Due to the global pandemic novel coronavirus outbreak across the globe, the Hundred has postponed a year. This not only disappointed the fans but also many people including players who were dependent on the tournament. On the other hand, Cricket Supporters’ Association conducted an independent survey where more than half of the total English cricket fans suggested that they don’t think the England and Wales Cricket Board are looking after what’s best in the sport.
The increasing dissatisfaction with the country’s apex cricketing body mostly revolved the launch of The Hundred. The Yorkshire leg-spinner Katie Levick was about to play for Northern Superchargers. However, with this, she has become devastated – not only with the delay but also due to the “celebration” that is going on social media.
“For those celebrating the cancellation of the Hundred this year, you’re essentially celebrating unemployment,” she wrote on Twitter. “It may not be the ‘traditional’ game you claim to love, but it’s the one that was employing so many women that don’t have the opportunity for professionalism otherwise. It’s not £100k for four weeks for us; it’s money to keep a roof over our head, food in our fridge, and the dream alive a little longer.”
Just had to get a quick note on The Hundred off my chest👇🏼
Hopefully here’s to 2021. pic.twitter.com/gDZkYcgHK8
— Katie Levick (@Katie_Lev) April 30, 2020
“Obviously, I think in light of the current pandemic, it is absolutely the right decision. But I saw quite a lot of backlash. It just annoyed me that a lot of people were celebrating the fact just because they opposed the format. For the women especially, it was our job and a big source of income. We’re now unemployed for the summer. In light of the current situation, we must show a bit more kindness towards people,” said Katie Levick to Sportstar.
Katie Levick is the all-time highest wicket-taker in Women’s County Championship. The Hundred is going to replace England’s domestic league and they also announced equal prize money for both the men’s and women’s competitions in March. Moreover, the organisers said that the total amount of £600,000 would be divided equally as part of the governing body’s ‘commitment to making cricket a gender-balanced sport,’ but female cricketers were about to get only 12 per cent of the male cricketers’ whose salaries will be at £150,000.
READ HERE: ECB Pushes Back The Hundred Launch to 2021
As the COVID-19 has brought the world into a standstill around the globe, Levick hopes the situation to get better so that there is some cricket takes place later this year. Levick used to play for the Yorkshire Diamonds in the Super League and took 29 wickets from 28 matches. She also holds the record of the highest uncapped wicket-taker in the tournament.
“Cricketing plans now are pretty non-existent. The Hundred’s postponed, the County season is still very much up in the air. We have to see if we do get to play this year. Until then, it’s just a weird scenario. I was pretty sad about the decommissioning. It’s a tournament I played since the very first edition. I think it was a really good boost for the women’s game, with the players it was attracting,” Katie Levick shared.
However, the Sheffield-born cricketer was also excited about the brand new The Hundred. Moreover, she also felt that women’s cricket has gained a lot of popularity by now and what could be better than the 2020 T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground that saw a record attendance of 86,174.
“Getting picked up by the Northern Superchargers obviously was thrilling. It’s the most local team to me, about Yorkshire-based, and yes, I was getting to play at Headingley. I was really looking forward to getting back on the field with Lauren Winfield and Alyssa Healy. We also had Nicola Carey, who’s just won the World Cup too. I was really excited by the prospect of hitting the field with those girls.”
“The T20 World Cup finals was close to a sell-out. MCG just looked phenomenal. And it’s something I never expected to probably see in my lifetime.”
“It could not have happened if it wasn’t for the leagues, such as Big Bash, which really led the way. The KSL followed and gave girls an opportunity to play all over the world and make a career out of this. If the rumours of a complete female IPL are true as well, I think that will really send the women’s game into the stratosphere. We all know no one is more passionate about cricket than an Indian fan,” Katie Levick concluded.
