The Marylebone Cricket Club, the guardians of the laws of cricket, have taken a great step to make the sport more inclusive. The committee has announced an amendment to the laws of cricket in a bid to reinforce the sport’s status as an inclusive sport.
“MCC believes in cricket being a game for all and this move recognises the changing landscape of the game in modern times,”
Jamie Cox, MCC assistant secretary stated in a note on www.lords.org.
Cox added that the use of the term ‘batter’ is a natural progression in the cricketing discourse, and it was the right time to acknowledge it officially.
“It is the right time for this adjustment to be recognised formally and we are delighted, as the Guardians of the Laws, to announce these changes today.”
Earlier in April, ESPNcricinfo had adopted the gender-neutral terminology. An initiative received plenty of positive reactions from the cricketing circle as well as negative. The use of the term has increased significantly since then.
“The changes announced today reflect the wider usage of the terms ‘batter’ and ‘batters’ which has occurred in cricketing circles in the intervening period. The move to ‘batter’ is a natural progression, aligning with the terms of bowlers and fielders that already sit within the Laws.”
Back in 2017, the topic was consulted with the International Cricket Council and prominent figures in women’s cricket. Following the discussion, it was agreed the ‘batsman/batsmen’ terminology would remain as it is in the cricketing laws.
Since then women’s cricket has seen immense growth. Whether it was the 2017 ODI World Cup final between England and India at Lord’s or the 2020 T20 World Cup final between Australia and India, the crowd has flooded in to witness the women’s game. The recently concluded Women’s Hundred competition saw a record-breaking attendance in a domestic women’s match when 17116 witnessed Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave at Lord’s.
