Lancashire Cricket is committed to women's cricket and is seeking support from the North West as it launches #BatForWomensCricket with Lancashire Thunder.
Only four in 10 people in the North West have ever attended a cricket match in person, and just 11% of those have watched women's cricket, according to new research.
This research was carried out on behalf of Lancashire Cricket as part of a wider campaign to drive change in sport, particularly women's competition, through Lancashire Cricket's Red Rose Together campaign. This follows the club's recent announcement of significant investment in the women's team through its partner Hilton.
Daniel Gidney, chief executive of Lancashire Cricket, said: “We want as many people as possible to come to Emirates Old Trafford and support our women’s professional team. We want Sunday's solo T20 match to be a spectacle for the women's game and are keen to make it accessible and affordable for everyone.
“We are making a long-term commitment to ensure our women’s teams have access to the same opportunities and facilities as our men’s teams. Over the past few years, we have supported the Women’s Professional Program with additional funding from our commercial partners. We've invested a lot, but we all know we still have a long way to go.”
Despite the North West being home to one of the country's premier cricket grounds, Emirates Old Trafford, six in 10 adults in the region have never attended a cricket match. The research shows that one of the main barriers to watching a match, whether it's a men's or women's match, is that people are concerned about what will happen at the match (e.g. how long it takes, whether there is wider entertainment available, the price). This is because we do not know how much
To attract a wider audience, Lancashire Cricket is proud to launch #BatForWomensCricket, providing on-field and off-field entertainment, while also providing entertainment for Lancashire Thunder against rivals Northern Diamonds. We encourage the Northwest region to show their support.
Lancashire Thunder captain Ellie Threlkeld said: “We need to make women's cricket as visible as possible and it's great to see Lancashire's continued commitment to developing women's cricket.”A great day out for cricket fans and first-time visitors alike So be sure to check out the T20 match on Sunday, May 19th. That's what #BatForWomensCricket is all about. ”
Tickets cost just £5 per adult and £1 per child (including booking fee), and when you buy an adult ticket you get concert tickets to Green Day (June 21st), The Hundred (July 25th) and more. Includes tickets to England Women's International matches in 2025. Winners will be announced on the day.
Recent research has outlined the importance of additional entertainment at matches, and it's safe to say Emirates Old Trafford has it covered. With face painters, stilt walkers, a DJ, food and drink stalls and more, it's sure to be a great day. Plus, kids can enjoy games and activities, along with a visit from the club's resident mascot, Lanky the giraffe.
If that's not enough, visitors will have the chance to literally bat for women's cricket by taking part in a fun batting challenge. Adults and children are welcome to attend and have the chance to win an autographed cricket bat from the Lancashire Thunder team and meet the players after the match.
The survey also found that many people do not understand the rules of the game, so the Lancashire Cricket team shares some key terminology to encourage new cricketers to take part on Sunday 19th May did.