When athletes become parents, the added responsibility of taking care of their child and training to compete is very difficult to bear, especially for female athletes who would go through a tough recovery period and also have to take care of the child, often signaling the end of their career.
However, with this new game-changing policy that Cricket Australia has introduced, athletes will be given 12 months' parental leave for the primary carer and three weeks for the secondary parent. Furthermore, travel costs and accommodation will be provided for athletes until the child is four years old.
"The announcement is game-changing. Having the security of a contract is a big plus and the ability to transition after having children," wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy said during a panel on Friday.
She reflected on a time when her teammates would be pumping breast milk in the change rooms before making a century (100 runs). But typically, motherhood would signify the end to a woman player's professional career. No longer.
"Originally pregnancy was seen as injury… It's unbelievably cool to think a female cricketer could travel the world and play cricket with a young family."
(Image credit: Cricket Australia)