While the BCCI and ICC maintained silence on the matter, Anaya Bangar receiving permission from Cricket Australia to play in the WBBL sparked mixed reactions across the cricket world. Now, England cricketer Lauren Winfield-Hill has shared her reality check on this historic decision.
Lauren Winfield-Hill Says Anaya Bangar Has ‘A Long Way’ to Go Before WBBL
Recently, the 36-year-old appeared on the Wisden Podcast, where she was asked about Anaya Bangar receiving permission from Cricket Australia to play in the WBBL. Winfield-Hill shared her thoughts clearly on the matter and stated that Bangar has “a long way” to go.
Winfield-Hill said, “I think irrespective of the policy, she’s probably a long way away from playing in the WBBL. From a ‘is she good enough’ point of view… I think that’s where people sort of jump the gun a little bit.”
“If you’re clear to play community cricket, you’re still not on an academy system. You’re still not playing state cricket. A lot of state cricketers don’t play in the WBBL,” she added.
The England women’s cricketer further explained that people often forget why someone would want to play the sport in the first place. She highlighted that it was not just about what cricket gave a player but also what it provided them as a person.
Winfield-Hill explained that cricket was about being part of a team, improving, growing, and finding a place where someone would feel they belong. She added that the focus should not immediately be on whether Anaya could compete against the world’s best players in the WBBL but rather on understanding why she wanted to play cricket in the first place.
Talking about Bangar, Cricket Australia announced in late August 2026 that Sanjay Bhangar’s daughter would be eligible to play in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) from March 2027.
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