March 10, 2026

The Future of Women’s Cricket

Laura MacLeod on Growth, Coaching and Keeping Girls in the Game

When Laura MacLeod made her England debut in 1997, the women’s game looked very different.

There were no professional contracts, matches were rarely televised, and international games were often played in front of little more than family and friends.

Fast forward nearly three decades and women’s cricket is experiencing extraordinary growth across the world. Professional contracts, global tournaments and packed stadiums are now part of the landscape.

In Episode 7 of the Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood and Briony Brock sit down with former England international and high-performance coach Laura MacLeod to explore that journey.

The conversation moves from Laura’s playing career and coaching work to the deeper questions shaping the women’s game today: how girls stay in sport, how coaching pathways evolve, and what the next decade of women’s cricket might look like.

What emerges is a thoughtful reflection on progress, pressure, identity and opportunity.

From Amateur Beginnings to a Professional Game

Laura made her international debut at a time when women’s cricket was still run by the Women’s Cricket Association, before the ECB took responsibility for the game.

Players contributed to their kit, games were played at club grounds, and professionalism was still some distance away.

Yet for the players involved, the experience still carried enormous pride.

As Laura reflects, the team never viewed those conditions as inferior — they simply appreciated the opportunity to represent England.

Over the years that followed, the transformation of the game has been remarkable.

Today’s players benefit from:

Professional contracts
Advanced coaching support
Strength and conditioning programmes
Global competitions and media coverage

The biggest driver behind this transformation, Laura believes, is investment.

When sport receives sustained investment — in people, infrastructure and visibility — opportunities follow.

That investment has helped create an environment where young girls can now realistically aspire to play cricket professionally.

Reinventing a Career: From Seam Bowler to Opening Batter

Laura’s playing journey itself reflects how the game evolves.

She began her career as a seam bowler but later reinvented herself as a top-order batter who could bowl spin.

That transition came partly through necessity. A back injury forced her to stop bowling pace, and the lack of sports science support at the time meant there was little structured rehabilitation.

Instead, she adapted.

Over time she worked her way up the batting order, eventually opening the innings for England alongside Charlotte Edwards.

In one memorable moment, England coach Richard Bates challenged the pair with a radical instruction: score 75 runs in the first 15 overs — an aggressive approach at a time when 180 was considered a competitive total in a 50-over game.

The experiment worked.

Looking back now, Laura sees moments like that as early steps towards the fearless style of cricket that dominates today’s game.

Why So Many Girls Leave Cricket — And What Can Change That

One of the central themes of the podcast is a question that concerns many coaches and parents:

Why do so many girls stop playing cricket during their teenage years?

Laura believes several factors combine at this stage of development.

One major transition is the move from softball to hardball cricket.

For some players this moment introduces new challenges:

The physical fear of being hit by a hard ball
Increased performance pressure
A shift away from the social environment that first attracted them to the game

The key, Laura suggests, is how success is defined.

If young players are judged only by runs and wickets, many will struggle.

Instead, coaches and parents should help players focus on progress and process:

Learning new skills
Building confidence with equipment
Developing problem-solving skills within the game

Cricket, she argues, is one of the best sports for teaching life skills — but those lessons often need guidance and context.

When Cricket Becomes Your Whole Identity

Professional contracts have created incredible opportunities for women’s cricketers.

But they have also introduced new pressures.

When cricket becomes a player’s full-time occupation, it can also become their entire identity.

Laura believes having something outside the game is essential.

For some players that might be education. For others it may be coaching or work experience.

During her own career, Laura balanced cricket with coaching and education — developing a “Plan B” alongside her playing career.

She now sees that balance as vital.

Professional sport can be unpredictable, and players who build perspective beyond cricket often handle the inevitable ups and downs more effectively.

Coaching the Women’s Game: Skill, Credibility and Opportunity

Alongside her playing career, Laura has also built an impressive coaching and leadership journey.

Her academic research focused on the experiences of female coaches working in professional cricket.

One of the key insights from her study was the importance of delivery skills.

Modern coaches are expected to contribute physically to training sessions — delivering balls with a sidearm, hitting catches, and actively shaping practice environments.

For female coaches entering the game, Laura’s advice is simple:

Start developing these skills early.

The more coaches practice delivering sessions, the more confident and credible they become in elite environments.

Just as importantly, Laura highlights the role of networks and mentorship.

Successful coaches rarely progress alone. Sponsors, mentors and supportive colleagues often play a critical role in opening opportunities.

What the Next Decade of Women’s Cricket Might Look Like

So what might the next decade look like for the women’s game?

Laura believes the key will be innovation rather than imitation.

Rather than simply replicating the men’s game, women’s cricket has an opportunity to develop its own identity.

That might include:

Different matchday experiences for fans
New commercial partnerships with female-focused brands
Creative approaches to presentation and entertainment

Events like the Women’s T20 World Cup Final at the MCG, watched by over 86,000 spectators, demonstrate the enormous potential of the women’s game.

But growth will require patience.

Progress takes time, investment and thoughtful leadership.

If those elements align, Laura believes the future of women’s cricket is incredibly bright.

Where the Game Goes Next

Laura MacLeod’s story reflects the journey of women’s cricket itself.

From amateur beginnings to a rapidly professionalising sport, her career spans one of the most significant periods of change in cricket history.

Yet her message is not simply about progress.

It is about creating environments where players can thrive — where girls enjoy the game, coaches feel supported, and the next generation can dream even bigger than the last.

That journey is still unfolding.

And if the past three decades are any guide, the next ten years could reshape the game once again.