The Spin | ‘Plant pots in the urinals’: Lord’s pioneers reunite and reflect 50 years after first women’s game

On the eve of the first women’s Test at Lord’s, nine England players and one Australian from 1976 are gathering

On Thursday, in a room in central London about three miles from Lord’s, a group of 10 women will gather together for a very special reunion. Fifty years ago, on 4 August 1976, they made history when they were among the first female cricketers to play a match at the so-called Home of Cricket: a one-day international between England and Australia.

England strolled to an eight-wicket win, chasing down 162 thanks to half-centuries from Enid Bakewell, opening up with Lynne Thomas, and Chris Watmough, coming in at No 3. But the importance of the occasion was less about the details of the match than what it represented. After almost five decades of the Women’s Cricket Association knocking on MCC’s door, the success of the first World Cup three years earlier finally persuaded the club that it was time to host a women’s match.