da bet sport： Despite the merger with the men’s tournament, support for the women’s game has been far from forthcoming

da esport bet： Alice Dean18-Jun-2009The moment that women’s cricket had been waiting for – sharing thestage with the men in the first semi-final at Trent Bridge – wassomething of a predictable anti-climax.Yes, Aimee Watkins stroked the highest score of this World Twenty20,for men or women, with her 89 not out but most people missed it andthose who didn’t soon forgot about it as attentions turned to Pakistanand South Africa men. Still, these are early days in what is a braveexperiment by the ICC and the interest could yet turn around.Keen to attract as many women as possible into the game, thedouble-header in a world tournament was a watershed moment.The significance of the day, however, seemed to pass most people byand it was a shame that the crowd swell towards the end of the matchcoincided with India having to hit out, and so getting out. India’sdelicate batting is not of the boom-boom variety, either, whichTwenty20 – and spectators – favour.But perhaps we few women’s cricket fans were expecting too much.Perhaps, when the announcement came last year that the women wouldjoin the men, we built up our hopes too strongly that overnight theworld would wake up to the enjoyment of the women’s game.That they wouldn’t mind that some female batsmen substitute power fortechnique, that the bowlers are not powerhouses, that they wouldappreciate the fielding skills. That we wouldn’t overhear respectedmale figures in the game still talking disparagingly about a game atwhich they have barely glanced. Yes, it was naivete on our part.Still, we remain (foolishly?) optimistic. Success will be judged oncolumn inches and there were plenty of India media – booked in toTrent Bridge having originally expected to see their men – who watchedand attended the press conference of a disconsolate Jhulan Goswami.And there were those who had never seen women’s cricket, who are newconverts to the game. Slowly, slowly, catch a monkey.And if today was a timid bite at the cherry, Friday and Sundayrepresent bigger and better ones yet. World Cup holders England playat The Oval and will hope to rely on home fans to turn up for theirmatch and provide bigger support than for the first women’s semi-finalwhen they take on traditional rivals Australia.England’s players have a bigger profile than ever before, boosted bythe World Cup win and then by the announcement of Claire Taylor’sWisden Cricketer of the Year accolade which was widely acclaimed byall. It is still to be hoped that there will be a deluge of mediainterest, particularly now the men are out. Or is it wishful thinking?Until now the women’s tournament, crouching away in Taunton, has hadlittle attention, sinking almost without trace under the weight ofmedia attention for the men. The Oval semi-final – and then the finalat Lord’s – could yet provoke more interest. Stay tuned…if you care.