This week Cricket Australia made a formal announcement regarding their controversial decision of gender inclusivity. According to the new system, cricketers would be allowed to play according to the gender with which they identify and not their biologically born gender. This is the new policy in place for both amateur and professional cricket. Even though some are happy about the decision, some consider it the end of women’s cricket in the country.

Promoting Inclusivity in Sport

According to the CEO of Cricket Australia, Kevin Roberts, the policy is driven by their desire to ensure fair and inclusive play for all cricketers of the country. Clubs won’t be allowed to require these players to undergo a medical examination to determine whether they are allowed to play or not, yet players who would want to play according to their identified gender would have to produce statistics of 12 consecutive months indicating testosterone levels below ten nanomoles per litre.
He furthermore stated that discrimination won’t be allowed within the world of cricket in Australia and that this policy will enable transgender players to be able to represent the country in elite levels. It will also apply to the grassroots level, and even in clubs run within neighbourhoods by parents, children would be allowed to play according to the gender with which they identify. This matter is so severe that one article was published already, stating that parents who are denying children this right could be prosecuted.

Hence guidelines on incorporating the new policy would be communicated to all local clubs. These guidelines would create a place of free and inclusive involvement for all players, coaches and volunteers. Australian women’s cricketer, Megan Schutt, echoes Roberts, in her excitement. She believes that the policy would create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, expressed his objections to the plan. He felt that it is an inappropriate way to enforce clubs to deal with the matter. He is also stating that he is convinced that there are alternative ways of dealing with the issue.

His objection is shared by a professor in Paediatrics from Western Sydney University. Professor John Whiteball is convinced that the policy is giving women cricket a death blow. It will tremendously reduce any hardworking female’s ability to achieve greatness. Physically she won’t be able to compete. He has also mentioned the destructive effect which it can have on a teenage girl’s confidence to have to compete with someone physically stronger than her, due to being transgender and identifying as a female, although it is not the person’s born gender. The policy can change the face of women’s sports completely. Even though it was meant to create inclusivity, there are, without a doubt, a large number of people who will most definitely be excluded from sports due to this.

The forecast has been made that when Australia is meeting England in this year’s Ashes five-game series, it is two very much mediocre test cricket teams competing against each other. It was expected that England’s glorious moments after winning the World Cup, only two weeks before the start of the Ashes, might come crashing down and so it did.

England’s Ashes History

There have been 27 Ashes series over the last 50 years. During this period England has only lost the first test twice before then going on to winning the series. This happened in 1981 and 2005, and both of these are referred to as miracle series. History also teaches us that during these 50 years of Ashes, Australia has either won or drawn the first test in 17 of the series and then they have won the series. Will this year be a repeat of past events or are there other factors to keep in mind?

England’s Poor Luck

This year England’s loss of the first test can’t simply be summed up as a poor play on the English side. They were struck with a bit of bad luck. Not only did England end up without their best bowler only one hour in of play, but they are also competing against stronger players. The best spinner of the series is indeed in the Australian team. The same goes for the best batsman. Australia is also holding the best pace attack on the two sides.

In comparison, the English team is riddled with weaknesses. They have six players who are injured or unproven and only have five players to show who is in good form and possibly placed in the correct spot. This led to their humiliation in the first test — a loss which only added to the mental scars gained from previous Ashes results. For England to get back into the game, they would need to fight not only a physical battle on the field, but also overcome the mental demons which they are struggling with now.

The Australian Performance

Winning the first test in the series was a significant boost of confidence on the Aussie side. This became their first win at Edgbaston in any form, since 2001. The Australians came to England without any fear factor accompanying them. They were fully aware that they have four consecutive losses of the Ashes series on English soil, but taking the first test gave them back their power, according to Shane Warne.

He also mentioned that it seemed that the English weren’t worried about the Australians ability pre-series, but the Aussies’ performance has given them a reason for concern. Even previous captain of the 2005 English Ashes team, Michael Vaughan mentioned on social media that the Australians came prepared and in good shape. He also said that the local team is not showing the much-needed movement. What the next few weeks will deliver is still to be seen. It seems possible that the Ashes will turn out to be a much more exciting event than expected initially.

Great players attract large sums of money, and over the years, an increase in sponsorships just kept on adding to the lucrative remuneration that some players receive. Ever wondered how much they do get paid? Let’s have a look at the top five highest-paid players in the game.

Number Five Brings us, David Warner.

The Australian left-hander is noted as one of the controversial players of the decade. His skills have, however, managed to overshadowed his behaviour mostly. Due to the ball-tampering saga which he was involved in, Cricket Australia did suspend him for one year from the game. He was still one of the highest-paid cricketers of Aussie country. The number bringing him into the fifth-place is $5.5 million.

The Charming Number Four – AB de Villiers

Charming and sweet, this South African legend has the crowd at his feet when he steps onto the field. His 360-degree game is legendary, and he is the driving force behind many of the Protea wins. He retired from international competitions in 2018, but the fans can still find him in T20. Coming in at the $6.4 million marks, the South African superstar is at number four on the list.

Number Three, Jamaican Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle is considered to be a great ambassador to the world of cricket. His career is stretching over two decades, and at the age of 39, he is still as potent as always. His ability to hit sixes is unparalleled, and he is also known for pioneering slam-bang cricket. Lately, he was playing less for the Caribbean, while being kept busy with T20 leagues internationally. $7.5 million places him in bronze position.

Number Two – the Favourite Son of India

Taking a significant leap to $21.7 million places MS Dhoni in the second position. His career stretches over fifteen years, and it brought him great success and recognition. Three ICC trophies and ranking on the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes during 2014. He is a great inspiration in the Indian cricket community with many youngsters looking at him in admiration. His value has decreased over time, but he still has a list of names which he endorses including some giants in the likings of Reebok, Sonata and TVs.

Number One – A Global Icon

His career took off in 2008, and since then he grew in greatness. Today Virat Kohli is seen as an icon with international acclaim. Nineteen thousand international runs to his name at the age of 30 testifies about the game he plays. In no time, he managed to gain a tremendous amount of popularity both locally as well as globally. During 2019 he was the only cricketer making it to the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes with $24 million assigned to him. Brands like Audi, Tissot and Uber signed him on for endorsement and from all the approvals alone, he secured $20 million into his pocket.