FairBreak founder Shaun Martyn sat down with Zushan from Sportageous to chat about the future of women’s cricket and gender equality in women’s sport.
Thank you Zushan for inviting us to share our story.
– Shaun Martyn, FairBreak Founder
I recently read a very interesting and excellent article by Megan Maurice in The Guardian – ‘Overcoming current challenges in women’s sport’ – prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is an area many are pondering at the moment. Indeed, it’s not just the future of women’s sport that is of concern, but also just what a global sporting landscape will look like.
As an organisation, FairBreak is completely invested in women’s sport and for the past 10 years, my focus has been on women’s cricket.
I have held the view for some time that financial models underpinning major sporting organisations are unsustainable and flawed. What has been surprising to me is just how bad the situation is.
There will be many who look to condemn and blame but that will not help moving forward from where we are now. My focus now is purely on what the future may look like.
In her article, Megan Maurice has this to say about organisations that have invested in women’s sport…
“The coming months will reveal a lot about the priorities of these sports and the compromises they are willing to make. Who bears the brunt of the consequences in these cases will clearly demonstrate to fans and potential sponsors the importance they place on their women’s competitions”.
“There will be a lot of discussion around what is profitable and what costs an organisation money to run. It is an argument women’s sport advocates are overly familiar with, but it will no doubt ramp up as cuts are made”.
Female athletes are well positioned to navigate an environment where there will be less sponsorship and less revenue for all athletes. Contracts for players, both male and female, will be less. There will need to be a greater balance between work and sport. Women already do this and have been doing it for years. Very, very few are full-time professional athletes. Most have careers outside of their chosen sport or are studying part-time, or both, to ensure a livelihood in most cases just between seasons.
There will have to be a reset with regard to staff ratios, training, performance and career for all athletes.
I know the AFL has already commissioned a paper looking into what comprises a sustainable model in terms of training and staff requirements. From a cricket perspective, many teams are carrying more staff than players. This has to be questioned. What is really required in terms of team preparation, health and safety? Is it time for players to be more resilient and take on a deeper study of their chosen sport and own their performance instead of being spoon-fed by a team of assistants?
The one area that I would debate with Megan is the assumption in her piece that the revenue model for women’s sport has to mirror or be tied to the financial model currently operating in men’s sport.
Anyone who has had the experience of coaching or managing women’s teams knows that it’s different. Not only are there physiological differences but women’s teams interact socially, in my experience, in a completely different way to men’s teams.
Would it be prudent then to ask women how they would like their sport presented?
What broadcast model would they like to see? Do they want their sport linked to gambling revenue given the direct link to domestic violence and family dislocation?
Given the reduction in sponsorship revenue that will be a consequence of COVID-19 and the reluctance of broadcasters to pay for women’s sport, would it not be time for women’s sport to take control of their sports and pursue more long term sustainable models.
Large stadiums will not be full for a long time. There may be a move to smaller, more boutique grounds. Tournament timeframes will need to be more condensed. The cost of hire will be less as well as the associated game production costs. This will suit women’s sport.
Our world has become even more online virtually overnight. That is not going to change post COVID-19.
Owning your own broadcast and sharing in online advertising revenue allows women’s sport to reach and build a global audience and control the integrity of their brand.
Consulting firm PwC Australia last year found internet advertising in Australia more than doubled to $9.5 billion over the five years to 2019 and suggested it would reach $10.8 billion this year.
In 2019, search advertising spending stood at nearly $106.5 billion U.S. dollars worldwide. This amount was projected to grow to about $132 billion U.S. dollars by 2022.
I see a very bright future for women’s sport that drives its own broadcast model and has more control over the presentation of their product.
“Looking for a role model to inspire you every day?
Here’s one!
Meet Selina, the captain of the Women’s National Vanuatu Cricket team! She’s agile, hardworking and an inspiration to many young girls unsure of their ability to pursue their big dreams.
Selina Solmon was a standout performer at FairBreak Global‘s Inaugural day of #genderequality. She has managed to raise the profile for women’s cricket in Vanuatu.
She’s definitely managed to inspire us here at SolarBuddy!
Selina is now the SolarBuddy Vanuatu Ambassador!”
To all #FairBreakers,
Our priority is always the well-being, health and safety of our FairBreak family, our team members, supporters and their communities.
This means all our event programs are suspended as the world manages an unprecedented health crisis that calls for cooperatioon and compassion and we firstly get through this crisis. After this it’s about resilience, growth, and setting mindful intentions about what to do and where to go next. We have a unique opportunity to rebuild and do things differently.
While those of us fortunate enough to be able to operate from home, we will continue to work on an exciting future program of events.
If you have any questions, please pop them in the comments below, or reach out to Shaun via our contact page. Our management team is always available to assist where we can.
We would like to thank everyone for your continued support.
Stay safe and well.
– From all of us here at FairBreak.
– Shameela Mosweu, Botswana FairBreaker
The team greet Shameelah on arrival at Bradman Oval
Now that everything has calmed down, I can finally post.
So, as some of you might have seen, I was originally denied a visa to go play cricket for FairBreak Global in Australia. A little background on FairBreak – this is an organisation that promotes gender equality and ladies from different countries get invited to play in the global XI squad. My visa got denied because the Australian government thought I was a “flight risk”.
This story ended up in the papers both in Australia and Botswana, which was crazy for me to process. Due to the backlash from the public, my visa got overturned and I was immediately flown to Australia.
I managed to play in a historic game which is a major privilege for me as a female cricketer.
I just want to take this moment to thank everyone for the messages and the support. I don’t know how I would have handled all of this without all of you. I also want to thank the media for writing up about this, one of the reasons the visa got overturned.
But a special thank you to the FairBreak team; from management to the players for all your support, fighting for me, believing in me and my cricket abilities and also inviting me on the tour (my 2nd tour for FairBreak). This has all been a crazy experience but an experience I’ll never forget.
I can not thank everyone enough.
Cricket was played hard and memories for a lifetime were made, and I look forward to what the future holds for FairBreak and myself.
Once again, a massive thank you to everyone for everything. I really appreciate it and will forever be thankful for this amazing opportunity.
Once a FairBreaker, always a FairBreaker.
#fairbreaker #genderequality #fortheloveofthegame
Shameelah Mosweu, Botswana – FairBreak player #9
There are many venues in the world that would love to play for the Blackwell-Mir trophy. We have named it this in honour of two of the greatest players to walk on a cricket field – Alex Blackwell and Sana Mir. Two wonderful humans who have inspired thousands with their actions on and off the field.
One time adversaries who are now great friends, joined under the FairBreak banner as players in the same team, but who also honour their commitments to teams that may see them come together on opposing sides.
Twelve FairBreakers from around the world competed with some of the best young cricket talent in Australia at Bradman Oval on February 22, 2020, led by Australia’s Alex Blackwell and Pakistan’s Sana Mir. All players demonstrated to their communities, and on a global scale, that they are as good as anyone, anywhere. More importantly, they formed bonds that will outlast their cricket careers.
We are proud to introduce the Blackwell-Mir Trophy that will serve as a reminder of these two great players. We want to ensure that this game is about the cricketers and those who support them on and off the field; the wonderful human beings who dedicate their talent and time to this great sport.
The last few days have been an incredible show of athleticism and talent. We’re proud to welcome six new FairBreakers to the team, presented with their numbered caps at Bradman Oval.
Welcome (L-R holding grey caps) Kary Chan (Hong Kong), Sindhu Sriharsha (USA), Nasimana Navaika (Vanuatu), Geeitka Kodali (USA), Linsey Smith (England), Hannah Trethewy (NSW).
FairBreakers and cricket legends Australia’s Alex Blackwell and Pakistan’s Sana Mir presented the newly inducted team members before the game on Saturday.
Once players are part of the FairBreak team, they are forever a FairBreaker. We don’t ‘drop’ players but continue to develop their skills and experiences, being selected to be involved in different games around the world with the FairBreak team as players or in coaching or management roles.
As cricketers, these women are talented and dedicated to their sport. As individuals, they are kind, collaborative, unique humans who each bring to the team their own kind of joy and warmth.
We’re so pleased to have you join us. Thank you.
– Shaun Martyn, FairBreak Founder
We regret to inform you that, despite numerous representations to government officials in Australia and also to the Botswanan High Commission, we have been unable to secure a Visa for Shameelah Mosweu to take her place as part of a FairBreak Global XI in a historic cricket match against the first-ever Bradman Women’s XI in Bowral this Saturday, February 22, 2020.
Shameelah is an outstanding player and person. She is an international player for Botswana and took part in a FairBreak program in England in 2019. Shameelah impressed everyone with the quality of her play, and her commitment to her teammates and the broader FairBreak agenda. It was with great enthusiasm and pleasure that we invited her to be part of our program in Australia from February 17-23, 2020.
Shameelah has been denied that opportunity as she is deemed a flight risk. Shameelah is a University student in England sponsored by her Government and the Botswanan Sports Commission. It is absurd she is being considered a security risk.
The denial of this opportunity goes against everything that Australia aspires to in proclaiming a ‘fair go’ for all.
Shameelah is a great example for the young men and women of Botswana and every country where opportunities to perform on a world stage are limited. She deserves, as does everyone, the right to accept opportunities to showcase talent and continue to grow as a person and inspire.
The FairBreak XI typically consists of 12 players from 9 countries including 5 national captains; Shameelah’s absence will be greatly missed. In our game this weekend, our team will be captained by Wisden’s Captain of the Decade, Sana Mir from Pakistan. Sana is also the recent recipient of the Asian Game Changer Award, a humanitarian award recognising the great contribution an individual has made to Asia and the world.
We fully support Shameelah in every way we can and continue in our endeavours to have her as part of the team.
Shameela receiving her cap from Wisden’s captain of the decade Sana Mir in England 2019.
Shameela with Sterre Kalis from the Netherlands
We hope you’ll join us for the very first FairBreak Global XI v Bradman XI game on 22 February, 2.15–5.00 pm.
We hope you’ll also come early for the preliminary match from 10.15 am–1.00 pm between FairBreak 2 and Sydney Cricket Club.
You’re also invited to join us at a High Tea with Ann Sherry AO, Chair of UNICEF, at Bradman Museum: 12.30 – 2.10 pm. $45 includes High Tea & Admission to the museum. For details or High Tea bookings,
visit www.bradman.com.au.
Thanks to: Gencor, Technology One, Vocus Communications.
At FairBreak we are constantly consulting with players and designers to refine our playing uniforms. All of our uniforms are made specifically for the players, with our teams’ input. We pay particular attention to the weight of the uniforms, their functionality and style.
The Magenta uniform will be worn for all major and live-streamed games. The Steel Blue is our alternative playing strip for practice matches and FairBreak 2nd XI games.
We believe that in actively engaging player feedback we will, over time, evolve and develop a unique look and feel.
