Empowering women in cricket

Cricket PNG engages all-women crew in T20 comp

By PATRICIA KEAMO
CRICKET Papua New Guinea recently concluded its flagship domestic competition, Isuzu Twenty-20 (T20) Smash with the women’s competition hailed a success having seen more involvement of women.
For the first time this year, the four teams in the women’s competition were coached by female coaches, three of whom were former PNG Lewas with the fourth being current PNG Lewa Pauke Siaka, who has now taken up an assistant coaching role with the PNG U19 women’s team.
Tournament director Lakani Oala told The National that it was only fitting to have more women involved in this year’s tournament, not just in coaching and playing but umpiring and commentating as well.
Former Lewas Lucy Ovia led the Mudmen to victory claiming the Isuzu Cup while Seilose Ambo, former Lewa from Popondetta and her Cassowaries side settled as runners up.
For Siaka, the player-coach secured third placing for her team Black Bass who defeated Mariners by five runs on Saturday in the placing playoff. Mariners was coached by another former Lewa, Nao Kamea.
Two female umpires Helen Atai and Geraldine Igo Oraka also officiated the matches, including the placing playoff on Saturday as well as the finals clash.
“It was a great turnaround for women in cricket. Since it was a women’s tournament, we (CPNG) decided to involve the women coaches who were former Lewas to get them back into the game, pass their knowledge and see how the new girls adapt to them,” Oala told The National.
“This gives them the experience of big time coaching and it worked out well.
“We also had female reporters coming to commentate, including a few players who have stepped in to call the games.
“For the umpires, we’ve always had the female umpires but not umpiring at this level, only several times where one of the umpires (Helen Atai) who has been with us when we have travelled to several countries for international matches.
“For Geraldine, she has been around umpiring from Lae and we decided to bring her in again, she’s residing here so we included her.”
An interesting addition to the women’s competition was the inclusion of Australian marquee players in Ruth Johnston (Cassowaries), Rhiann Kate O’Donnell (Mariners) and Ellie Johnston (Black Bass) who play for the Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades and Brisbane Heat respectively in the Women’s BBL. Their inclusion was done through the PacificAus Sport Programme.
O’Donnell who starred for the Mudmen in her finals win on Saturday said it was a great experience for the three of them, although their first time in the country.
“The best thing for us is seeing the confidence from the girls grow and their cricket improve,” O’Donnell told this paper.
“What it does is it shows the girls that they’re all good enough to compete at that level.

“Even getting involved in the Lewas team training as well, that’s really exciting because if we can have them train at that next level, hopefully they can play at that next level and just continue to grow.

“I think the biggest thing is there’s so much room for growth, they’re all learning and that’s really exciting.”
The Brisbane Heat all-rounder said the involvement of more women not just in the playing and coaching role but other roles as well was amazing to see in the tournament.
“I think it’s awesome as that progression is still very new in Australia and I think if you can get the more female involved the earlier and obviously stronger participation at the grassroots level, it means that the next level like your club level’s better, Siales are better and Lewas are better,” she said.
“If we can get it strong at the base then obviously it keeps growing and improves the top level. Credit to the female umpires and coaches, it’s really exciting for the women and girls in cricket PNG.”