. It was then that I became aware of one of the heroes of the competition: South African captain, Laura Wolvaardt, with a sterling batting performance, that also occurred in the Final. And then onto the biggie: Australia played India, who they had comprehensively defeated in the group stages. This game was a lot tighter but India won. Another hero emerged: batter Jemimah Rodrigues. What was particularly impressive was that Australia were a truly great side, making this the game of the tournament.

And then onto Sunday’s final between India and South Africa, with a delayed start due to rain but managing to play all fifty overs, finishing just before midnight, Indian time. India posted a more than decent score, finding new heroes in the batting (and later bowling) department and it was then South Africa’s turn to bat. While captain Laura scored another century and had some decent support from fellow batters, and were in the frame for an unlikely win until late on in the innings, the target was too imposing, the India bowlers were too good and the pressure to much. So, it was a fairy tale ending and well-done Indian ladies, and not just India but South Africa too, playing in the right spirit. This was true of all the sides, making the 2025 Women’s World ODI Cricket World Cup such a memorable competition. Celebrations, continued to long after and my media feeds are full of reflections. At the end women’s cricket has a new fan, i.e. me, and no doubt many others besides!

Those who follow my cricketing blogs, will know I am obsessed with great cricket sides and always hoping England will produce one. Imo the two great sides in living memory, because they could beat all comers, home and away, over a longish period, were the Australian and West Indies teams of a bygone age. Despite their loss to an inspired Indian side, I would also include today’s Australian ladies. As for heroes from the tournament, I have little doubt that several names could justifiably be put forward, but mine has to be Laura Wolvaardt, noting her quietly determined humility, and Jemimah Rodrigues, noting her faith and dealing with disappointment. It wasn’t just their performances on the field but their character off it and respective journeys and interests leading up to the competition.