A lot of women's cricket teams are preparing for big tournaments these days by playing against men.
England's dashing batsperson Claire Taylor - the first woman to be named among the Wisden Cricketers of the Year - was saying just the other day that playing against men has two benefits. I wondered what they could be because this kind of activity can surely only teach bad habits.
But, no, Claire said that playing against chaps helped provide a tougher standard of competition and also increased the pressure that inevitably arises from inter-gender sporting contests.
It's not often that men's and women's cricket teams play one another but this seems to be gaining in popularity and value. There is even talk in England of top women players being drafted into traditional all-male sides to play on the regular first-class circuit. It is being said that those best likely to qualify would be wicketkeepers or spin bowlers.
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Mignon du Preez hit 38 runs off 28 balls They would also have to be pretty thick skinned and resilient to the attention that will come their way.
Somehow, you get the feeling that this day may be drawing ever closer, what with the women playing alongside the gentlemen at the World Twenty20 that is now occupying the interest of the cricketing world.
On Thursday the South African team lost an exciting game against the West Indies with Mignon du Preez hitting 38 runs in 28 balls at the impressive strike rate of over 135 runs per 100 balls, and Taylor would later bat against India.
What do women cricketers earn? They are clearly not full-time professionals but, in this age of professionalism, they must surely be paid well if they're playing in such things as a T20 World Cup.
The England men, of course, are not shy in making advances on those who hold the purse strings. Just a day after their shock loss to the Netherlands they were asking for better remuneration which, on the face of it, seemed like quite a cheek.
The players are becoming aware of their pulling power
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