Welcome to Twenty Two Yards, a weekly newsletter celebrating cricket's culture and characters.

In this issue:

• Protests hit Sachin Tendulkar’s home

• The equal pay debate in cricket isn’t all rainbows

• Finally, a Chrome extension.

Leave Sachin Alone

By Dave Scipione

The quiet neighbourhood surrounding cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's luxurious home was recently rocked by protests. What could have riled up fans of the God of Cricket? Brace yourselves - it was none other than an online gaming advert.

Tendulkar is facing a backlash from fans for endorsing the online gaming platform Paytm First Games.

With an estimated 700 million gamers in India by 2025, companies are after big names like Tendulkar to help acquire new users, but a battle is brewing in India as we enter a new era of gaming and gambling.

Sachin isn't the only notable cricketer that platforms are after:

Brett Lee and Sportsbet.io
Brendon McCullum and Mostbet
Virender Sehwag and ComeOn
Shane Warne and DafaBet
Kevin Pietersen and Betway

…and let's not forget the other sports and their stars who have endorsed online gaming and sports betting.

Peyton, Eli - hell, all of the Mannings and Caesars
Rafael Nadal and PokerStars
Kevin Garnett and BetMGM
Jake Paul and Betr
Max Verstappen and EA Sports

An ESPN poll of 73 NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB players revealed that 63% of those who responded believed in legalised sports betting. From the NFL to the ICC, betting, gaming, real-money gaming, fantasy, game of chance, yada yada… it’s all older than Mitcham Cricket Club, and it’s not going away.

Critics have taken issue with Sachin lending his name and likeness to platforms, but it's worth noting that Tendulkar has consistently advocated for fair play and sportsmanship - while turning down endorsements for tobacco, citing his father's advice:

In a world where the lines between sports and entertainment are becoming blurred, former athletes have a new way to stay in the game.

Pay ‘em

By Ollie Goodwin

Women's sports are in a turbulent vacuum at the moment. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and Luis Rubiales have caused a #metoo moment and a seismic shift within female sport.

As the support for the Spanish players and an outpouring of solidarity continues, it's a significant cultural shift that everyone should take note of, especially the ousted Rubiales… In the same week, the ECB announced England's Women will be earning the same match fees as men. Very well played timing, ECB, congratulations.

The Good
This summer's Ashes for Women's Cricket was MEGA! Showcasing all the flare, ability and technical brilliance, it's an advert for women's cricket like no other.

Tammy Beaumont is a perfect example and reference point for all the fantastic things achievable given the right resources. As if that double hundred in an Ashes test wasn't enough, she continued to smash 118 off 61 balls for her Welsh Fire.

The Women's Ashes series attracted 110,000 fans at grounds across the UK. The record attendance was broken through the summer.

The Hundred is also proving a success. Viewing figures up 20%, and next year, with a whole host of new shiny money, things should grow again.

On a Sunday afternoon, 21,636 supporters poured into Lord's for the Women's Hundred final between Southern Brave and Northern Superchargers, setting a new a record for women's cricket.

At a grassroots level, the number of women's and girls' cricket teams in the United Kingdom grew by 33 per cent between 2019 and 2021. In 2021, there were over 2,700 such cricket teams across the UK. Things are looking really good for the game, right? Right, guys? Guys?

The Bad
Announcing equal match fees for men and women is a nice headline, but it's not time for a pat on the back. It's the bare minimum. Whether that's in scheduling, grassroots funding or actual pay, there's still a long way to go.

The reality is female contracts are dwarfed by the men's deal. The report on page 78 addressed this: "Women receive an embarrassingly small amount compared to men … the average salary for England Women is 20.6% of the average salary for England Men." The report also concluded that for every £1 the ECB spends on women's cricket, they spend £5 on the men's setup.

The Ugly
A culture of sexism exists in cricket. It just does. Whether it's the offhand comments, weird scheduling or anything that makes women feel like it's a space they aren't welcome in. The report shows a "widespread culture of sexism and misogyny, and unacceptable behaviour towards women in both the recreational and professional game". See page 14. It's there in black and white for all to see.

I should have started with the bad stuff because ending on this note feels like I'm doing the women's side a disservice. They provided us with a spellbinding summer, inspired millions and nearly brought home the Ashes. They deserve better. It's our responsibility to get them there.

The Slip Corden

• ECB diversity training
  Building on Ollie’s piece, ECB will roll out diversity training for all.
  

• 100 MPH

  Tip of the hat to the most TheMostHumbleCoder for releasing 100 MPH, the new live cricket score chrome extension. Sorry, Cricinfo - it’s Humble Coder’s time.

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Issue: Leave Sachin Alone and Equal Pay for England Women Cricket
Publisher: J. LaLonde
Editor-At-Large: Angus Wilson
Contributing Writer: David Scipione
Contributing Writer: Ollie Goodwin
Illustration: Sidney Secolo