Debasis Sen in Leeds
As you enter the Headingley ground, you will invariably meet a woman groundstaff working under chief curator Richard Robinson. She is the 20-year-old Jasmine Nicholls, who is the first woman involved in the preparation of pitches at the iconic Headingley ground, setting a powerful example for others to follow.
Jasmine is not the only female groundstaff in cricket venues across the United Kingdom. She was also a part of an all-female groundstaff team which prepared the pitch for a women’s Ashes match at Edgbaston, marking a significant milestone for the profession and showcasing the growing presence of women in this traditionally male-dominated field.
Jasmine, formerly a national race worker from Leicester, chose to take up the job of being a groundstaff after a request from Robinson. She is now involved in preparing pitches at the Headingley ground across all formats. On Tuesday, she was seen preparing the 22-yard strip for the first Test between India and England, which gets underway from June 20.
Talking exclusively to Revsportz, Jasmine shared her experiences about how she ended up taking this job. “I started a couple of years back. I used to help Richard (Robinson) occasionally. It was Richard who invited me to come over to Yorkshire,” said Jasmine.
On being asked about how she got interested with a job that was dominated by men, Jasmine said, “I went to local clubs and talked to the ground staff and that’s how it started. It was never my ambition, really. But I tried to do something different.”
She added, “I questioned whether this was the right thing for me and if I could manage to deal with that. But from day one, I was made to feel welcome here in Yorkshire. The whole ground staff team under Richard welcomed me with open arms. They have been great in promoting women like me. They have been really helpful for me to learn on the job. Everyone looked after me and has been supportive.”
Finally, talking about her vision, Jasmine said, “I just want to try and build on my experience and I have learnt so much. I will just keep learning. I never expected to be here three years ago.”
Women like Jasmine Nicholls are reshaping the landscape of pitch curating. She will surely encourage more women to pursue a career in pitch curating. The success of Jasmine will also help to break down gender stereotypes and highlight the profession as a viable and rewarding path for women.