Cricket

Fantastic for those who love the outdoors, playing cricket could be a breath of fresh air if you’re looking to get active and have a blast doing it.

Cricket is an enjoyable summer sport full of community and friendship.  It doesn’t matter what your age, background or skill level, you can get started today.

This page looks at:

  • What This Girl Can – Victoria Ambassador Dinasha did when she was told “girls don’t play cricket”
  • Learning how to play  cricket
  • Membership and equipment needs for cricket
  • Why This Girl Can – Victoria Ambassadors Marnie says playing cricket feels like “home”
  • Indoor cricket and how it’s different to outdoor cricket
  • Finding a local cricket club near you
  • Can’t get out right now? At-home tips

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Dinasha was always told cricket isn’t for girls. But she won’t cop that.

Dinasha, 19, was always told cricket isn’t for girls. But she won’t cop that. She’s been playing the sport since she was a girl and believes it doesn’t matter if you’re good or not – it’s about having fun. She reckons juggling her 2 uni degrees is almost as hard as hitting a 6!

Learning to play  cricket and finding a women’s cricket club near you

If cricket sounds like something you might enjoy, here’s some information about jumping in and trying it out.

Find your local women’s cricket club

To get involved in a game of cricket for women in Melbourne or regional Victoria, look for your local women’s cricket club. Many offer a range of women’s cricket programs for all ages to get started. It doesn’t matter what your background, age or skill level, so it’s a great way to get involved for the first time and make some new friends.

Social Sixes: more social, less competitive cricket

Cricket Victoria’s Social Sixes is a new, fun way to get moving and learn to play cricket. It’s a more social and less competitive version of women’s cricket that focuses on the social aspects of the game, rather than who can hit further or bowl faster. If you’re looking for a more relaxed, social cricket group, this could be for you.

Playing indoor cricket: what’s different to outdoors?

Women’s cricket isn’t just played if the weather is good. Indoor cricket provides some great opportunities to learn new skills in a social setting.

Indoor cricket has a smaller field size and less players in the team. There’s also more rotation of roles, which means everyone gets to bat, bowl and field. The ball is also softer which means less protective equipment.

Visit Indoor Sports Victoria for more information about playing indoor women’s cricket.

Do I need to pay a membership and bring my own equipment to play women’s cricket?

There are ways to get involved that don’t require equipment, or even a commitment for a full season.

Social Sixes is ‘pay as you play’. This means you’re not obliged to play each week if you have other commitments. Social Sixes cricket groups are facilitated by friendly, qualified coaches who provide all the necessary gear. Just bring yourself.

When starting to play cricket at club, you may be able to use club equipment to get you going. Membership options range from club to club too. If you fall in love with the game, it’s a good idea to get your own equipment – by that point though, you’ll have a new women’s cricket community to give you the right guidance and tips on what to get.

As an adult, Marnie started playing deaf cricket where she feels respected and peaceful

Marnie found that being profoundly deaf hasn’t stopped her playing sport, but it has affected the social side of things for her in the past. “Not being able to hear, really distances you from what’s happening – you have skill, you have talent, you have potential, but you’re not there – you’re invisible,” Marnie says. Despite the occasional rude comment (overheard by her friends), or instances of being either pitied or ignored while playing sport throughout her life, as an adult, Marnie started playing deaf cricket. In the cricket team, Marnie feels accepted and peaceful: “The cricket team for me is home.” “Concentrating on nothing but the ball…has been great for my mental health and space.”

Where to play women’s cricket near you

  • Visit the websites mentioned on this page: Play Cricket, Cricket Victoria or Social Sixes.
  • Google it! Search to see what other cricket options there are near you.
  • Find a Supporter in your neighbourhood: see if there’s a cricket club near you that has registered online to support This Girl Can – Victoria.
  • Ask other women – chat to your friends, family or colleagues about doing an activity together, or post a question to our Facebook page where there’s a supportive community of women who can help you out.

Can’t get out right now?

There are still ways to get started with cricket, even if you can’t join in a game on the field.

Try contacting your local cricket club to ask about women’s cricket, and how you can get started. There’s a range of online videos that can show you some of the basics about batting, bowling and fielding to get your skills off the mark!

Learn more about This Girl Can – Victoria and how it’s helping women feel good by getting activity in a way that suits them.

You may also want to look at some other sports you can try to get moving in a way that you enjoy. Here are a few other fun team sports that are outdoors where you can meet new people and enjoy being active.