Players positive ahead of landmark season

Professional women’s cricketers in England and Wales are overwhelming positive about the transition into Professional Counties, ahead of the domestic season starting tomorrow, Wednesday 23 April.

The PCA visited all eight of the women’s Tier 1 Professional Counties ahead of the new season, as well as Yorkshire in Tier 2, collecting views and updating players on important advancements in the last few years alongside discussing future ambitions and priorities, to represent their collective needs.

With joint men’s and women’s meetings taking place for the first time, the conversations enabled the Association to gain a deeper understanding to the realities of the fledgling structure from the perspective of both men and women, including the teething problems across the current playing membership.

Meetings included conversations on key PCA updates, player views on the long-term PCA strategy, improved minimum standards and employment terms, private investment into The Hundred, recovery and rest periods between matches and the integration of the women’s teams into the county structure.

The Association recently released the Women’s Cricket Impact Report which highlighted the advancements that have been made in the last five years. Improvements that were made possible thanks to increased communication with the ECB and a fully engaged playing group that acted collectively and responsibly to support the growth of the game through the Project Darwin working group.

With transition to the county structure an important factor, 100% of all surveyed players agreed that the process has been positive. Rest, recovery and preparation were other important discussion points with the men’s and women’s players in agreement that there needs to be minimum standards in regards to days between 50-over and T20 matches.

In 50-over cricket, the majority of men’s and women’s players support a minimum two-day period before games with 71% of surveyed women’s players selecting this option and 81% of the men.

Following a 60% increase in back-to-back T20 fixtures in 2025, 82% of surveyed women’s players believe there should be at least one day between games, sentiments that were reiterated by 90% of men’s players.

Gender pay parity in The Hundred proved another crucial topic, following the recent news of the gender pay gap increasing in the competition – a decision PCA Vice Chair and former England women’s captain Heather Knight voiced her disapproval of –  whilst players were realistic at current salaries, the majority of 64% believe the bands should be equal in the future as cricket builds towards a fully equitable game.

With the introduction of multi-year deals in the women’s domestic game, almost three-quarters of players (74%) said they feel ‘secure’ or ‘very secure’ in their employment as a professional cricketer.

PCA Chair, Olly Hannon-Dalby, said: “A reoccurring theme throughout every single meeting was the need for improved minimum standards and it’s our job to represent these strong views and work with key stakeholders to protect player rights whilst allowing them to perform at the best of their ability as professional cricketers.

“The collaboration between the men’s and women’s teams at the joint meetings was a big step forward and created open and honest discussions to make sure those counties have thriving environments for both squads to work together in harmony.

“With three-quarters of our women’s players feeling ‘very secure’ or ‘secure’ in their employment as a professional cricketer, it is something that as a union we should feel very proud of.”

PCA Chief Executive, Daryl Mitchell, said: “It’s always exciting to visit the professional men’s and women’s squads ahead of the new season and gather their thoughts and feelings so we can decipher how best to support our playing members.

“I have been really impressed that all the women’s players feel positive around the integration into their new counties as the teams look to create the one club, two teams mantra, but we recognise that there are teething issues which we are feeding back to the ECB and the counties.

“Phenomenal strides have been made in recent years in the women’s game but the increasing gender pay gap in The Hundred is a clear frustration of players and we are working with the ECB on a roadmap to narrowing this.”

Hampshire captain, Georgia Adams, said: “For our group the transition has been very smooth and it feels like not much has changed but it’s nice to feel like one family and be united with the men.

“We’re pleased with how much more support has been made available for the women’s game and everyone is feeling the effects of those changes.

“We really value everything that the PCA does for us and as a female in the game now, it’s the most valued we’ve ever felt as a group.”

Surrey all-rounder, Alice Davidson-Richards, said: “Hearing what both the guys and us had to say was really interesting and I was pleased we voiced our opinions coherently.

“We were discussing what is important to us as players and how we communicate with each other and with the PCA and the ECB. We’re in this together and everyone’s opinions matter.

“Improving minimum standards is one of the most important things in the game at the moment, it’s all well and good looking after the top players but the game doesn’t grow unless everyone is supported.”

Read the findings from the men’s pre-season meeting survey here.