Petition launched to ask cricket sponsors to demand gender equality at major venues

GEORGE DOBELL - EXCLUSIVE: Vanessa Picker has also confirmed she intends to launch legal proceedings against both Oxford University and Oxford University Cricket Club on the grounds of the distress and discrimination she claims she has suffered

A campaigner who successfully lobbied MCC for gender equality in the hosting of the Varsity matches is launching a petition aimed at persuading sponsors to make their funding contingent upon such equality.

Vanessa Picker, who persuaded MCC to host this year's women's game on the main square for the first time, has also confirmed she intends to launch legal proceedings against both Oxford University and Oxford University Cricket Club on the grounds of the distress and discrimination she claims she has suffered as a result of her campaigning on the issue.

Picker, who scored an unbeaten century in the Varsity Match of 2019, has aimed the petition at the "sponsors, partners and suppliers of major UK cricket grounds" with the aim of ensuring that they "require your partners [major grounds] to commit to tangible [gender equality] improvements, as part of future sponsorship/partnership agreements".

In the event that grounds fail to achieve such improvements, she has called on providers to "support a boycott" and "direct their funds to another organisation or activity that promotes greater inclusion in cricket".

^{The men's and women's Varsity matches will take place on the Lord's main square in 2023 [Getty Images]}

In particular, the petition, which is being circulated to almost 250 sponsors and suppliers (17 principal sponsors and 229 smaller commercial partners), calls for support in persuading venues to commit to:

- Hosting a minimum number of gender equal (ie double-header) events;

- Ensuring that the % of matches allocated to women fixtures is, at minimum, equal to the participation rate of women cricketers;

- Committing to hosting an equal number of men's and women's fixtures;

- Ensuring that when a men's amateur match is hosted, the equivalent women's fixture is also scheduled;

- Hosting a mix of international, county, and amateur matches, comparable to the spread of men's fixtures;

- Introducing a greater spread of formats for women's matches, ensuring that women can play at least Hundred, T20, and one-day matches at major grounds;

- Improving gender representation within the workforce and all relevant committees.

- Appointing a diversity and inclusion representative who can assist with ensuring that the ECB's Anti-Discrimination Code is not violated; and handling any complaints that arise related to equity and diversity;

- Reporting gender and other diversity related statistics in an easily accessible manner;

- Increasing the visibility of women's cricket within the ground: for example, by introducing statues and/or artworks of female cricketers;

- Setting out a specific action plan/framework for developing women's cricket.

"While we were delighted to see the women's varsity match played on the main square at Lord's, it wasn't the victory it may have seemed," Picker told The Cricketer. "For one thing, the presentation afterwards was very much focused on the history of the men's Varsity match, with not a single woman being given the opportunity to speak. 

"There was also talk of having hosted the women's match 18 times at Lord's without any acknowledgement that all previous games had been played in the Nursery Ground, with the men having retained exclusive access to the main ground. That felt disingenuous.

"Earlier in the year, the MCC had announced that they would not be hosting any future varsity matches - men's or women's - at Lord's. That felt punitive; almost as if we were being reminded that, if women speak up, there will be trouble.

^{Supporters in the stands during the Eton-Harrow match at Lord's in 2022 [Getty Images]}

"It came with quite a heavy toll personally, too. One senior OUCC figure told me I would be remembered as the person who lost us 200 years of tradition."

Picker has also urged other campaigners not to forget about what she calls "the glaring hole" that still exists in terms of equal access for women cricketers. MCC were obliged to call a special general meeting on September 27 - which was subsequently cancelled - after a group of members objected to the decision to stop hosting the Eton v Harrow match at the ground. But while Picker says she is "sympathetic" to those attempting to preserve such traditional fixtures, she has expressed the hope their aims do not overlook the need for progressive change.

"I have every sympathy for those who value the traditions of the game. But let us also remember that the game has, traditionally, excluded women. Time and again, tradition has trumped equality and been used as a justification for retaining the status quo. I'm sure we can now find exciting ways to revamp traditions, ensuring that history is respected while modernisation is encouraged".

The basis of Picker's legal proceedings centre upon allegations she was "subject to hostile, belittling, dismissive and otherwise inappropriate language, behaviour, communication, and treatment by representatives of OUCC" and other "ill-treatment during 2019, 2020 and 2021." In particular, it refers to her requests for equality being dismissed.

"OUCC is absolutely committed to gender equality and to promoting women's cricket at Oxford," the OUCC vice-chair, Claire Taylor told The Cricketer. "We merged the men's and women's clubs in 2019 for this expressed purpose, and have frequently discussed how best to achieve this goal.

"While such discussions have not always been unanimous, we have always sought respectfully to take into account different viewpoints.

"OUCC does not recognise or accept the allegations of hostility, discrimination or other inappropriate behaviour. We have taken Miss Picker's allegations very seriously and have asked her twice since January to set out the basis for her claims so that we can respond substantively."