It has been 53 years since England hosted and won the inaugural Women’s World Cup, defeating Australia in the final match of the tournament at Edgbaston.

Since then, the women’s game has grown and flourished exponentially, with the England team lifting many more trophies and women’s cricket in England and Wales becoming a professional sport.

In honour of the work and passion put in across the women’s game, the ECB unveiled 53 purple seats at Edgbaston ahead of England’s opening T20 World Cup match against Sri Lanka – each seat recognising one of 53 women shaping the future of cricket across the country.

The 53 women selected highlight the breadth, diversity and richness of today’s cricket community, ranging from those who played a starring role in England’s 1973 World Cup winning team, to current and future voices of the game, including broadcaster Nikki Kapoor-Chaudhuri and former England star turned commentator Isa Guha. Others recognised include those creating opportunities for women and girls to find their place in cricket, such as Dr Carol Brown-Leonardi and Mehwish Babar, as well as trailblazers like Clare Connor and the first female groundskeeper at Lord’s, Meg Lay.

Also being honoured is ex-England international Ebony Rainford-Brent. Growing up as the only girl playing cricket at her school, she went on to lift the World Cup trophy in 2009 and has become one of the most influential figures in the English game. She said: “Cricket has opened up so many opportunities for me through my career and my message to women and girls considering getting involved in the game is that cricket needs you. Whatever your route in – playing, coaching, working, volunteering or following the sport – cricket has a space for you.”

One of the seats at Edgbaston tells the story of Cardiff-based coach Ayesha Rauf, who has made it her mission to boost South Asian representation in cricket across Wales, building the women’s and girls’ pathway at Llandaff Cricket Club from scratch.

Rauf said: “Growing up in London then moving to Wales, I rarely saw women who looked like me involved in the game. The absence made me reflect on where I fit in the sport and, more importantly, how I could help change that for others coming through. Being visible in this role matters and I take pride in contributing to a more diverse and welcoming game.”

The seats have been installed in the stands for the duration of the World Cup. Purple has been chosen as a nod to the Suffragette movement (representing dignity, loyalty, and justice) with the seats acting as visual markers of recognition – celebrating not just elite athletes, but coaches, community leaders, broadcasters, officials, organisers, grassroots volunteers and changemakers. Each seat has a QR code on it that fans can scan to read the individual stories.

Unveiling the campaign, Kate Aldridge, director of business operations and equity, diversity and inclusion at ECB, said: “The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is set to be a brilliant celebration of our sport but it also provides an important platform to change perceptions and shift visibility. Through the 53 we are placing women’s stories, contributions and impact directly at the heart of one of the great stadiums of our sport.

“We want to spotlight a few of the incredible women across England and Wales who are thriving in the game, opening up access and being role models for the next generation. By giving these stories a platform, we hope people are inspired to get involved in the game across all roles and at every level.

“As we welcome the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup back to England and Wales, we’re proud to celebrate not just elite performance, but the dedication, passion and contributions of women who make up our game.”

Stories to tell

Snippets of three inspiring stories from the 53

Glynis Culley
Coach and volunteer at Winchmore Hill CC; former England player

I started playing cricket when I studied at Bedford College of Physical Education. There had been no opportunity, as a girl, to play cricket when I was younger. I was a tennis player so had good hand-eye coordination and instantly took to the game. In a short time I was playing for Gunnersbury CC and had advanced to playing for Middlesex. This was alongside my day job as a teacher. Success at Middlesex led to my selection for Young England at the inaugural World Cup in 1973. I then progressed to playing for England. Matches took me the length and breadth of the country as well as appearing in World Cups in India and New Zealand.

Liara Hampton
Lord’s Taverners youth ambassador

From a young age, cricket has played a huge part in my life. I first got into the sport in primary school when one of my teachers started a cricket club. I immediately loved the game and soon joined a local club, where my passion for cricket continued to grow. Now I proudly play for the Gloucestershire D40 team as well as Hatherley and Reddings Cricket Club, and I enjoy every aspect of the sport. I am also a youth ambassador for Lord’s Taverners, helping at various Super 1s events and supporting the mission of making cricket inclusive for everyone and breaking down barriers. Some of my proudest moments include speaking at Lord’s and having my story published in the book What Cricket Means to Me.

Emily Marshall
Digital content producer for England Women

I’ve been part of the England Women management team for over three years, and it’s been a privilege to work in this amazingly supportive environment while showcasing our athletes to audiences around the world. My role spans content strategy, filming, editing and publishing, with a focus on highlighting both the hard yards our players put in and their shining personalities that make them so relatable. A key part of my work is helping shape how we present the team to our audiences, creating content that raises player profiles, strengthens fan connection, and brings more people into the sport, all of which is a true honour.

Visit ECB.co.uk/the53 for more information