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More games, more money and global recognition as the world’s best domestic women’s cricket league are multiple new feathers in the WBBL’s large cap.
As the world’s best women’s cricketers descend on Australia for the ninth edition of the Women’s Big Bash League, it prepares to kick off its “biggest yet” season yet on Thursday evening.
The Sydney Sixers welcome the Melbourne Stars to North Sydney Oval to open the new season, in a match featuring many of Australia’s biggest cricket stars.
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That’s before the Melbourne Renegades, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes and Perth Scorchers all play in a doubleheader on Friday at Junction Oval.
All this before defending champions the Adelaide Strikers begin their title defense at Karen Rolton Oval against the Stars on Saturday.
After what has been a year of spectacular growth for the women’s cricket franchise, the WBBL remains the pinnacle domestic competition for women’s cricket.
This season, WBBL players will play more games and be paid more than before, with top players expected to earn more than $130,000.
League boss Alistair Dobson said this year’s tournament would be the “biggest yet” as the competition continues to grow and provide equal opportunities to all players.
“The equality of the competition and the quality of all the lists is really exciting, it’s really hard to pick a winner this year,” Dobson told foxcricket.com.au.
“It’s hard not to look forward to playing in some of our home stadiums, which makes everyone very excited.”
2023 saw the introduction of the lucrative WPL in India, while the second edition of The Hundred in England also saw record numbers and performances from the women’s competition.
“The growth of women’s cricket globally continues to explode,” Dobson said.
“You look at the other competitions around the world, it’s an incredible time, for us at the WBBL to be widely recognized as the highest quality competition in the world is such an exciting place for us to be.
“(With) some of the things we’ve put in place this season, we’re confident it’ll keep us there.”
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Following the WBBL’s inaugural international player draft which Dobson described as an “unqualified success”, the competition will hold its first ‘Stadium Series‘ in November in a bid to maximize and capture the popularity of the competition.
Defending champions the Adelaide Strikers will host the Perth Scorchers in prime time in a double-header at the Adelaide Oval.
The MCG will host the Melbourne derby the following night as a standalone match while the SCG close the super weekend with a Sydney Smash as part of a doubleheader on Sunday evening.
Dobson said they will review the draft at the end of the season and consider making some changes to the inaugural edition, but insists feedback from players, clubs and partners has all been positive.
“From the way we look at it, with different metrics, from the coverage we’ve been getting since the beginning of September, to the quality and number of players nominated and selected, I think it was absolutely a success ” said Dobson.
“There will be a few things that we’ll look at and consider adjusting, thinking about next year with different mechanics and rules, but we’ve gotten a lot of really good feedback. It worked very well.
“It’s a big blow for us.”
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Dobson says there are other levels the WBBL can also take as other leagues continue to emerge and competition around the world becomes healthier.
“There are always things that we have in mind as to what the future might look like,” Dobson said.
“A lot of things are looking very good this year. What we’re finding, whether in men’s or women’s cricket, is that the global landscape is quite dynamic, changing every day and for us it’s really exciting to stay at the forefront of that.
“Whether it’s player salaries, what venues you play in, what the schedule looks like, what crowds you can gather.
“There’s always a lot to do, but going into the season now, it’s exciting to think about what’s to come.”
