England's Georgia Elwiss bats for separate clothing in Women's Cricket

Georgia Elwiss played with women-sized outfit for Southern Vipers Women in The Hundred 2022 [PC: Twitter]

The disparity in men's and women's cricket is not only limited to the pay scale but also their clothing, sponsors, and equipment. Over the years, several female cricketers have come out and revealed about being given menswear during matches and tours.

Speaking to the BBC, England's Georgia Elwiss recalled the first time she wore an international jersey, which ended up being a men's t-shirt. The 31-year-old has played 4 Tests, 36 ODIs, and 14 T20Is for England Women between 2011-2021.

"I could put my first playing shirt on, and it would legitimately be a dress. That was a small men's, and it was huge. Think about women with bigger hips. You'd have to go into a medium or large men's and then they just fall off you in other areas.

"The girls are having to shrink them in the washing machine so they fit their heads. They've obviously not thought that we've got ponytails and smaller heads. How are we still doing that in 2022?"

In a revolutionary change, in the recently concluded The Hundred Women's League, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) provided women cricketers with female-sized kits, something the national side still does not adopt. 

Elwiss, who won a World Cup with England in 2017, also spoke about the impact of proper kit and equipment on a player. ​

"By offering women's specific clothing or equipment suddenly the game is saying, this is for you. As a woman we do cater for you. It shows that we are valued as much as the male team by the organisation and the kit manufacturer. They are thinking about our needs as well and how it feels to play,"

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