THE NEW head of Bears Women, Laura MacLeod, has spoken about the progress of the women’s game ahead of her team’s debut season.
The England international made 89 appearances for her country, is a former opener, scored more than 1,800 runs in 89 England appearances between 1997 and 2007 and was part of the Ashes-winning 2005 squad.
But she said she ‘cringed’ when she looked back at her highlights and compared them to today’s free-flowing, power-hitting women’s game.
Her words come as Bears Women announce their full 15-player squad ahead of the 2025 season.
She said: “We were more risk averse. The style of play was more cautious, especially at the start of an innings.
“Even if there was a looser ball early on not many players were brave enough to put their bat through it as they didn’t want to risk being out.
“We would often tick along at around three runs an over.
“But in women’s cricket today, if the first ball is there to be hit, it gets hit. There’s no settling in for the first few overs.
“The power and creativity of shot making is a world away from my playing days.”
MacLeod said there was more of a fear of failure ‘in her day’ but she wanted the Bears women to be brave and always look to play positively.
“That’s why it’s so exciting to see where the women’s game will go over the next few years,” added the 46-year-old.
“If I was given this opportunity, if I were starting my career in my late teens now, I’d have grasped it with everything I had. It’s the most amazing time ever to play cricket as a female, both in this country and globally.”
Picture courtesy of Warwickshire County Cricket Club. sBears Women will be a Tier 1 side in a new-look, full-professional national women’s structure.
Visit edgbaston.com/bears/bears-women-2025/ for more on the Bears Women.
