Sport writer Thomas Bamford talks to Heather Knight & CULCC about her Sportswoman of the Year nomination.
Cardiff alumnus Heather Knight has been nominated for the prestigious Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year award. The awards celebrate ÔÇ£outstanding contributionsÔÇØ to sport, with nominees ranging from elite performers to coaches, community volunteers to inspirational female figures.┬á
The list of previous winners reads like a whoÔÇÖs who of consummate sportswomen, including Dame Ellen MacArthur, Dame Kelly Holmes, Paula Radcliffe and Jessica Ennis. ┬áKnightÔÇÖs fellow nominees for this yearÔÇÖs event include dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin, track cyclist Becky James, 400m runner Christine Ohuruogu, world triathlon champion Non Stanford and bob skeleton world champion Shelly Rudman. Sky, who have played no small part in the recent increase in the popularity of womenÔÇÖs sport, have taken over as a major sponsor of the event and will broadcast it live on Thursday, December 5th.
Knight has staked a strong claim to the title with her performances throughout 2013.┬á With a burgeoning average of 45 in Test matches and a solid 27 in ODIs, Knight was EnglandÔÇÖs highest run scorer during the 2013 season.┬á Her form reached its zenith with a defiant 157 vs. Australia at Wormsley, in the only Test of the womenÔÇÖs Ashes this summer.┬á Her heavy contribution in EnglandÔÇÖs series victory was recognised in being named Player of the Series.
Speaking to gair rhydd, CULCC 1st XI captain Christina Paddock commented on how KnightÔÇÖs nomination might impact womenÔÇÖs cricket:┬á ÔÇÿWe have already seen with Claire Taylor winning Wisden cricketer of the year in 2009 how the positive effects of national exposure filter through the female game.ÔÇÖ
Paddock continued by explaining how this kind of exposure can help even at university level:┬á ÔÇÿThe year prior to my enrolment at Cardiff there was the possibility of the club disbanding, as participation levels were so low.┬á We slowly managed to get enough girls and the results steadily improved, culminating in us winning the BUCS indoor national finals in the 2010-2011 season.ÔÇÖ
Regarding the future of the England womenÔÇÖs team, Paddock added;┬á ÔÇÿThey are on the right track with good results and have been nominated for Sky Sports team of the year.┬á This exposure can only help the popularity of the game.┬á Investments have been made in the female game from the likes of Sky and the ÔÇÿChance to ShineÔÇÖ projects.┬á We can only hope that this will lead to growth in the game at grassroots level, ultimately strengthening the national team.ÔÇÖ
Knight herself expressed to gair rhydd her feelings on the nomination: ÔÇÿObviously IÔÇÖm very pleased to even be nominated.┬á It was a bit of a shock when I found out on Twitter when I was in the gym! I don’t expect to win as the other nominees have all had an amazing year. ┬áItÔÇÖs also great that the team has been nominated and hopefully we will be in with a good shout.┬á Your readers can vote online!ÔÇÖ
Looking to the future, Knight outlined her goals:┬á ÔÇÿFor the rest of my career, I want to carry on playing and perform a bit more consistently at the top of the order in all three formats. It would also be nice to win a World Cup.ÔÇÖ┬á The immediate goal for Knight and her England teammates is the upcoming Ashes series:┬á ÔÇÿWinning the Ashes in Australia this January is our main aim, which will be much tougher in their back yard.┬á They will come out hard at u
s after losing in England this summer. ┬áWe have a good chance, though. Then the next goal is to regain the world number 1 spot from the Aussies.ÔÇÖ
Despite a phenomenal year, Knight is clearly not yet satisfied with her accomplishments, indicating that her development in the near future will be well worth following.
You can vote for Team of the Year online at: http://www1.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/sportswomen/vote
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