As the sun rose over the River Thames, a passionate group of cricket fans gathered at East Molesey Cricket Club for a special occasion — a breakfast watchalong of England Women’s final IT20 in the Women’s Ashes. While the result wasn’t what everyone had hoped for, the event, a collaboration between the ECB, Metro Bank, Wisden and TNT Sports, was about more than just watching a match. It was a celebration of how grassroots clubs like East Molesey are helping to shape the future of women’s and girls’ cricket.

A Growing Force

Founded in 1871, East Molesey Cricket Club (EMCC) has long been a pillar of the local sporting community. But in recent years, the club has undergone a remarkable transformation in its approach to women’s and girls’ cricket.

Jamie Southgate, Director of Cricket at EMCC, has played a crucial role in this evolution. “We have over 600 kids at our club, 170 of them are girls, and we’ve built 22 girls’ teams. We’ve also recently launched a women’s team, providing a clear pathway from junior to senior cricket,” Jamie explains.

When he took over in 2020, the club had a thriving girls’ section but no women’s team, meaning older girls had to play in men’s teams. “Now, we have dedicated women’s and girls’ training nights and a clear progression pathway. Our next goal is to keep growing—reaching 250 girls in the next five years and establishing a competitive women’s team in the Surrey Women’s Cricket League.”

Building a Sustainable Future for Women’s Cricket

Sarah Lynch, Head of Programmes and Marketing at the Surrey Cricket Foundation, is passionate about getting more women and girls into cricket, “women’s and girls’ cricket is now a core part of everything we do, it’s baked into everything.”

While participation is growing, Sarah highlights the challenge of transitioning girls from school programmes into club cricket. “We run successful initiatives like Chance to Shine in state schools, but we need to ensure there’s a clear next step for these girls. That means training coaches, upskilling volunteers and making clubs more accessible.”

Sarah believes that every club with a junior section should also have a girls’ section. “Cricket should be seen as much a sport for girls as it is for boys. To do that, we need strong club structures, coaching pathways and role models.”

The Power of Volunteers

Grassroots cricket thrives because of dedicated volunteers. Tom Pocock and Andrew Ingles, both parents and volunteers at EMCC, are helping drive the growth of the club’s girls’ section.

Tom, whose daughters play at the club, got involved when his eldest was six. “There were about 10 girls back then in that year group, but I saw an opportunity to help grow the sport, and that same cohort of girls had grown to 40 girls last year in the U10s. The club supported me in becoming a Level 2 coach, and now we’re seeing the impact with more girls joining every year.”

Andrew, who manages the U15 girls and coaches younger teams, echoes the importance of volunteering: “My daughters love cricket, and I wanted to give them the same opportunities I had growing up. You don’t need a cricket background—just a willingness to support and encourage.”

Both agree that visibility is key: “Seeing England Women play, watching The Hundred, and knowing there’s a professional pathway is a gamechanger,” says Tom. “Cricket is becoming a ‘cool’ sport for girls, but we must keep building from the grassroots up.”

The Role of Corporate Partners

Events like EMCC’s Women’s Ashes watchalong are also made possible by corporate support. Fi Watherston, Head of Partnerships at Metro Bank, highlights their commitment as the official Champion of Women’s and Girls’ Cricket.

“Using flagship sporting moments like the Women’s Ashes to inspire young players is vital. It’s been fantastic to see the girls’ section at EMCC engaged with the event, learning from legends like Charlotte Edwards, and feeling part of the wider cricket community.”

With major events like the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup on the horizon, Fi is excited about the future: “At Metro Bank, we’re committed to bridging the gap between professional and grassroots cricket, ensuring the momentum behind women’s sport continues to grow.”

A Bright Future for Women’s Cricket

Former England captain Charlotte Edwards, who joined the watchalong, summed up the importance of events like these: “It’s been amazing to see so many young girls and their families coming together for the Women’s Ashes. It shows how much work is being done at the grassroots level to promote the game—and just how much potential there is for women’s cricket to thrive.”

Clubs like East Molesey are testimony to the continuing growth of women’s and girls’ cricket. Last year saw more than 1,000 more women’s and girls’ teams in England and Wales, and with continued investment this growth is set to continue.