The year 2009 will go down in Hungarian cricketing history as one of the most important in the development of women's cricket. Not only did the first-ever women's match take place in June, but an all-female team came second in the country's Development Division and female players went on a total of 8 trips abroad - they are at the heart of plans to increase female participation in the sport in Europe.

February saw Fox Autorent help the Hungary U17 ladies team travel to Oldenburg in north Germany with the use of a free minibus for the long drive. The team only won three out of their nine matches, but the experience was priceless and the girls travelled home determined to progress.

May saw the U17s travel to Munich in an even bigger bus to take part in the Europa Cup, the very first experience of outdoor cricket for some. Another fourth-place finish was well-deserved and set them up for the biggest event of the year.

The Anita-Hungaria Women's Cricket Festival at Gödöllo in June was a true marker of how things have progressed in Hungary in the past few years and a real pointer to the future, not just because it marked the start of a sponsorship deal with Anita-Hungaria (the local arm of the German sports and medical bra company). The Hungary women (aged between 16 and 52) beat the visiting Thoiry Falcons from Paris in both Twenty20 matches, but gaining experience was the main fruit of the weekend.

The Comenius Anita Girls were the next manifestation of women's cricket in Hungary and the team conjured up two truly nail-biting victories over all-male opposition to finish runners-up in the Development Division (behind the Comenius Boys team). Both wins came in the last over, with captain Claudia Balogh hitting 24 not out in one match and Brigi Hotea taking 11 wickets in four games.

October was the time to help Anita in their bid to raise awareness in Hungary of breast cancer testing and treatment. On October 4th four players joined thousands of women at the Pink Chain Bridge event in Budapest, then two weeks later three players dressed up to take part in the Coca Cola Body Alarm Women's Running Gala.

The final flourish in the year was the 1st International Open Schools Indoor Tournament in Schloss Holte-Stuckenbrock in November, where Anita helped six Hungarian girls join two boys to make up a Comenius School team that finished sixth out of the eleven teams, most of which were all-male. The Comenius team had the most females and enjoyed the most attention, including an exclusive interview with a local newspaper.

The girls also took part in various matches and tournaments abroad with the boys - once in Vienna and three times in Slovenia - and helped Comenius and various Hungary junior teams to success. They also teamed up with the German women for a training camp in Vienna.

Plans are being made for many women's matches and tournaments in Hungary in 2010, some hosted at the eagerly-awaited first Hungarian cricket pitch at Szodliget, as well as more school programmes and more trips abroad. You just can't keep a good cricket woman down!