THE WOMEN'S CRICKET ASSOCIATION (WCA) - 1926-1998
FIRSTS
(Fuller details can be found via the appropriate Year Books navigation link)
DATE THE FIRST... 1926 founding of the Women's Cricket Association 1927 Cricket Week at Colwall, Malvern - 40 members took part 1929 WCA. Representative match. London & District v Rest of England, played at Beckenham 1930 issue of "Women's Cricket" magazine edited by Marjorie Pollard - circulation over 500 1931 Constitution and Rules introduced County Associations formed (Durham and Lancashire) County match, Durham v Lancashire & Cheshire at Castle Eden 1932 Selection Committee appointed to select players for Representative matches time in the history of the WCA. that a County Ground (Worcestershire) used for the first two-day Representative match between an English XI and a Scottish XI 1933 century in a recognised game (W.C.A. v Liverpool P.T.C) at Aigburgh - 106 made by Miss M. Bryant England v The Rest match held at Leicester introduction of Districts and affiliated Reports 1934 England Women's Touring Team ever selected to go to Australia & New Zealand use of Old Trafford ground for a trial match - England v The Rest England Captain appointed - Betty Archdale ever women's Test match - Brisbane, Australia run ever scored in a women's Test Match by H. Pritchard (Australia) 1935 player to hit six in Australia - Betty Archdale Test century achieved by a woman - Myrtle Maclagan - 119, Sydney, Australia tour of New Zealand by an English team use of The Kennington Oval for a women's match - England v Rest of England 1936 women Umpires stand at The Oval - Miss C.A. Partridge and Miss K. Doman tour of a Club team abroad - Comp C.C. to Holland 1937 women's Test match in England v Australia, played at Northampton - England Captain: Molly Hide - Australia Captain: Margaret Peden visit of Dutch women's team to England - the first time the Dutch had played on grass appearance of women's cricket in Wisden two Sisters to play for England in the same Test - Misses J. and M.E. Haddesley 1938 film made of women's cricket chapter of WCA. finishes - second now beginning (Second World War) 1947 official Handbook of the WCA 1948 Test century scored against England by Betty Wilson (Australia) Adelaide 1949 time any woman sat in Committee at Lord's - Miss A. Bull and Miss M. Hide represented the WCA on the M.C.C. Cricket Enquiry Committee for the youth of the country WCA badge 1950 Four Sub-Committees set up: Coaching - Umpires & Scorers - Press & Publicity - Tour 1951 time 8 grounds used at Cricket Week for 25th Jubilee Year - The Village, The Downs, The Elms, Malvern College, Eastnor, Ledbury, Dymock and Much Marcle 1952 visit of an English team to Holland (WCA Team) 1954 visit of a New Zealand touring team to England - New flag
1958 hat-trick in women's Test cricket - Betty Wilson (Australia) in the match v England at Melbourne - taken off last 3 balls in a spell of 7-7 in 10.5 overs inaugural meeting of the International Women's Cricket Council at Melbourne 1960-61 visit of an English women's touring team to South Africa, Captained by Helen Sharpe 1962 WCA holders of MCC Advanced Coaching Certificate - The Misses Mary Duggan and Ruth Westbrook 1963 Exhibition confined solely to women's cricket staged at Qantas Gallery, London - an Exhibition of Women's Cricketana - organised by Miss N. Rheinberg and Miss M. Hide Test century scored against Australia at The Oval - Mary Duggan 101 not out six hit in a Test Match by a woman - Rachael Heyhoe, The Oval, 37 in 33 minutes 1966 Young England team ever selected to play New Zealand at Finchley C.C., London 1967 National Single Wicket Competition staged by Vagabonds W.C.C. 1968 use of 8-ball over in women's Test cricket - Australia England series in Australia Test century for Enid Bakewell (England) in her first Test appearance v Australia - 113 1969 National Junior Six-a-Side Tournament held time an England squad (either men or women) travelled by air overseas (Qantas) New Zealand player to score a Test century against England - Patricia McKelvey - 155 not out - Wellington 1970 Annual General Meeting of the WCA held at Lord's 1971 Junior Representative match played at Beddington Park, Surrey - North of England v South of England official tour to West Indies - Bermuda and the Bahamas by an English team Triangular tournament between England, Jamaica and Trinidad for the Jack Hayward Trophy in the West Indies 1972 time the MBE was awarded for "services to women's cricket" to Rachael Heyhoe Flint Junior England XI selected to play Young England in Birmingham permanent WCA Headquarters office set up in Mill Hill, North London appointment of a full-time Women's Cricket Association employee - National Development Officer, Miss E..A. Sanders 1973 World Cup Cricket Competition staged in England by the WCA, sponsored by Jack Hayward (first Men's World Cup 1975) holders of the World Cup - England. Cup presented by Her Royal Highness The Princess Anne 1974 Patron of the WCA - Mr. Jack Hayward, O.B.E. National Inter-Club Knockout Competition staged - won by Edgbaston Ladies' Cricket Club 1976 women's match at Lord's - England v Australia as part of Golden Jubilee celebrations 1979 official visit to England by West Indies - England player took 10 wickets and score 100 runs in the same match - Enid Bakewell 1980-81 Young England tour to India Centre of Excellence for women's cricket at Bedford, financed by Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR) (Senior Coach & Co-ordinator – Mollie Buckland) Senior Area Championships - won by Middlesex 1984-85 first time England played 4-day Tests in Jubilee Tour to Australia 1986 Indoor County 8-a-Side Tournament introduced 1988 National Club League introduced Physiotherapist appointed in line with other countries official appointment of an England Squad Coach - Ruth Prideaux 1989 European Cup held in Denmark - won by England 'A' woman Chairman of Association of Cricket Umpires - Sheila Hil 1992 time players received financial grant from outside source The Foundation for Sports and the Arts (England Tour to New Zealand) first five-day Test match v Australia (Sydney) 1993 World Cup Final held at Lord's 1994 salaried WCA Executive Director appointed 1995 under 17 Territorial Tournament Development Programme introduced 1996 international debut of under 21 squad 1997 negotiations started with ECB regarding The Merger 1998 After 72 years of controlling Women's Cricket and in the interests of further development of the women's game, it was agreed to transfer this control from The Women's Cricket Association to the ECB. Further details of this merger are available via the navigation link
