Female Cricketers Share Their Stories On Pregnancy During Cricket Career

For almost six hours in August 2013, Sarah Elliott's attention was entirely focused on cricket – the bat in her hand and the ball coming toward her. Representing Australia against England in the Women’s Ashes, Elliott’s life revolved around the sport, but her priorities had shifted. Now, she was not just a cricketer; she was also a mother with a nine-month-old son, Sam, to care for.

During breaks in the game, Elliott would retreat to a quiet spot in the dressing room to breastfeed or express milk for her son. At 31, she was the only mother in the squad and the first to tour with the Australian team while balancing motherhood.

Reflecting on that time, Elliott joked about how the younger players on the team were unfamiliar with her routine. She mentioned that many of them had no idea what expressing milk was or anything related to caring for a baby. The sound of the breast pump was loud, she recalled, so she would try to muffle it under a towel, though the noise was still unmistakable. With only 20 minutes for tea breaks, it wasn’t always easy to find privacy.

Maternity Policies Revolutionising Women's Cricket

Pregnancy no longer signals the end of an athlete's career, although it once did. With the growing push for professionalising women’s sports, many players now don’t have to choose between raising a family and pursuing their athletic careers. Cricket, a sport that was once described as "absurd" for women to play, has made significant strides in providing maternity support. Several national boards have implemented pregnancy policies that encourage players to return to the sport, allowing them to view motherhood differently.

Megan Schutt, one of the world’s top fast bowlers, was only 20 when she witnessed Elliott balancing cricket with motherhood. Schutt recalled being stunned when Elliott, fresh off a century, turned around to express milk. Though young and caught off-guard, Schutt admired Elliott’s ability to manage both cricket and her responsibilities as a mother. She respected her even more, knowing that Elliott was often sleep-deprived due to long nights with her son.

Schutt and her wife, Jess, began discussing starting a family shortly after getting married. As a same-sex couple, their options were more limited, and Schutt admitted to having concerns about not connecting with a child as much as the biological mother might. They eventually decided on reciprocal IVF, where one partner donates the eggs and the other carries the baby. For them, it seemed the ideal solution, but the process was far from easy.

The Challenges of IVF for a Professional Athlete

As an international cricketer, Schutt's life revolves around training schedules and tours, making timing crucial. After selecting the sperm, which was shipped from the United States, Schutt made the spontaneous decision to start the IVF process in January. She began by injecting a hormone to stimulate egg production, initially once a night and later twice daily to prevent spontaneous ovulation.

Schutt candidly admitted that while one of the injections was manageable, the second one was far from pleasant. The needle was thicker, and the liquid inside more viscous, making it uncomfortable. The process also involved daily blood tests to monitor egg development and a final injection before the egg retrieval procedure. Although she had researched the procedure and knew what to expect, it was still a mental hurdle to know that she would be "stabbed" multiple times to extract each egg.

In total, 28 eggs were retrieved, and of those, 27 were deemed viable. After five days, the doctors informed Schutt that nine embryos had been successfully created and frozen for future implantation into Jess.

Schutt admitted that recovering from the egg retrieval surgery was tougher than she had anticipated. While she expected some discomfort, the persistent ache she felt, akin to intense period cramps, surprised her. The pain made even simple tasks, like moving boxes in her new house, seem impossible. Her return to training was also challenging, with her first high-speed session leaving her feeling nauseous. Although bowling was easier to manage, she didn’t feel fully recovered until three weeks after the procedure.

In late May, Schutt and Jess shared the news that they were expecting a baby girl in November. Looking ahead, Schutt plans to carry their next child if they decide to expand their family, though she joked that watching Jess go through pregnancy might change her mind.

Support for Mothers in Cricket

Schutt expressed gratitude for Cricket Australia’s pregnancy policy, which offers up to 12 months of paid leave and guarantees contract extensions. This support has given her the confidence to consider balancing motherhood with her state-level cricket career.

Other countries have also introduced similar policies. New Zealand Cricket’s guidelines ensured that Amy Satterthwaite retained her central contract while pregnant and received her full annual retainer. Pakistan has also implemented maternity policies, offering 12 months of paid leave and the option to switch to a non-playing role during pregnancy. The England and Wales Cricket Board provides female players with full pay for 13 weeks post-childbirth and 90% of their salary for 20 additional weeks.

Dr Kirsty Elliott-Sale, an associate professor at Nottingham Trent University, highlighted the challenges mothers face in returning to sport. Athletes often have to adjust to significant changes in their bodies, including weight retention and pelvic floor issues that can persist long after childbirth.

Elliott herself was back in the gym just two weeks after giving birth to Sam and played her first match when he was six weeks old. She acknowledged that, like any parent, juggling work and childcare can be difficult, especially when you’re the primary caregiver. Physical fatigue adds to the challenge, as your body is still recovering from childbirth.

After the birth of her second son, Jake, in 2014, Elliott considered retiring. However, with the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) on the horizon, she was offered the role of captain for the Melbourne Renegades. Although the first few training sessions were tough, she eventually found her rhythm, crediting the support from her teammates, coaches, and family.

Claire Nicholas, a full-time teacher and cricketer, is currently pregnant with her second child. She emphasised the importance of listening to her body, acknowledging that pregnancy requires a different approach to physical exertion. While she had to forgo her contract with Welsh Fire in The Hundred’s inaugural season, her team reassured her that she would remain part of their future plans.

All three women—Elliott, Schutt, and Nicholas—have had unique experiences, but they agree that mothers returning to cricket are receiving more support than ever before. Nicholas pointed out that as the game grows, particularly in England and Wales, more contracts bring more financial backing for players. Schutt’s openness about her IVF journey also aims to show younger players that it is possible to be both a parent and a professional cricketer.

In the bio-secure bubble of the 2020 Big Bash, Amy Satterthwaite and Lea Tahuhu brought their daughter, Grace, along. Schutt smiled as she recalled how the little girl lifted the spirits of the team during a tough season. Elliott also reflected on how having Sam with her during the Ashes tour provided a refreshing perspective, reminding her that there is more to life than cricket.

Though Sam doesn’t remember much of his time as a baby on tour, Elliott treasures those memories, and Sam gets a thrill whenever he hears stories about his early days with his mum, the cricketer.