The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has unveiled 53 purple seats at Edgbaston ahead of the first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match on Friday.
The seats recognise 53 women shaping the future of cricket, in a nod to the number of years since the inaugural Women’s Cricket World Cup was held in England in 1973.
The 53 illustrate the breadth, diversity and richness of the cricket community today, from those who played a starring role in England’s 1973 World Cup winning team, to current and future voices of the game in broadcaster Nikki Kapoor-Chaudhuri and former England star turned commentator Isa Guha MBE. Also recognised are those creating opportunities for girls to find their place in cricket, like Dr Carol Brown-Leonardi and Mehwish Babar, plus true trailblazers such as Clare Connor CBE and the first female groundskeeper at Lord’s Cricket Ground, Meg Lay.
>>> See the 53 women recognised
The number has been selected given its symbolism, but the campaign exists to celebrate and inspire women of all backgrounds to play a role in the future of the game, to feel inspired by the stories, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and want to get involved - whether that's working, volunteering or playing, because they can see a place for themselves in cricket.
The purple seats have been installed into the stands for the duration of the tournament as a highly visible recognition of women who are shaping the future of the game for generations to come and whose everyday contributions keep the sport thriving - often behind the scenes. In a nod to the colour associated with the Suffragette movement, the seats act as visual markers of recognition - celebrating women who are not just elite athletes, but coaches, grassroots volunteers, community leaders, broadcasters, officials, organisers and changemakers who are changing the game at every level, showing that there is a place for everybody in cricket and inspiring other women and girls to want to get involved themselves.
Each seat represents a different name, with a QR code directing fans to read their individual stories. This transforms the iconic stadium into a living story space, where storytelling becomes part of the matchday experience.
One of the seats unveiled tells the story of Ayesha Rauf, who has made it her mission to ensure South Asian representation in cricket across Wales. The Cardiff-based coach has built the women and girls pathway at Llandaff Cricket Club from scratch and is determined to show that cricket is a space for them.
On seeing her very own purple seat at Edgbaston, she said: “It feels a bit emotional actually. It makes me feel like everything I do is making a difference, because I can see my name on the purple seat and it reminds me that I have and I am making a difference, and I’m being recognised for that as well.”
She added: “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.”
Also being celebrated is World Cup winner Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE who grew up as the only girl playing at school, before being talent spotted and going on to lift the World Cup trophy in 2009. She later founded the ACE (African Caribbean Engagement) Programme to address the lack of access - an initiative which has since engaged more than 40,000 young people, operating hubs and academies in six cities. In 2023 Ebony was also appointed a Non-Executive Director on the ECB Board.
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.”
On unveiling the campaign, Kate Aldridge, Director of Business Operations and Equity, Diversity & 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.”
To read the stories of the 53 and find out more about getting involved in cricket, visit www.ecb.co.uk/the53.