Sport provides an excellent example of how new mothers can return to their careers after taking time out to have a baby. Especially when such news mothers are supported in structured work that highlights their value and continued potential.
But sporting bodies haven’t done a great job of providing such support. Nor have media commentators always been helpful, casual observers on social media who cast opinions on when, how, and whether a mother should return to sport at all.
So seeing the ICC using a rest day of the T20 Women’s World Cup in England to announce new “Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines” for member nations to support their female cricketers was welcome.
And seeing these guidelines celebrated, including by Indian actress Deepika Padukone, is also welcome — highlighting how these initiatives are shared across industries and the value of career-specific supports for women after having a baby. Padukone described the initiative as “a landmark moment for women in sport”
Cricket Australia was one of the first major sports bodies to introduce paid maternity leave in 2019. These guidelines support CA in going one step further — while also supporting the cricketing bodies of other countries to provide pathways for cricketers to continue their careers through motherhood.
The guidelines are the first comprehensive framework from any sport globally and cover flexible training conditions, continued access to services and facilities, advice on childcare, spaces for feeding and caring for babies at the playing venue and travel support, if possible.
Afy Fletcher, who returned to play for the West Indies after giving birth, described the move as one of the most significant steps for women’s cricket, noting the potential to further extend careers and pathways. “It gives you a chance to have your family and then return, so I think that’s one of the best things they could have done for women’s cricket,” she said.
“Physical recovery was challenging, but more than that, I struggled to leave my child and miss creating precious moments. That’s why every moment I play on the field is driven by him. Every player’s journey is different, but you have to have strong support, get healthy and trust the process.
It’s also great to see Australian team doctor, Dr Philippa Inge, leading the drafting of the guidelines as part of her role on the ICC Medical Advisory Committee. She said the guidelines are “designed to show players that having a baby doesn’t need to be the end of their career”. Inge added that the policy is designed to facilitate member nations to facilitate the return to cricket for their players and conceded that many such countries have necessarily done so in the past.