The Hundred can help put women's cricket on the map, says Manchester Originals vice-captain

Manchester Originals vice-captain Ellie Threlkeld believes The Hundred and T20 World Cup are key to pushing the boundaries of women’s sport - and putting cricket firmly on the map.

The wicketkeeper is keen to champion greater inclusivity in a sport she took up late because of a lack of girls’ teams and female role models.

Despite now being a stalwart right-handed bowler and regular century hitter, Threlkeld’s sporting career started with football as she played in Liverpool FC’s youth set-up and at Wigan Athletic.

“In the area I grew up in - Merseyside - cricket wasn’t very popular and there weren't many opportunities to play,” said Threlkeld, speaking at an event hosted at Cheetham Hill, one of the non-turf pitches installed in 2023 as part of the KP Snacks Everyone In Pitch Initiative.

“My older brother played football, so I followed in his footsteps. I played men’s football and men’s cricket, and for a time all my role models were men. Growing up as a Liverpool FC fan especially meant seeing players like Steven Gerrard on the television was a lot more common than seeing sportswomen.

“For me that lack of female representation and visibility of women’s cricket when I was younger has played a massive part in me wanting to change that for younger generations today.”

This sentiment is one shared by the England Cricket Board, who run All Stars Cricket centres across England and Wales to provide children from the ages five to eight the chance to play the game.

“It’s really pleasing to see changes start to happen in the way accessibility is being addressed,” said Threlkeld, speaking at an event supporting KP Snacks, who in partnership with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), have committed to installing and refurbishing