Australia continue to push the envelope with women's cricket

For a long time Australia have talked a lot about 'pushing the women's game forward'; to be the pioneer in every step the women's cricket takes forward. They have marketed the line so many times, almost like it's a PR drive. But more importantly, they have taken concrete steps towards acting likewise - be it the board or the players.

Cricket Australia paved the way by creating and sustaining arguably the strongest domestic structure in women's cricket, including the WBBL, and offering contracts that made the players the highest paid female athletes in any sport in Australia. The contracts may have come with a bit of opposition and fight, but it did. And, on the field, the players have constantly proved themselves worthy of that, paving way for what the future of women's game holds.

Their brand of attacking cricket, detailed planning, preparing players for multiple roles and high-quality fielding and fitness has put them at a level far ahead of the rest, with England being their closest competitors. The India tour, which concluded with them winning the