The India-Pakistan Group A match was one of the most talked about features of cricket at the Commonwealth Games. (Photo: BCCI Women/Twitter)

As women’s cricket gets auditioned and observed at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games for a possible and permanent entry into the Games gigs – such as Olympics – the city once again finds itself at an important inflection point in the sport’s history.

Way back in 1973, seven teams had lined up, mostly donning the inconvenient short culottes skirts in white, to play in the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1973, the final of which between England and Australia was hosted at Edgbaston. This was a full two years before the inaugural Men’s World Cup.

(Shivani Naik is trotting around Brummie land in Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games. As the Brummies say, her features are ‘bosting’ (brilliant!). As ever, some incredible stories are pouring in from the lives of inspirational athletes to how they do what they do in their sport. Did you know how a girl born in China landed up in Canada to become a gold medallist? Or the hysteria around Mirabai Chanu at the Games. Watch the CWG drama unfold through Shivani’s eyes and wisdom by clicking here)