The Women’s Cricket World Cup currently underway in India might be the biggest stage for the world’s best women cricketers to showcase their skills. Yet, a few days back, as one watched televised highlights of the Australia versus England Super Six encounter played at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium, the empty stands didn’t come across as a great advertisement for the women’s game.

This, despite the fact that it was being played in the cradle of Indian cricket, where there isn’t a dearth of experts and knowledgeable fans nor was the actual game a bore. The Aussies went on to snatch a hard-fought win by two runs, in an evenly matched nail-biter.