During the 2022 Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes Series, CommBank encouraged all states and territories to nominate a local community cricket club for a $5,000 contribution through the Growing Cricket for Girls Fund. This grant recognises the work and dedication of a club in growing the game for girls.
The Growing Cricket for Girls Fund helps create opportunities for girls of all ages to play, compete and learn. CommBank and Cricket Australia have helped transform the options available for girls who want to play cricket, with more than 1,500 girls only junior club teams created since 2016-17.
One of the grant recipients was West Australia-based cricket club, Swan View. The club was recognised for their growing girls’ cricket program and the ongoing support provided to coaches and volunteers.
Upon receiving the grant, Swan View’s junior vice president and women’s coordinator, Leon Ottobrino said: “We’ve only had a women’s team for the last few years but it keeps getting bigger and bigger. Now the women have their own sides and coaches and there are girls playing here as young as five years old.”
“The local club’s popularity among women can be put down to carefully selected coaches, a great social element off pitch, and an inclusive attitude,” he said.
Swan View has two teams in the local senior female competition, as well as teams in both the junior under 11’s and under 13’s girls competitions. The club welcomed the grant and said they money would be put towards new women’s uniforms, equipment and private coaching for the girls participating in the 2022 season.
In addition to the community club grants and in line with its commitment to growing the game, CommBank has also launched a new strategy - The Next Innings: Accelerating Female Participation Strategy’ – which is designed to support women’s cricket and get more females involved in the game.
As part of the strategy, CommBank will leverage the Growing Cricket for Girls Fund to support leading clubs across the country. The clubs will be given funding to help support inclusivity and drive accessibility of the game to girls and young women.
Growing Cricket for Girls Fund
We recognise the importance of creating more opportunities for girls of all ages to play, compete and learn and are very proud to be the principal partner of Cricket Australia’s 'Growing Cricket for Girls Fund: The Next Innings’.
Our support can help make a positive difference and give girls from all cultures and of all abilities the chance to step up to the crease and get involved in one of Australia’s favourite sports.
