PCA PRESS RELEASE
PCA magazine reveals new maternity provisions for domestic and international players.
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The latest issue of Beyond the Boundaries headlines with an exclusive interview with Katherine and Nat Sciver-Brunt on the new international and domestic maternity provisions brought into the professional game.
On the front cover of the magazine, Katherine and Nat are exclusively photographed holding baby Theo, with Jacob Bethell also featuring as a cover-star on issue 36 of the PCA membership magazine.
Beyond the Boundaries visited Katherine and Nat Sciver-Brunt to discuss the new game-changing maternity provisions in domestic and international cricket, which the PCA has lobbied for with the ECB and professional counties.
The new policies aim to create greater opportunities for players that wish to become mothers, whilst supporting them on their return to playing professional cricket.
Previously, international players were on the same maternity cover as ECB employees, which fell decidedly short of being appropriate for international athletes.
England players can now benefit from a 12 month fully paid maternity leave as well as automatic contract extension and support with childcare and breastfeeding facilities, alongside many other provisions.
“The new international changes look good,” said Katherine. “It’s not necessarily something we’re going to massively benefit from because I had the baby not Nat but it means that other England players could totally make use of it. There have been lots of discussions with the PCA and on the Women’s Health group and we’ve been fighting for improved maternity. Australia set a great precedent with creche facilities and nannies years ago, it’s good to see we’re catching up.”
The domestic game has followed the example set by England and brought in changes too with the PCA working on the inclusion of maternity provisions in domestic cricket as part of the new employment terms. The introduced cover a stark improvement to previous where nothing was standardised.
Domestic players are supported with six months paid maternity leave and the automatic contract extension as well as support with childcare with further details of the maternity provisions available in issue 36 of Beyond the Boundaries.
Nat concedes that the domestic game is still finding its feet and that people are only now just earning enough money to only play cricket but the new provisions could change that.
“Players weren’t able to think about becoming a mum financially but with the new changes I think players could come back now. I haven’t given birth and I don’t know what it would be like to try and get yourself back to that standard again but I think it’s possible. Having that contractual security there will take the pressure off, certainly.”
Katherine, England women’s all-time leading wicket-taker, sums up the first six weeks of motherhood as: “An experience, life changing, my life is not as it was.” Admitting to feeling like an international athlete just five minutes ago, life has changed indefinitely in the Sciver-Brunt household.
Katherine offers her opinion as to why we haven’t seen many mothers return to playing cricket.
“You don’t look like an athlete anymore, I’ve seen interviews with Olympians who’ve come back after giving birth and thought how the bloody hell have they done that, but it’s great to see them do it to show others it’s possible.
“I’ve known many players leave the game to become a mum with no intention of returning. When we didn’t get paid properly you had to get another job and provide for your family. With the changes and the incentives there now, I think it would encourage players to have children and return to the professional game.”
A topic that has seemed somewhat taboo in the not-too-distant past, a women’s player at the highest level has yet to return to play after giving birth in the professional era. Only once in recent memory has this happened, the former England and Lancashire all-rounder Arran Brindle in 2011.
Pick up a copy of Beyond the Boundaries to read the full article or read the digital version below.
Elsewhere in the magazine, PCA Chief Executive Daryl Mitchell opens the publication with an introductory column, as Olly Hannon-Dalby pens his thoughts and visions on becoming the new Chair of the Association.
There is also an exclusive interview with Jacob Bethell on his career progression, Yorkshire’s Ami Campbell discusses her neurodivergence journey and how the Cricketers’ Trust has supported her and former Glamorgan all-rounder Joe Cooke talks all things sustainability.
And don’t miss out on the returning regular features as Danni Wyatt-Hodge reminisces on her beloved shirts in ‘My Favourite Kits’ and ‘What A Game’ explores the first game of The Hundred in 2021 between Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals women.
Read all of this and more as Beyond the Boundaries continues to focus on telling the stories of current and former cricketers from across the PCA membership.
You can read issue 36 of Beyond the Boundaries below:
