Fourteen different clubs from around the city and the wider county took part in a series of games, which was organised and managed by Warwickshire Cricket Foundation (WCF), less than 48 hours after the Birmingham Phoenix had taken to the same surface to kick off their Hundred campaign.
The number of clubs in attendance rose from eight the year before, with almost double the number of participants in 2026.
Girls aged between seven and 12 played short games across five different pitches. All who were involved were sure to have a bat and a bowl, with no overall winner and mass participation being the primary aim.
Clubs including Harborne, Moseley Ashfield, Attock, Kineton and Oakfield & Rowland were represented on the Edgbaston outfield, and parents and volunteers were able to enjoy the occasion with the event being handled by the WCF coaches.
“We have worked hard in the winter to get connected to more clubs, getting in front of them and speaking to them about the offer,” Gabby Basketter, WCF’s Women and Girls Development Officer, said.
“It’s a combination of lots of hard winter work, going out and seeing people. There has been lots of extra promotion around the Women's World Cup and exposure of women's cricket and, also, there are just more girls wanting to play.”
The day itself went down a storm with attendees. One coach said: "It was such a treat for my girls to have the pleasure of playing at Edgbaston. Thank you for also making it possible for us to play an extra game allowing all my 15 players to play.”
Another added: “It was a fantastic day and a brilliant opportunity for the girls. Everyone at Castle Bromwich had an amazing time, and I’m sure all the girls from the other clubs enjoyed it just as much. Thanks again for all your hard work."
Women and girls cricket has seen huge growth in Warwickshire and Birmingham in recent years, thanks in no small part to the hard work being carried out by WCF in communities, clubs and schools across the region.
“We'll be at 43 clubs by the end of this year that have girls’ cricket, so it's just actually having more places offering it which has been the real difference I think,” Gabby explained.
“Post Commonwealth Games we probably only had 20 clubs that had girls’ cricket, so we've doubled that number in three or four years.
“Having the opportunity to have somewhere to play, but then also being able to play games, is huge.”
The Women and Girls Cricket Festival at Edgbaston this past weekend is by no means a one-off event - there will be more opportunities to play and participate in various forms of cricket right throughout the summer, no matter where you are based in the region.
Gabby added: “There is a festival from now every week until the middle of September. There are also casual festivals in the week, dotted around the county.
“There are three joint community and club festivals running in Birmingham - one at Sheldon Marlborough, one at Waverley Studio Academy, where they have just opened a new facility, and one at Bournville.”
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