Opposing captains Meg Lanning and Heather Knight have hailed the recently completed ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand a resounding success.
The 12th edition of the 50-over showcase came to a thrilling climax in Christchurch on Sunday as Australia picked up their seventh World Cup title when they registered a 71-run triumph over England.
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A sneak peek inside the Australian dressing room celebrations
It brought an end to the month-long tournament that saw the record smashed for most runs at any single edition of a Women’s World Cup, a whopping 13 individual centuries scored and included a host of thrilling final-over finishes.
While Lanning and Knight may have finished on different sides of the ledger in Sunday’s title decider, the two experienced skippers agreed that the tournament itself was a great success.
“It’s been a great tournament…it’s been amazing,” Lanning said.
“It’s been one of the best I’ve been involved in and so many close finishes that you’re watching and you’re on the edge of your seat the whole time.
“So for us to be sitting here at the end of the tournament as winners, we’ve really had to work hard for it.”
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Exclusive: Behind the Scenes of Australia’s celebrations | CWC22
Knight echoed the sentiments of her Australian counterpart, believing the New Zealand tournament was the best she has participated in during her glittering career.
“This tournament has been unbelievable,” Knight said.
“The amount of close games we’ve had, the competitiveness of all the games really has been brilliant and I don’t remember another tournament like it.
“To be pushed as a team as we have done and then still being able to make it to The Final, I think we can be really proud of ourselves.”
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The Final – Match Highlights: Australia v England
Eight countries were in action during the 2022 edition of the tournament and the ICC remains committed to growing the game globally and in a sustainable fashion over the coming years.
That includes an expansion to have 10 teams compete at the 2029 World Cup and England batter Nat Sciver believes the next step is pivotal in the continued growth of the women’s game.
“I think we’re quite lucky – us and Australia are the best two supported teams in the world,” Sciver said after her unbeaten 148 in The Final.
“I think there needs to be more regular cricket for some of the nations that don’t play as much.
“Sri Lanka obviously weren’t here, they have hardly played cricket in the last two years because of the COVID and to keep the game, the women’s game, in a healthy state there needs to be that support throughout the different nations.”