From 1973-2025: A historic look at the Women’s World Cup
A look at the history of ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups ahead of the 13th edition of the tournament set to be played in India and Sri Lanka from September 30.
The 52-year-old history of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is rich with groundbreaking landmarks and enthralling outcomes.
The very first tournament was the outcome of efforts of two Wolverhampton natives, Jack Hayward, a businessman, and England captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint. Their brainstorming session in 1971 saw them devise the very first World Cup in cricketing history, that took place in 1973, two years before the maiden ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup was played.
The inaugural tournament set in motion the global multi-team event, which has gone from strength to strength over the last five decades, with the latest iteration all set to be played for a record prize pool which eclipses the prize pot of even the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
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1973 (England)
Winner: England
The inaugural edition of the tournament was contested in a round-robin format by seven teams, including a Young England side and an International XI, with teams batting for 60 overs each. The winner was decided via a league table, and not a knockout competition.
However, the final round-robin match was a winners-take-all affair as Enid Bakewell hit 118 for England to beat Australia by 92 runs to seal the title by three points.
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1978 (India)
Winner: Australia
India made their debut at the event which was played in the same format as the last tournament. Australia, England, and New Zealand joined the lineup on this occasion.
The final match once again featured a contest between Australia and England, but this time the former triumphed over the title-holders as tens of thousands of Indian cricket fans flocked to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad to watch.
1982 (New Zealand)
Winner: Australia
Four teams from the 1978 tournament were joined by an International XI in this edition, which saw the introduction of a knockout stage for the first time.
A thriller played down in the final as trophy holders Australia took on England in Christchurch. The Aussies fought their way to the penultimate over of the game to chase England's target of 152 on a tricky pitch, with three wickets in hand.
1988 (Australia)
Winner: Australia
Hosting the tournament for the very first time, Australia made it a hat-trick of title wins, in what was also the tournament debut for Ireland and Netherlands.
Facing England in the final at the MCG, Australia won the contest by eight wickets.
1993 (England)
Winner: England
The World Cup returned to England for the first time in 20 years, and saw eight teams in the mix.
Denmark and West Indies made their tournament debut in this edition, which also saw Australia fail to reach the final for the very first time. Guided by Jan Brittin’s 48, England took the honours at Lord’s when they defeated New Zealand to win the final by 67 runs.
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1997 (India)
Winner: Australia
With Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa joining in for the first time, this was a record 11-team event.
The teams were split into two groups, and four from each progressed to the quarter-finals, with Australia and New Zealand marching all the way through the showpiece. It was heartbreak yet again for New Zealand, as Debbie Hockley’s 79 guided their neighbouring rivals to their fourth title.
This edition featured Belinda Clark’s historic 229* against Denmark, which was the first-ever double century in international ODIs, preceding Sachin Tendulkar’s landmark in men’s cricket by 13 years.
2000 (New Zealand)
Winner: New Zealand
Redemption arrived at home for New Zealand, who finally clinched the title after having failed in back-to-back attempts in 1993 and 1997.
The tournament was played in a round robin format followed by a knockout stage. Australia and New Zealand met yet again in the final, which the White Ferns took by a close margin of four runs, despite Belinda Clark’s brilliant 91.
2005 (South Africa)
Winner: Australia
The Women’s World Cup reached African shores for the first time, and it was also the first occasion that India made it to the final.
But Karen Rolton’s excellent 107* steered Australia to a dominant win as the side took their fifth title.
2009 (Australia)
Winner: England
As the World Cup returned Down Under after almost two decades, eight fully fledged sides were in the reckoning for the trophy.
A repeat of the 1993 final took place as England took on New Zealand, and secured a four-wicket triumph after Nicki Shaw had scalped 4/34 in the first innings.
2013 (India)
Winner: Australia
Australia were the World Cup champions for the third consecutive time in as many tournaments in India.
Their win came against another new-time final entrants, in the form of West Indies.
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2017 (England)
Winner: England
The pendulum swung in England’s favour on this occasion, as they overcame a charged-up India in the final, after having lost to them in the group stage.
India’s spirited run, highlighted by Harmanpreet Kaur’s fearless 171* in the semi-final against Australia, which knocked out the then world champions out of contention, came to a halt in the final when England’s Anya Shrubsole produced a remarkable bowling feat (6/46) to give the hosts a nine-run win in the final.
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2022 (New Zealand)
Winner: Australia
Having missed out in 2017, Australia were back in business in 2022, remaining unbeaten in the group stage and the knockout games.
Bangladesh debuted in the eight-side tournament that was thoroughly dominated by the Australian juggernaut. Alyssa Healy’s 170 versus England, the highest-ever score in a World Cup final, helped the side win their seventh title.