However, in clubs and schools around the country a quiet revolution is gathering pace.
BatFirst aims to put a bat in the hand of every Year 3 child attending a Decile 1-5 school in Auckland.
Photo: Claudia Raven - Auckland Cricket
Seventeen months ago, Carol Agafili had never played traditional cricket. But that all changed when she heard Samoa women's captain Regina Lili'i speak at the McAuley High School Sports Awards in 2019.
The Kiwi Samoan teen is now a regular at the Papatoetoe Cricket Club, where Lili'i works as a women's development officer, and earned a call-up to last year's Auckland Under 17 women's team.