Lives in Cricket No 49 - Enid Bakewell

61 1973 World Cup paid, considerable gratuitous advertising, there is just under £1,100 to show for our efforts. The gross match receipts of £1,449 are reduced to £700 when the proceeds of the Edgbaston matches are removed. This means that from the matches in the Areas we show an average gross income of £25. Where did we go wrong? It might be remarked that the prize money for the 2017 World Cup was $2 million. All that grown from their first attempt in 1973. Others were more bullish. Cynics who thought women’s cricket would fail to attract any interest were proved wrong and many experts were surprised by the high standard of play , said AAP-Reuters. On August 8, the Times reported that the International Women’s Cricket Council had agreed to hold the next World Cup in South Africa in 1977- 78. This seems an extraordinary decision and reporting it in March 1974 the WCA Bulletin appeared to accept it was implausible – especially since Barbados and India had just joined the International Council. In August the Women’s World Cup XI played England (men’s) over 50s at the Oval. The WCA Bulletin carried a long report. The women scored 171 for six of which Enid made 12 before being stumped by Godfrey Evans off Roley Jenkins. Old England made 172 for four, with Reg Simpson 71 not out. Enid took one wicket but full analyses are not available; Len Hutton, Denis Compton, and Derek Shackleton were among those playing.