#10001068

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 is just a few months away, and the Women in Blue are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting cricket tournament Down Under and the biggest women’s sporting event ever staged in Australia.We’re looking at some of the biggest firsts in cricket – that most people don’t know about! Starting with ICC’s vision to break the world record for attendance at a women’s sporting by having a high capacity crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on women’s day next year (March 8), to a lot of awe-inspiring centuries and stellar bowling spells led by women. So, until we get to cheer them on in Australia this February, let’s celebrate some of the most impressive landmarks in cricket – all of which were accomplished by women!

Cricket’s First World Cup

Eight international teams came together for the first men’s in 1975. But what few people know is that the first Women’s World Cup was played two years earlier, in 1973! There were seven teams competing, including an under-25s Young England team and an International XI made up of the best players from the rest of the world. Home team England took the cup in the tournament with a decisive win over Australia.

The First Double Century

Indian cricket fans undoubtedly remember Sachin Tendulkar’s epic double century against the Proteas in a 2008 tournament. But did you know that, in 1997, 11 years before the Master Blaster’s lauded innings, Australian cricketer Belinda J Clarke posted an amazing score of 229 not-out in a match against Denmark in Mumbai? Belinda was not just the first cricketer to score the first double century in a One-Day International; she also had the highest individual score of an unbeaten 229 off 145 balls for 17 years until Rohit Sharma’s 264 against Sri Lanka.

The Youngest Double Century

Ace Pakistani batsman Javed Miandad was only 19 when he scored a double century in a Test match against New Zealand – a statistic that leads most people to celebrate him as the youngest achiever of this feat in the cricket world. However, Kiwi cricketer, Amelia Kerr, at the tender age of 17, bettered that record in 2018, scoring an unbeaten 232 against the Irish Women’s team.

Image Source: Getty Images

The First 10 and 100

Doing exceptionally well with both the bat and the ball is a tough feat – but that’s just what Betty Wilson did! In 1958, this Australian cricketer was the first player in either the men’s or women’s version of the sport to bag a 10-wicket haul and score over a hundred runs in the same Test match. She is only one of five cricketers, male or female to have bagged this achievement – fellow Aussie, Alan Davidson, who is widely credited with the first 10 and 100 in a Test did so in 1960.

The first to 400

When Ricky Ponting’s Australia scored an incredible 434/4 against South Africa in 2006 – only to lose to the Proteas who managed to get to a whopping 438/9, it was celebrated as a landmark game in One-Day International cricket. However, it was the New Zealand’s women cricket team – known as the White Ferns – who first got to 400 runs in an ODI, tallying up 455 runs against Pakistan in a January 1997 match. Incidentally, the White Ferns have also posted the highest ever tally in a One-Day International in 2018, getting to an unbelievable 491 runs against Ireland.

Women’s cricket is full of many more incredible feats, like Jhulan Goswami’s amazing 10/78 bowling spell, Smriti Mandhana’s record of never having got out for a duck, and Mithali Raj’s impressive batting statistics (highest run scorer in the history of women’s cricket) – all of which make the women’s games just as much fun to watch as the men’s! And next year, the women are all set to lead the game in Australia where they will compete for the title of the best in the shortest format of the game. While there will be enough action to keep you hooked on-field, off-field boasts of some pretty amazing sights and sounds too. 

Image Source: Getty Images

Whether you are in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, or Perth, there’s something for everyone. Discover more details here.

You’ve seen videos of people on the sun-kissed beaches of Australia. You have heard your friends talk about their trip to the Great Barrier Reef or how they explored Melbourne. With so many things to offer, Australia is bound to be on top your travel bucket list. Well, it’s time to act on it because leading airlines are offering exclusive prices to fly to Australia. Starting from Rs. 40,000*, the fares are perfect for someone who likes to book their travel in advance. But hurry up, because the sale is valid till 13th December. Read more here.

If that’s not motivation enough, these eight spots will definitely make up your mind.

1. BONDI, NEW SOUTH WALES

As one of Sydney’s most popular golden-sand beaches, Bondi Beach needs no introduction. This stretch of sand comes alive with the sunrise, and the party continues all day and well into the night. As you walk to the beach, chances are you’ll see surfers riding the waves, swimmers getting their laps in at the Bondi Baths, and plenty of people soaking in the sights and sounds (and sun) from their towels on the sand. You can dip your toes into a true-blue Aussie way of life and sign up for a surfing lesson here; there are plenty of accredited schools along the main stretch that’ll show you the ropes. Grab a bite at the iconic Bondi Icebergs, one of the country’s oldest swim clubs, or walk the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, a six-kilometre (3.7-mile)

2. WINEGLASS BAY, TASMANIA

Lounging on one of the top ten beaches in the world should be a definite addition to your Aussie bucket list. Tasmania’s Wineglass Bay is situated within Freycinet National Park, just a one-hour drive from the capital city of Hobart. A crescent-shaped bay with clear blue waters, hugged by the peaks of the Hazards range – you could spend hours taking Insta-worthy photos here. A cruise along the waters is one of the best ways to get up-close with the bay and its highlights. Spot wildlife and gaze up at the soaring granite cliffs as you learn more about the region and its history.

3. AUSTRALIA’S COLOURFUL LAKES

You can never get enough of Australia’s coast, but for something a bit different, head towards Western Australia and its colourful lakes. The bubblegum pink lakes of Australia’s Golden Outback are an astonishing site, and will make a great addition to your Instagram feed. The most famous of the pink lakes is Lake Hillier, near Esperance, an eight-hour drive or short flight from Perth. In this region, you can also visit Lake Ballard near Kalgoorlie, a salt lake that features a permanent art installation of 51 statues. Down in South Australia, you can visit the bright pinks, blues and greens of Lake MacDonnell in the Eyre Peninsula, or even see the world’s largest ephemeral lake, Lake Eyre. Whether there's water or not, it is a phenomenal sight best taken in on a scenic flight.

4. KANGAROO ISLAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

If you are looking for up-close encounters with Australia’s intriguing wildlife, Kangaroo Island should be a top pick. Located a quick 40-minute flight from Adelaide, over a third of this island is a conservation park that is home to everything from kangaroos and koalas to short-beaked echidnas and tammar wallabies. You’ll find all of this in beautiful surrounds, including natural structures like Admirals Arch and the Remarkable Rocks. Kangaroo Island also provides opportunities for a luxurious retreat, whether it's staying in an award-winning lodge set atop coastal shelves, treating yourself to a massage at a cliff-top spa, or sampling the delicate flavours of marron – a type of crayfish – paired with some of the country’s best produce, gins, wines and brews.

5. DAINTREE RAINFOREST, QUEENSLAND

Trek through lush jungle amid ancient ferns and green vines as you spy animals and plants that are found nowhere else on the planet. This is the Daintree Rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. Here you can fly through the canopies of an age-old forest on a zipline for a bird’s-eye outlook of the land below, or cruise down the Daintree River towards Cape Tribulation, where the Great Barrier Reef meets the rainforest. You'll also find plenty of lodge and luxury accommodation. This is truly a magical place – it’s no surprise it served as inspiration for the movie Avatar.

6. SNOWFIELDS AUSTRALIA

If you are visiting in the Australian winter (June – August), don’t miss a trip to Victoria’s snowfields. From skiing and snowshoeing to cutting through the powder on a snowmobile and skidding down slopes on a toboggan, there’s plenty for an adventure-lover to pick from. While you’re here, go on a dog-sledding experience; it’s one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the beauty of the Alpine scenery. You will get a chance to test out your mushing (dog sled driving) skills before spending some time cuddling with your new four-legged friends. But if you'd rather stay cosy indoors, you can opt for a wilderness retreat, where you’ll enjoy being curled up in front of a warm wood fire with cheese fondue.

7. VLASOFF CAY, QUEENSLAND

If you want to step off the beaten path towards something secluded and remote, consider Vlasoff Cay. This private sand island is surrounded by the vast blue ocean and appears only at low tide, making it a unique spot for an intimate picnic. You can get here on a helicopter or take a chartered boat from Cairns and settle onto the sand with a delicious picnic lunch and a bottle of bubbly.  The island is yours to explore, making it the perfect mix of leisure and adventure.

8. HEART REEF, WHITSUNDAYS, QUEENSLAND

When a heart just pops up in nature, you have to check it out. Heart Reef is a naturally formed coral heart found in Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays and was first spotted by an Air Whitsunday pilot flying overhead in 1975. It may have popped up in your Instagram feed once or twice (especially if there was a romantic proposal involved), and though it might look remote, it’s not difficult to get that ‘Gram worthy shot. Its protected nature means that the only way to see it is via a helicopter or light plane flight over – that’s also the best way to get a photograph (or five) of this romantic location. You can combine the flight with a tour of other incredible sights in the Whitsundays, like Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach.