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Cricketer Georgia Wareham is appealing for more than just wickets

Helping girls find their voice.
Georgia WarehamSupplied.

Georgia Wareham grew up surrounded by a cricket-mad older brother and gang of cousins.

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In the summer, the crack of ball on bat was a constant, either coming from their yard or from the TV where players like spin bowler Shane Warne became childhood heroes.

It’s hardly surprising that Wareham, now 25, got bitten by the cricket bug.

She admits it was a struggle at times, given the lack of other girls interested in playing in Terang, the country Victorian town in which she grew up.

“There were no girls’ teams growing up. I was playing junior cricket until 16 with the boys,” she tells WHO. “I always loved it from the get-go and I sort of realised 
I was pretty good at it.”

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Georgie Wareham
Aussie cricket star Georgia Wareham. (Credit: Supplied)

Wareham’s using her platform for the greater good

But with no women’s cricket on TV or other girls to play with, it was only much later that she realised it’s something she could make a career out of – and even play for her country.

“I was just seeing it from the men’s side, but I wanted to put on the Aussie shirt and a baggy [test cricketer’s cap],” she says.

It was a dream that finally came true 
in 2018 when Wareham made her debut against New Zealand, and then against Pakistan a month later.

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“It’s special every time you get the opportunity to put on the Aussie shirt. It’s pretty cool and I don’t take it for granted,” she shares.

Wareham sees her wider responsibility as 
a female athlete, too – one of inspiring the next generation of sporting talent.

“I always notice the young girls in the crowd,” she says.

“I want to make sure they can see the pathway and know the opportunities are out there.”

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‘I can help you find your voice’

And it’s about more than getting the next female Aussie cricket team together, as she explains how empowering and confidence-building sport can be.

“In team sport, there’s camaraderie and leadership opportunities. It can help you find your voice,” she explains.

Wareham’s also involved in a wider campaign as part of a partnership between Cricket Australia and UNICEF Australia.

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They’re appealing for gender equality and bringing awareness to the gender disparities that still exist globally.

While our women’s cricket team might be making history on the field, there are still millions of girls who don’t have the same opportunities.

Georgie Wareham
(Credit: Supplied)

Wareham wants you to support a girl’s right to safety and education

More than 20 per cent of adolescent
girls (ages 15-19) are not even in education, let alone playing sport.

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The “Until Every Girl Can Play” campaign will feature throughout the summer of cricket. That includes the CommBank Women’s Ashes Day-Night Test at the MCG on January 30 where, “The Appeal Appeal” will turn every appeal for a wicket into a moment for gender equality.

Fans at the MCG and viewers at home will be encouraged to donate to UNICEF.

A little goes a long way to help empower millions of girls around the world and support their rights to education and safety.

“This partnership with UNICEF Australia and the ‘Until Every Girl Can Play’ campaign is about empowering girls, giving them the chance to play, learn and lead,” Wareham says.

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“We hope we can help raise awareness.”


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