England's sweeping victory over New Zealand, winning all eight matches in both white-ball formats, underscores a significant issue in women's international cricket.
The White Ferns' bronze medal victory at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where they triumphed over England, now seems a distant memory compared to their lacklustre performances this summer. England, led by Heather Knight, barely needed to exert themselves to secure their wins.
The series concluded at Lord's with a respectable effort from New Zealand, yet they still fell short by 20 runs. Former New Zealand all-rounder Frankie Mackay has expressed concern, noting that New Zealand is still "at least a decade away" from matching the prowess of England and Australia.
Mackay highlighted that while the squad selection was not flawed, the main issue lies in the limited pool of players available for selection. This contrasts sharply with England, where increased investment in the women's domestic cricket structure has resulted in over 100 professional cricketers across eight regions, with further restructuring planned.
Heather Knight's team benefits from this investment, with young players like Charlie Dean, Freya Kemp, and Alice Capsey playing with confidence that comes from a secure and supportive environment. Conversely, New Zealand's top players, including Captain Sophie Devine, batter Suzie Bates, and all-rounder Amelia Kerr, face immense pressure, knowing that much of the team's success hinges on their performances.
New Zealand's highest score in the T20 series was 141, which England surpassed with four wickets to spare. Similarly, in the ODIs, England comfortably chased down New Zealand's highest score of 211, winning by five wickets.
Mackay pointed out that New Zealand has produced some of the best players in Bates, Devine, Kerr, and the recently retired Amy Satterthwaite. However, with three of these players nearing the end of their careers and no significant achievements to show, New Zealand has lagged behind in terms of professionalism and investment, allowing England and Australia to pull ahead.
Mackay also mentioned that while there are many questions about how to improve New Zealand's prospects, there are few answers. Nevertheless, steps such as equal match fees for women and men and televising the domestic Super Smash competition indicate a willingness to invest in the future.
As England looks ahead to the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh with high confidence and a strong chance of dethroning Australia, their unbeaten home summer serves as a cautionary tale for the broader women's cricket community.