Women professionals engage with PCA

The PCA has held early season meetings with each of the eight women’s regional teams and the England Women’s squad to update them on what their Association is doing on their behalf.

Following the introduction of a sixth professional player at each region in 2022, the PCA visited each team for a face-to-face meeting to update, discuss and debate the progress of the domestic professional game.

The players were encouraged to ask questions of the PCA and to put forward their own views on how to improve conditions in the future.

Amongst the key topics for discussion was an update on the Fairer Futures project, as part of the PCA’s work in equality, diversity and inclusion. This focused on tangible advancements that have been made for the current campaign and further improvements that are due to be implemented from 2023.

The PCA team also delivered updates on the development of collective rights negotiations and overall benefits of being a member of the PCA.

The players were briefed on how their voice in the game is heard through their regional reps and through their Personal Development Manager’s support.

PCA President and Southern Vipers Coach, Charlotte Edwards, said: “Some of the players weren’t aware of the things that the PCA can provide them, so it’s been great having them here because the players now know they’ve got the support in place for them on this journey they’re on.

“I’m in a good position because I get to see the potential problems the players have and equally, in my role as President of the PCA, I have the opportunity to see what we can do to support the players and what workshops we can give them that add value.

“We’ve done some great work with the uplift in salaries for the Hundred and salary increases in the regional game as well, it’s lovely to see the progress that’s been made.”

PCA Head of Player Rights and Women’s Cricket, Emma Reid, said: “It’s good to get the group together and explain what we’ve been up to over the last 12 months regarding developments in the women’s game.

“The players are the heart of this, they’re key to influencing our decision making and being able to delve into what their issues are and bringing those back to the ECB is really important.

“Our role is to see where the women’s game is now and how we can progress things and professionalise the women’s game further.

“It needs to get to a stage where the women’s players are being rewarded fairly and appropriately for what they’re doing.”

Southern Vipers’ player-coach, Anya Shrubsole, said: “It’s absolutely massive that players can now carrying on as a professional player even after ending their careers with England.

“The women’s game has developed so much since when I first started and to have the PCA on board negotiating those initial contracts and acting as a support that you can go and ask questions to has been a massive help.

“I’d love to see the regional teams become fully professional, I think that would be amazing and it would really develop the England team.”

The PCA would like to thank Odd Balls for their support of the men’s and women’s early season meetings.

To read more about the PCA’s Fairer Futures work, read issue 30 of the member magazine, Beyond the Boundaries.