Bigger boundaries, shorter pitches: Is women's cricket ready for technological advancements?

Women's cricket, in the recent past, has gathered substantial attention. We are there but not quite enough. The sport still needs a vigorous push to at least reach the threshold set by men's cricket. 

Increased fixtures and expanded broadcasting are the talks of the town, and though it is fair, I think we need to introspect into the technical aspects of Women's cricket. 

ICC Chairman Greg Barclay, in a recent statement, openly talked about the need for women's cricket to be "interesting" to garner viewers. And though the message was blunt and received a lot of backlash and disappointment, deep down, we all know that is the cold reality. 

For way too long, women cricketers have had to prove themselves to fans and to peers. They have had to prove their worth and that they belong to the same field as the glorious men's cricket. 

Time and again, they have been pitted against and compared to men's cricket, a sphere that is already well established. Having to wait months to play a few matches because they aren't 'financially' or 'commercially' viable. 

But how do we make the game interesting?

Innovations? Short-format leagues? Bigger boundaries? Shorter Pitches?

In an attempt to make advancements, players and pundits have laid their well-thought opinions out in the open. For example, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine and Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues went as far as to say that women's cricket should be played with a smaller ball and a shorter pitch. 

Although that may make the sport interesting from the viewer's perspective, is increasing the technical differences between men's and women's cricket the right thing to do?  

All these years, women's cricket has strived to establish itself in the same light as men's cricket and widening the technical gaps between the two might pull us back from ever receiving the same amount of appreciation. 

The pros to a shortened pitch may look enticing; there could very well be an increase in the speed range; genuine fast bowling is always something cricket fanatics want to look at but are we losing out on more than we might gain? 

First of all, having to create two different pitches will make us lose out on an enormous opportunity, i.e. men's and women's double header matches. It throws women's inclusivity in cricket right out the window.

When and if you shorten a pitch, you give batters an upper hand in the game. With women's cricket boundaries already being considerably shorter than in men's, you'd be handing the whole sport to the batters, and we do not want to do that. 

Another vital aspect of women's cricket is the boundary size. But as much as we appreciate good bowling, cricket, in some way or the other, is the batter's game. Nothing hypes people up as much as big sixes and expeditious run scoring. 

If there's a misconception that increased digital broadcasting has cleared, it's that women cricketers are more than capable of hitting shots into the stands. 

Now, if there's something that really gets me in the mood it is bigger boundaries for women's cricket.  

The biggest con of the current shorter boundaries is that it takes away the chances of doubles from the game, which is essential, to say the least. Mistimed shots land as sixes and spinners are discouraged from flighting the ball, something that women's cricket is known for. 

Bigger boundaries (anything more than 60 meters) will make the game fairer and closer to the benchmark set by men's cricket. So now, if there's something that may bring in viewers, it's women clearing bigger boundaries. 

Besides this fact, it will result in an elevation in the standards of women's cricket. Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma, Deandra Dottin, Ashleigh Gardner and Sophie Devine have already been hitting long sixes anyway.

This is the evolution that is needed; it will take time, and there will be backlash, but women's cricket needs a good shove to accelerate. The wave of 'aggressive batting' in men's cricket is also something that came in slowly. 

Prolonged denial of equal opportunities and resources, all while being expected to make a miraculous performance. Women are not only playing for themselves but also for the future of the sport while simultaneously trying to prove that women's cricket is entertaining as well as capable. This is an inequitable burden that women's cricket has to carry.