Sophie Ecclestone opens up on importance of tournaments like FairBreak Invitational for young women cricketers

Champion England spinner Sophie Ecclestone believes that a tournament like the FairBreak Invitational T20, recently held in the Emirates, is an excellent opportunity for women cricketers from obscure nations like Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand to rub shoulders with the best in the game and showcase their talent at the global stage.

The recently-concluded T20 event proved to be a platform for players from the countries mentioned above, giving them an equal opportunity to perform.

The multi-nation tournament had representation from more than 30 countries, and some of the most engaging cricket was on display.

Speaking to OneCricket, on the impact of such a tournament on young women cricketers beyond the elite nations, Ecclestone said:

"Yeah, I think something like that is definitely massive, for associates like countries, like David who plays for Singapore and my team who think are going back to Singapore, and being part of the leagues and playing with the international players, I think that's massive and gives them something to look up to us in their countries and say I wanna do that, and I think it's amazing we've got a player for Japan and her coming over and playing here gives Japan a major lift and reasons for Japan to invest into Women's sport and cricket as a game."

The current number-one ranked ODI and T2oI bowler in women's cricket, Ecclestone, finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker.

The left-arm orthodox revealed that she benefited from the experience of playing in Dubai and other venues in the Emirates nation during the Women's T20 Challenge a couple of years ago.

"I played here last year for the IPL invitational, so I think that was a good experience, I think I played in Dubai and then in Sharjah, we played our games there and they (pitches) were quite slow, so I think they helped me out a bit."

The tournament was eventually won by the Sarah Taylor-led Tornadoes Women, who thumped the Falcons by eight wickets in the summit clash.

Watch the entire conversation with Sophie Ecclestone here: