OPENING OF THE SECOND EDITION OF THE GENCOR FAIRBREAK INVITATIONAL 2023 IN HONG KONG

• Competition to open with contest between a FairBreak All Stars team and the Hong Kong Divas team (comprising of cricketers who are also domestic workers in Hong Kong)
• Broadcast quality video and hi-res images of the six captains with the trophy can be downloaded here: https://we.tl/t-bACc4ldl44
• Broadcast quality of short interviews with the six captains can be downloaded here: https://we.tl/t-oQC8oq5uDX

Hong Kong (April 2, 2023) – The second edition of the Gencor FairBreak Invitational 2023 kicks off on Monday at the Kowloon Cricket Club.  The six captains leading the Barmy Army, Sapphires, Warriors, Spirit, Falcons and Tornadoes teams -Lauren Winfield – Hill, Sana Mir, Sindhu Sri Harsha, Nicola Carey, Suzie Bates and Stefanie Taylor along with founder of FairBreak Global, Shaun Martyn, gathered on the terrace of one of Hong Kong’s premier hotels the Royal Garden Hotel for a photo shoot alongside the trophy.

Shaun Martyn, Founder of FairBreak Global explained why the tournament is no longer just about winning and losing, and he said: “We are the only global T20 tournament in the world -men and women, with 90 players from 37 countries. So, it really is a unique event. Now I talk of it (FairBreak) as more of a social impact business, much more so than cricket, and we just happen to play cricket.”

“I am extremely pleased that the event has come to Hong Kong, because they were the first board to back what we were doing. Now we have two tournaments a year. We play in America in September and a tournament here in Hong Kong. That has always been my long-term vision for what I now call a world series in cricket.”

“We try to give opportunity to players especially to those from non-major board countries and give players an opportunity based on the skills they have. Another interesting thing we do is that we don’t pay players based on where they are from, we pay them based on skill. So, there are Associate nation players here that are on larger contacts than full member players, because we don’t care where they come from, it is how well you play (that matters).”

Speaking ahead of the tournament opener on Monday, Sapphires Captain Sana Mir, who has spent the last year donning several caps, including mentor, commentator and now captain, said: “We have come together as a group and we have got some great players, and it is a great combination of experience and youth, and we are really looking forward to taking the field again as Sapphires.”

Warriors Captain Sindhu Sriharsha’s arrival to Hong Kong was delayed due to issues with the flight, and she was struggling through jet lag, having spent a large part of the last two days in and out of airports and airplanes. The Warriors Captain said: “(I am) Happy to be back here and this is one of the best tournaments we play in the year, and I am looking forward to what it holds this year.

“`We have always talked of how this tournament is about more than just winning. I think building the team together and building the bond(is important) and we are looking forward to repeating all that we did last year and going one step higher.

This is a new team, and we have some new players coming in and that is going to add a lot more strength for this team.”

Spirit Captain Nicola Carey who captained team Spirit last year has retained her leadership role this season. The Aussie all-rounder believes her team is ready for the competition: “The girls had their first session(training) today and they are looking really good and are really excited to get out there for the first game.

“We have a few new faces, but the core group remains similar. Having had a look at the new girls I believe they are going to be good additions. We are going to go out there and have some fun and try and go a little bit further and see what we can do.”

Defending Champions Tornadoes’ Captain Stafanie Taylor said: “I would hope so (defend the title this year). We have Dane Van Niekerk joining us this year, and that should be exciting.

“Most of us are back from last year, I was a bit delayed, so I am really excited to see everyone at training. We are looking forward to the tournament, and I know the Associate players are really excited too and hopefully we get that bubbly feeling from last year coming into this year.”

Barmy Army Captain Lauren Winfield- Hill who replaces England Captain Heather Knight in the role, said: “I am really excited, because this is a new competition and I have not been here before. I looked out for it in the first edition of it, and it looks like a great tournament and a great concept, and I am really looking forward to leading the Barmy Army.

“We will take one game at a time in these types of competitions, and we will try and get to know each other really quickly, and gel and have some fun off the field, to try and bring us together on the field.

“This is one of those tournaments where if you play your best cricket game by game you have got every chance (of winning). Hopefully we can do that and go one better this year.”

Falcons Captain Suzie Bates added: “It was very nice to see everyone, and we have had only one change to our squad, so it has been a bit of a reunion. We have had one training (session) and things are going well, and we are looking forward to the first match.

“A lot of the players played each other (over the last year and have kept in touch) and T (Theertha) was at the Under-19 World Cup and (reached out as she) was looking for some advice. It has been nice to get back together with Joanne Broadbent our coach and our manager Saba Nasim.

“It is great when you can keep the old squad and build connections over time. That is definitely the goal, (to go one step further and win the trophy) and I think we have got the squad to do that, but it is going to be a very competitive tournament, so fingers crossed for the Falcons to get across the line for the final.”

The second edition of the Gencor FairBreak Invitational T20 tournament for women underlines FairBreak Global’s deep commitment to building the women’s game from the grassroots, while offering Associate nations a chance to showcase their talent.

Scheduled to be played from April 3-16, 2023, at the iconic Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong, the two-week tournament will bring together some of the world’s top women players, from both Test and Associate nations.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2023 Cricket Hong Kong FairBreak Invitational on TicketFlaphttps://www.ticketflap.com/fairbreakt2023

Visit FairBreak.Net for more information and follow us on our social media accounts by clicking on the following: Facebook  Twitter  Instagram

UAE WOMEN’S PLAYERS LOOK TO CEMENT THEIR REPUTATION AS RISING STARS AT THE GENCOR FAIRBREAK INVITATIONAL 2023

• Video News Release: Video Interviews featured in the release below can be downloaded via the following links.
• Theertha Satish and b-roll footage of UAE women: https://we.tl/t-5Bon2W3Bfo
• Kavisha Kumari: https://we.tl/t-G9k4cBCelT
• Esha Oza: https://we.tl/t-MA4gk478Cw
• Mahika Gaur: https://we.tl/t-mHQ0Ns6jA7
• Hi-res images featuring the UAE players can be downloaded via this link: https://we.tl/t-DTCL2o148q

Hong Kong (April 1, 2023) – UAE players Esha Oza, Theertha Satish, Kavisha Kumari and Mahika Gaur have arrived in Hong Kong ahead of the second edition of the Gencor FairBreak Invitational tournament hoping to make an impact and show the world what Associate Players have to offer.

General Secretary Emirates Cricket Board Mubashshir Usmani says the girls have the board’s backing and believes tournaments like FairBreak will help raise the standard of the women’s game: “The FairBreak Invitational 2023 in Hong Kong is an exciting opportunity for women players. Four players from the UAE, Teertha Satish, Kavisha Kumari, Mahika Gaur and Esha Oza will take part in the tournament.

“The event provides a big opportunity for our players to play with and against some of the biggest stars of the game. We are confident that our players will perform well and enjoy the experience of playing cricket in Hong Kong.”

Usmani added: “The Emirates Cricket Board is fully committed to the growth of women’s cricket and our aim is to provide maximum opportunities to our players at the domestic and international stage as well as in the leagues around the world. Our best wishes are with the organisers, and we hope that through such events women cricket continues to grow.”

Warriors star Esha Oza recounts her FairBreak 2022 experience and her top learnings from the event, she said: “One of the main things I learnt was (about) dealing with pressure situations. (The other thing I learnt was) No matter where people come from you can always gel together. You are playing for one purpose, and it is so great to see everyone come together and fight for the same thing.”

“(Last season) We (Warriors) didn’t have a great start, but we ended the tournament with a win. Whenever we came back to the dressing room, it was very positive (atmosphere). The coaches always backed us and told us that we had done well. The message we got was that the win does not matter all the time. It is about the learnings and coming together. We didn’t start well, but we put our learnings together and we ended well (with a win).”

“I didn’t do so well in the Asia Cup (after the FairBreak tournament), and I still had people (from FairBreak team) messaging me to say it was ok and these things happen. Situations like that are not so easy to come out of, but when you have people backing you all the time, it makes it much better. So now I know the next time that happens (a poor run of form) I have people I can reach out to and talk to and do better after that.”

Esha added how FairBreak contributed to the UAE players getting recognition for their achievements. She said: “As a sportsperson, and as Associate Players, we are getting a lot of fame (people know about us). Before this no one really knew about UAE cricket or that it was at a high level. The Under-19 girls went and played the Under-19 World Cup, and we also played the Asia Cup; all this happened after FairBreak, and that experience helped us go out and play at a higher level and this has taken UAE cricket and Associate cricket to the next level.”

Looking back at her first day as a FairBreaker Esha recounts a funny story from 2022: “On our first day, after we arrived, we were sitting in the the manager’s room and watching highlights of a West Indies-Australia game on TV. Theertha was with me. We were watching Stafanie Taylor bowl, and suddenly someone knocked on the door, we opened the door and she (Stafanie Taylor) walked in. We never expected something like that as Associate cricketers to be able to play with and share the field with them (Players from Test playing nations). All thanks to FairBreak this was possible.”

Esha echoes the team’s gratitude to the Emirates Cricket Board for their support: “I would like to thank the ECB for allowing us to go and play in these tournaments. The ECB has been arranging bi-lateral series for us, and various competitions. It is because of our performances in those series, we are getting picked for these (tournaments like FairBreak) competitions. If not for ECB it would not have been possible.”

Theertha Satish who plays for 2022 FairBreak Invitational finalists, The Falcons, hopes her team can go a step better this time. Satish is ever grateful to her Falcons teammates for their support as she took on captaincy duties for the first time, at the Under-19 Women’s World Cup. The advice was precious says Satish: “This was the first time I was captaining a side (UAE Under-19 World Cup team) and the amount of learnings I had through chats with the captain (Falcons captain) and coaches (Falcons coaches), and the way they helped me deal with this task was incredible. I owe a lot to them. They also helped me be a much calmer person both on and off the field.”

Satish, who ended 2022 as one of the top run scorers in the women’s game, says she enjoyed the opportunity of sharing the dressing room and field with global superstars: “It was incredible, and I feel like I might have annoyed some of them (Test nation players at FairBreak Invitational 2022) as I was always asking questions. It is a very different experience, and there is no better way to learn.”

Kavisha Kumari who scored 696 runs in 2022, holds the record for most runs scored in Women’s T20 Internationals in a calendar year. The batter says the most important lesson FairBreak taught her was to believe in herself. The Barmy Army player said: “The stats speak for themselves about how successful a year I had in 2022; both how I played for UAE as well as at FairBreak.

“To sum it up, it was a dream come true to be a part of FairBreak and to play alongside international players. Because of those experiences I got that confidence in me to go out and perform in the UAE matches.”

“(After)The year I had in 2022, I want to do even better and get out of my comfort zone and set higher goals for my performances.”

Kumari added that during the first edition, there were plenty of doubters, who were unsure of how Associate players would fare in the tournament: “At the beginning (first FairBreak Invitational) there was self-doubt and questions on how the Associate players would perform (compared) with the international stars.

“The first edition though showed the world what Associate players have to offer. Obviously, now there are going to be eyes on each Associate player, and this helps us to step up our game.

Finally, player number four from the UAE is 17-year-old Mahika Gaur, who is already a force to reckon with as a left arm medium pace bowler. She represented the UAE at both the Asia Cup and the Under-19 World Cup. At the Under-19 World Cup she also ended as the UAE’s second highest run scorer. Gaur hopes to be a true all-rounder one day: “In the past year I have worked really hard on both my batting and bowling. Previously, I had been giving more emphasis to my bowling, but I want to be an all-rounder, so I think the Under-19 World Cup success was down to that.

“I have also learnt how important fitness is in this game. So, I have tried to get fitter, which I am sure has helped me in my bowling, because earlier I used to get tired after bowling 2-3 over spells as my stamina was low. I have gotten older and taller and that has also helped me with my pace.”

While Mahika was not part of the main action at FairBreak 2022, she was watching from the sidelines, and talks about some key differences she noticed in her teammates following their FairBreak experience: “I noticed a change in the way they (UAE girls) went about their game. They were in teams (at FairBreak Invitational 2022) with the best players in the world, and they got to see how relaxed the international players were, and how to approach a big target, or if you were unable to rotate the strike then how to approach that.

“So, I think it made them (UAE girls) think more about their own game, which was so helpful for the team, and they shared those experiences with us which as amazing.”

Looking ahead Gaur can’t wait to join the Spirit team and make her FairBreak debut: “I am so excited, and I honestly can’t wait (to join Team Spirit). People in my team are from literally all over the world. There are players from Test playing nations, and from Hong Kong and Thailand, so getting to share the dressing room with them will be amazing.”

12 Hong Kong China Players picked for FairBreak Invitational

As a team that has won eight out of its last ten T20Is across pathway tournaments, Hong Kong China is one of the leading associate teams in Asia. 13 players from the city-state will be on show in the second edition of the FairBreak Invitational taking place from April 3 to 16 at the Kowloon Cricket Club.

National team captain Kary Chan is once again set to be a key figure in the South Coast Sapphires line-up. She conceded a shade over six runs an over on good batting surfaces during last year’s tournament. Speaking to broadcasters after a near-flawless innings of 122 off 55 balls during a domestic fixture last October, Chan revealed that she had been working on her range hitting ever since the 2022 edition. This April, if Chan can fire with both bat and ball, it will go some way toward boosting the Sapphires’ title hopes.

Pull To will be making her FairBreak Invitational debut lining up alongside Kary Chan, who is also her teammate at Craigengower Cricket Club, a team consisting entirely of ethnically Chinese players. A batter who is known for being busy at the crease, Pull To is arguably also the best fielder in Hong Kong.

K-Man Falcons are blessed with one of Hong Kong’s finest in Mariko Hill, who took the first-ever wicket in the history of the FairBreak Invitational. Her batting improved as the 2022 tournament progressed. She scored an unbeaten 30 in a partnership of 92 with Marizanne Kapp in the final against the Tornadoes. Within months of the 2022 tournament, Hill was selected to play for the Northern Diamonds in England’s regional competition before being adjudged the Player-of-the-Series on Hong Kong’s tour of Japan.

Partnering Hill at the K-Man Falcons is Marina Lamplough, who has established herself as a regular starter for Northern Districts. She flew below the radar in her debut season last year, conceding a mere 6.83 runs an over. The 23-year-old has a high ceiling and is capable of chipping in with useful runs down the order.

While five teams have two Hong Kongers in each of their squads, the Barmy Army have one more for good luck. Off-spinner Ruchi Venkatesh is coming off a stellar summer in the UK, where she took 11 wickets at an average of 24.64 with a best of 4-22 against St Lawrence & Highland Court CC in the Women’s Cricket Super League (WCSL). She also played for Hampstead in the Middlesex 3rd Division Men’s League, taking impressive figures of 8-45. Her consistency earned her a trial at Middlesex County Cricket Club.

Even since making her Hong Kong debut toward the end of 2021, The Barmy Army’s Iqra Sahar has come on leaps and bounds. In addition to becoming more accurate with the ball, she topped the run charts at the 2022 Gencor CHK Women’s Premier League, scoring 228 runs in five innings. Come April, there is every chance Sahar could be a surprise package.

Last year, Maryam Bibi played just two games for the Tornadoes in which she neither bowled nor batted. These days, however, the 19-year-old is one of the first names on Hong Kong’s team sheet. Last June, in a game against Kuwait , who were 50 for 2 in a chase of 91 with nine overs left, Bibi snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat. She took 4 for 8 to bowl the opposition out for 60. Although the reigning champions seem like a settled unit, Bibi’s form has likely given captain Stafanie Taylor a selection dilemma.

Natasha Miles is another player pushing for a regular spot on the Tornadoes team sheet. Miles won the Middlesex CCC Women’s Player of the Year Award for the 2021/22 season. In the Vitality Women’s County T20, she scored 151 runs in 4 innings at a strike rate of 142.5, which included two fifties.

The Spirit’s Yasmin Daswani is yet another Hong Konger who impressed during the UK summer. Playing for Spencer CC alongside Mariko Hill, Daswani tallied an impressive 278 runs in 8 innings at an average of 34.75 and a strike rate of 92.67. She was also part of the FairBreak XI squad that whitewashed the Netherlands 3-0, scoring 39 off 36 in the second game to propel her side to a winning score of 148 for 4.

She will be joined in the green jersey by off-spinner Betty Chan. In spite of the fact that she conceded 55 runs in the six overs that she bowled across three games at the 2022 Invitational, she is arguably the most accurate and disciplined bowler in Hong Kong. A T20I career economy rate of 4.20 is a testament to her consistency.

FairBreak debutant Alison Siu has risen through the ranks in domestic cricket, having recently captained the Hong Kong Cricket Club to a second-place finish at the Gencor CHK Women’s Premier League. It won’t be easy for her to break into a rejigged Warriors line-up but the opportunity to train with professional athletes is something that could help her take her game up a level.

Shanzeen Shahzad is another player who may find it tough to break into the Warriors starting eleven. Although she is yet to deliver on her immense potential at international level, she may well be one opportunity away from kicking her career into second gear.

Another Hong Kong player in the mix but not part of the current Hong Kong Women’s squad is Kowloon Cricket Club veteran Keenu Gill. Gill is one of the best players to ever emerge out of the city state. Although she is an accurate medium pacer, batting is her stronger suit. The KCC all-rounder has a knack for finding gaps in the field and will be itching to get a go on her home ground for her team Barmy Army

Tickets are now on sale for the 2023 Cricket Hong Kong FairBreak Invitational on TicketFlap — https://www.ticketflap.com/fairbreakt2023

Visit FairBreak.Net for more information.

Telecast and Livestream Partners for Gencor FairBreak Invitational Hong Kong 2023 Announced

Hong Kong (March 31, 2023) – FairBreak Global announces an impressive bouquet of global telecast and livestream partners who will telecast the Gencor FairBreak Invitational 2023 across their platforms. The list includes Sony Sports, Fox Sports Cricket, SportsMax Cricket Live, SuperSport, Etisalat, Digicel, Willow, STARZ Play, ReCast.tv, and SPOTV.

A detailed list can be viewed below.

The second edition of the Gencor FairBreak Invitational T20 tournament for women underlines FairBreak Global’s deep commitment to building the women’s game from the grassroots, while offering Associate nations a chance to showcase their talent.

Scheduled to be played from April 3-16, 2023, at the iconic Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong, the two-week tournament will bring together some of the world’s top women players, from both Test and Associate nations.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2023 Cricket Hong Kong FairBreak Invitational on TicketFlap – https://www.ticketflap.com/fairbreakt2023

Visit FairBreak.Net for more information and follow us on social media at the following accounts: Facebook: Twitter:Instagram:

QANTAS ANNOUNCED AS OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF GENCOR FAIRBREAK GLOBAL CRICKET; ALL TEAMS IN THE TOURNAMENT WILL PROUDLY CARRY THE QANTAS LOGO ON THEIR KIT

Hong Kong (March 31, 2023) – FairBreak Global Cricket is thrilled to announce a sponsorship partnership with Qantas, Australia’s premier airline; moving forward Qantas will be FairBreak Global Cricket’s official airline, supporting player and team movement across the globe for various tournaments.

This alliance marks a crucial partnership for the FairBreak Global movement ahead of the second edition of the Gencor FairBreak Invitational T20 tournament for women, scheduled to be played in Hong Kong from April 3-16, 2023.

Qantas joined the FairBreak Global family with their support to a four-game Canberra Series, in December 2022, played between a FairBreak team and the ACT Meteors. Qantas have extended that partnership to all FairBreak Global events in 2023.

Speaking about the announcement, FairBreak Global’s founder Shaun Martyn said, “FairBreak Global is proud to align with one of the world’s premier carrier – Qantas, and I am confident that together we will successfully deliver FairBreak Global Cricket events and tournaments across the world.

“Qantas shares our core beliefs, and together we hope to continue to create opportunities across sport and a variety of other fields, to empower women, and enable their success on their chosen paths.”

Qantas Chief Marketing Officer Petra Perry said Qantas was proud to be partnering with FairBreak.

“Qantas has a long history of promoting gender equality and we’re excited to support FairBreak and its goals,” Ms Perry said.

Starting with the Gencor FairBreak Invitational 2023 in Hong Kong, all players will wear the Qantas logo on their team kit, jackets, vests, and the logo will be placed on the leading arm of all playing kit across the six participating teams.

The second edition of the Gencor FairBreak Invitational T20 tournament for women underlines FairBreak Global’s deep commitment to building the women’s game from the grassroots, while offering Associate nations a chance to showcase their talent.

Scheduled to be played from April 3-16, 2023, at the iconic Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong, the two-week tournament will bring together some of the world’s top women players, from both Test and Associate nations.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2023 Cricket Hong Kong FairBreak Invitational on TicketFlap – https://www.ticketflap.com/fairbreakt2023

Visit FairBreak.Net for more information.  Follow us on social media at the following accounts:

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INSPIRING CHANGE IN ACTION; FAIRBREAK INVITATIONAL 2022’S GRADUATES MARIKO HILL AND RUCHI VENKATESH HIGHLIGHT CAREER GROWTH FOLLOWING FAIRBREAK EXPERIENCE

• Video News Release: Video Interviews featured in the release below can be downloaded via this link: https://we.tl/t-FRA95b6VZk
• Hi-res images from FairBreak Invitational 2022 can be downloaded vias this link: https://we.tl/t-FRA95b6VZk

Hong Kong (March 27, 2023) – The FairBreak Invitational 2023 kicks off on April 3^rd in Hong Kong, and two home bred stars Ruchi Venkatesh and Mariko Hill, are thrilled at the opportunity of playing at home, before local fans. Both players featured in the inaugural edition in Dubai in 2022 and reflect on their learnings in the past year.

A former captain of Hong Kong, Mariko Hill’s career statistics include 623 runs and 21 wickets in 33 WT20Is. In the 2022 Dubai Invitational Hill featured in six matches for the Falcons and took a wicket and scored 69 runs. Looking ahead to Hong Kong Hill said: “I am definitely looking forward to playing at home, in front of family and friends and of course.”

“We have got the (WhatsApp)group of the Falcons team going still, and we chat on a weekly basis. I do keep in touch with Marina Lamplough and Danni Wyatt the most.”

Hill spoke about what the 2022 experience taught her and how it added value to her career: “(Top learning from 2022) Was playing with freedom. Jo (Head coach -Joanne Broadbent) was a big advocate of having no fear when you come out especially as an Associate cricketer, and you try and compare yourself to some degree. Playing with freedom and playing to your strengths are the two things I learnt.

“My game picked up ever since FairBreak, going to Malaysia for the World Cup Qualifiers, and the Asia Cup, where my approach to the game and batting changed. I played with more freedom, and there was a sense of team unity, which came from what you do outside the cricket field.

“FairBreak played a large role (in my being picked for the Northern Diamonds). It is about getting your name out there. The coach of Northern Diamonds picked me based on previous performances, and I am sure the FairBreak event had a positive influence in this process. Having media coverage also allows us to be seen and heard, because if no one knows about you, you are not going to get opportunities.”

FairBreak Global announced a US tournament scheduled for later this year, and Hill believes this means the movement will expand to new territories and give it greater momentum: “(the US tour means) More growth, and the more we go out there, the more the names get around and the more opportunities we get. Being a part of the US set up is huge, because we know there is a lot of investment being put into US cricket now and if we can grow it in all different continents, just imagine where women’s cricket can go.”

With a host of successful women’s tournaments emerging around the globe, Hill said she felt FairBreak was unique in its focus on `associate players like herself: “FairBreak is a stand-alone tournament. It is all about opportunities for Associate players, and more than four players can play in each team, which allows the growth of the game internationally and in Associate countries. FairBreak is all about empowering women, and it is providing equal opportunities in the sports realm and the business realm.”

 Ruchi Venkatesh, also a member of the Hong Kong team, is an off-spin bowler, who has featured in 25 WT20Is, with 13 wickets and 99 runs in her account. She played three games for the Barmy Army in Dubai.

Venkatesh joined the FairBreak family during her years as a student and she said: “My association with FairBreak began when I was invited to play in a FairBreak tournament in England, when I was studying there. It was an honour playing alongside and being captained by Sana Mir and Alex Blackwell. Following that tour I was fortunate enough to be invited to other tours, including the FairBreak Invitational.”

Ruchi Venkatesh, Barmy Army, on playing for her country: “Playing in my home country before our own fans is very special for me. I hope it inspires many young girls from all ethnicities to take up the sport.

Ruchi Venkatesh, Barmy Army on key lessons learnt from her FairBreak experience: “What I learnt about cricket the most is the resilience. It isn’t just about the highs but handling the lows. FairBreak 2022 taught me professionalism, observing how my teammates went about their training, their preparation on game days, their intent during fielding, which I really wanted to emulate. I tried to bring all that into every game I played. I tried to bring in that professionalism, training intensity and preparation intensity into my game.

“I had a bit of an up and down in 2022 but it ended on a high, including helping my team win the Vitality Club Championship, and being the bowler of the finals there. I also had a successful season in the UK. A personal highlight was taking 8-15 after 12 overs, and it culminated in a successful Japan tour for the Hong Kong team, where we had a clean sweep and won the East Asia Cup.

The FairBreak UK tour really helped us hone our white ball skills. I hope FairBreak can do this for many more girls. As an Associate player you don’t normally get these opportunities to play at a high level, and to hone our skills, so what FairBreak is doing is amazing, especially for Associate players.

Ruchi Venkatesh, Barmy Army, on how she sees the future of the FairBreak movement: “I would love to see many more girls get these opportunities. It will be nice to see girls from a range of countries from Asia, Africa, the Pacific, (playing the game). The US is rapidly becoming a major hub for cricket and for FairBreak to be holding a tournament in the US is really very exciting and `I am looking forward to it, even if I don’t play, I will be excited to watch and see the other girls in action, and I just hope FairBreak keeps growing.”

Ruchi Venkatesh on what sets FairBreak Invitational apart from other women’s leagues around the globe: “FairBreak is special is because of the opportunity it gives to players from Associate countries. Associate cricket is really an untapped market and there is a lot of talent there that is often ignored. By exposing these players, it really widens the horizons for cricket and challenges the notions of which countries can play cricket, and who can play cricket. You can see how over the years countries like Thailand are emerging and UAE, China, and many more countries are now playing cricket, and FairBreak is really opening the world’s eyes. I hope that many more leagues recognize the Associate players and give us a chance.

Date: 8^th March 2023, International Women’s Day

Three organisations who share a common goal to promote equal opportunity for women globally, Breast Research Australia, Fairbreak Global and The Sports Bra Project – are teaming up to run a world-first global women’s health project to maximise the breast health and quality of life of all women.

The project will disseminate breast health education and provide opportunity for women all around the world access to sports bras.

A sports bra is a fundamental piece of sports equipment to enable women to participate in sport or physical activity. Unfortunately, limited access to sports bras for many adolescent females and women across the world, limits them from enjoying the physical and mental health benefits of physical activity and sport.

Research conducted by Breast Research Australia has found that most female athletes have very poor health literacy about breast support and bra fit.

“We have conducted research in Australia on women of all ages and from multiple sports. We consistently found that females across all ages and activity levels have very poor knowledge about breast support and sports bras, and very poor ability to determine if their bra is supportive enough or fits correctly”.  Associate Professor Deirdre McGhee BPhty, PhD Member Australian College of Physiotherapists (Sports Physiotherapy) (ACP).

Shaun Martyn, Founder of Fairbreak Global said “Fairbreak is proud to be a trailblazer promoting and supporting women in cricket by giving female cricket players around the world access to breast health education and sports bras – which is currently seriously lacking in women’s cricket everywhere.

When we originally heard of the research and education conducted by Breast Research Australia, we financially supported them to present at the 2022 inaugural Fairbreak Invitational. Dierdre educated the international players from 31 countries that attended to improve their breast health knowledge and bra wearing behaviour.

The feedback from the players all over the world was extremely positive, none of the players had ever had any advice or guidelines on sports bras or bra fit and all felt that it was fundamental information and an essential piece of equipment for women’s cricket,” said Shaun.

 The major research findings were:

• Cricket players require a high level of risk support because of demands of the game in terms of running, jumping and forceful arm movements.
• Elite international female cricket players have very poor knowledge of breast health, sports bras and bra fit, and a very poor ability to independently choose a supportive and correctly fitted sports bra.
• Access to breast health education is extremely limited in women’s sport across the world, irrespective of the level of sport and the socioeconomic status of the country.
• Access to sports bras is a barrier for female participation in sport in some countries and within regions of other countries. Women in these countries require assistance and support to access sports bras, to enable females to participate in sport as well as to perform at full potential.

Australian female cricket player, Georgia Redmayne, attended the Fairbreak invitational last year and said “playing without a well-fitted sports bra is like playing without spikes or gloves. Every female athlete deserves that access no matter their background”.

The research impact of this project is affirmative action – “it is vital that we educate female athletes and active women/adolescents, all over the world, to empower them with the knowledge and ability to independently choose a supportive, well-fitting, comfortable sports bra. At the same time, we need to give all women equal opportunity to access sports bras. In the countries and regions of countries where access to sports bras is limited, we need to support these women and assist them with access to sports bras.” Associate Professor Deirdre McGhee

Sarah Dwyer-Shick, is the Founder of The Sports Bra Project, a charity growing globally providing sports bras to females around the world. 

“The Sports Bra Project is committed to increasing access to sports and normalising the needs and experiences of female athletes. Partnering with Fair Break Global and Breast Research Australia provides the perfect opportunity to both increase access and provide education on the importance a properly fitted sports bra plays in comfort, performance and maintaining breast health during physical activity.”

“We are excited to be working with these two great organisations and with Women’s Sport Australia to ensure that female athletes have the knowledge and equipment they need, a properly fitted sports bra, to pursue their athletic dreams.” Sarah Dwyer-Schick

Together, this team of three, Breast Research Australia, Fairbreak Global and The Sports Bra Project, through this world-first global women’s health project, aims to maximise the long-term breast health of women all over the world for their comfort, enjoyment, participation, and performance in sport.

They are working ‘with women to support women, globally’ and believe it’s an exciting opportunity for women who love sport to support other women so they can play sport too.

Fairbreak, Breast Research Australia and The Sports Bra Project passionately believe all women deserve the right to wear a supportive, correctly fitted, comfortable sports bra to enjoy the incredible physical and mental health benefits of sport and exercise.

HELP US to HELP THEM! If you would like to run a Sports Bra Drive or an organisation in need of sports bras go to this link https://www.thesportsbraproject.org/ for further information.