Rival codes are lifting their game in their offerings for female athletes but senior figures in cricket are not concerned by the competition, with Southern Stars captain Meg Lanning believing the opportunity to represent Australia gives the sport an edge in luring talent to the game.
Cricket Australia on Monday announced a new $15 million, three-year partnership with Commonwealth Bank directed at women's cricket, Indigenous players, players with a disability and local clubs.
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The investment, following pay rises that have increasingly allowed Australia's leading players to be fully professional, comes at a time when the likes of the AFL and netball have made great strides. The AFL is kicking off its inaugural women's league, for which former Southern Stars batter Jess Cameron was drafted by Collingwood, and netball has a revamped national league and free-to-air broadcasting deal. Â Â
CA argues it has been ahead of the pace, with the second Women's Big Bash League taking place this summer and player remuneration and funding for development having been lifted notably in the past two years.Â
"I don't think Cricket Australia is late to the party," Â CA chief James Sutherland said.
"In fact, we've had a national competition for women that goes back over 70 years. So what we are doing and what we have done in recent times is we have significantly increased the funding opportunities for the development of the game as a sport of choice for girls and women."
Lanning believes the international opportunities offered in cricket adds to its appeal.
"I think that's the massive advantage that cricket has got over some other sports and that's that you can play for your country," she said.Â
"I think competition is good - it will only keep all the codes improving on and off the field so it's only a good thing."Â
The lure of playing in prime time and headlining at the country's major grounds has Lanning and the Southern Stars excited about the announcement of a standalone World Twenty20 tournament in Australia in 2020.
"I think it's going to be a great moment for not just cricket but women's sport as well to have the women's tournament stand alone," Lanning said on Monday. "I think it just shows how far the women's game has come and really a sign that Cricket Australia think the game is in a really good place and want to take it forward.
"As players we're really excited about the opportunity. This way we'll be able to play games in prime time rather than before the men's games which makes it a bit more difficult so that will give us good exposure and an opportunity to reach a new audience."
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