The Women in Whites (Hardcover)

The Women in Whites is the first-ever history of women’s cricket in England, from its origins in the 18th century through to the present day. The book shows that women have been part of cricket’s story from the very beginning – and have often led the way in innovations: from the invention of roundarm bowling in the 1800s, to contesting the first World Cup (1973), the first Twenty20 international (2004) and the first franchise cricket in England (the Kia Super League). Meet the pioneering women who founded the first Women’s Cricket Association in 1926, organised a round-the-world tour on a shoestring to play the first women’s Tests, and spent 47 years petitioning MCC before being allowed to play at Lord’s. Along the way, The Women in Whites debunks long-held assumptions, showing that cricket is not – and never was – just a ‘man’s sport’. Think you know everything there is to know about the history of cricket? Read this book and think again.

Dr Raf Nicholson is a senior lecturer in Sports Journalism at Bournemouth University. Her first book, Ladies and Lords: A History of Women’s Cricket in Britain, was shortlisted for the MCC & Cricket Society Book of the Year award. A leading writer on the women’s game, she has covered six World Cups (and counting), and her work has appeared in Wisden, The Guardian, The Telegraph and BBC Sport. She is editor of the women’s cricket website CRICKETher.com.