Women's Big Bash League

Women's Big Bash League
Refer to caption
Logo of the Women's Big Bash League
Countries  Australia
Administrator Cricket Australia
Format Twenty20
First tournament 2015–16
Next tournament 2018–19
Tournament format Double Round-robin and knockout finals
Number of teams 8
Current champion Sydney Sixers (2nd title)
Most successful Sydney Sixers (2 titles)
Most runs Beth Mooney (1347)
Most wickets Sarah Aley (69)
TV Seven Network
Fox Sports
Website bigbash.com.au/wbbl

The Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) is the Australian women's domestic Twenty20 cricket competition.[1]

The WBBL replaced the Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup, which ran from the 2007–08 season through to the 2014–15 season. The competition features eight city-based franchises, branded identically to the franchises in the men's Big Bash League. A number of matches during the competition's inaugural 2015–16 season were broadcast by Network Ten, a free-to-air network.[2] The naming rights sponsor for the WBBL is Rebel Sport.[3] The current champions are the Sydney Sixers.

History

Women's International Cricket League

In early 2014, the formation of an international women's Twenty20 competition, based around the franchise model of the Indian Premier League was announced. Headed by former Australian cricketer Lisa Sthalekar and Australian businessman Shaun Martyn, it was proposed that the six teams, based in Singapore, would all be privately owned, and players earning over $US40,000 per season.[4][5]

There was strong support from top female players for the concept,[4] and support was sought from the International Cricket Council, while former international cricketers Geoff Lawson and Clive Lloyd were on the board of the organisation.[5]

The concept was dealt a blow in early June, when the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that they would refuse to release centrally contracted English players. At the same time, Cricket Australia announced it would also refuse to release its players for the tournament. Both organisations expressed concern that the tournament was not being centrally run by a national cricket board, but a private company.[6]

Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup

Before the establishment of the Women's Big Bash League, Cricket Australia conducted a national Twenty20 competition, the Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup. The tournament ran in conjunction with the Women's National Cricket League, the Australian national women's limited overs competition, with the final being played as a double header with the Twenty20 Big Bash and the Big Bash League.

The competition ran from 2009-2010 season to the 2014-2015 season, with some exhibition games being held in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. The competition was wound up after the 2014-2015 season to make way for the Women's Big Bash League.

Establishment

Former Australian national captain Belinda Clark revealed on 19 January 2014 the planning for a women's BBL was in its early stages but it could become a reality very soon. They are considering it for the huge rise in television ratings in the BBL 03 season and the rise in women's cricket popularity.[7]

On 19 February 2015, Cricket Australia announced that a Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) would commence in season 2015/2016, with teams aligned to the current men's competition. The teams will share the names and colours of the existing men's BBL teams, meaning that there will be two teams from each of Sydney and Melbourne while one team from each of Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Hobart. The format and draw of the tournament are yet to be revealed.[8]

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said in a media release, “We see T20 as the premium format of the women’s game and the WBBL is an exciting concept that will increase the promotion and exposure of women’s cricket”.[9] Sutherland also said, “Our existing female domestic competitions are arguably the strongest in the world, with the continued success of the top-ranked women’s team, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, a testament to that”. Cricket Australia executive Mike McKenna said, "Our goal is to see cricket become the sport of choice for women and girls across the nation, whether as participants or fans".[10] On 13 October 2015, 100 of Australia’s elite cricketers joined together to pledge $20 million towards the growth of cricket in Australia, to help grassroots level Cricket, support former players and develop further opportunities for female cricketers.[11]

Current teams

The competition features the same eight city-based franchises that are in the Big Bash League. Each state's capital city features one team, with Sydney and Melbourne featuring two.[12]

Team City State Home ground Coach Captain Southern Stars Foreign players
Adelaide Strikers Adelaide South Australia South Australia Adelaide Oval Charlotte Edwards Suzie Bates Megan Schutt
Amanda-Jade Wellington[b]
Tahlia McGrath[b]		 New ZealandSuzie Bates
New ZealandSophie Devine
EnglandTammy Beaumont
Brisbane Heat Brisbane Queensland Queensland The Gabba Andy Richards Kirby Short Beth Mooney
Holly Ferling
Jess Jonassen
Grace Harris		 BarbadosDeandra Dottin
South AfricaLaura Wolvaardt
IndiaSmriti Mandhana
Hobart Hurricanes Hobart Tasmania Tasmania Blundstone Arena Julia Price Corinne Hall BarbadosHayley Matthews
EnglandLauren Winfield
IndiaVeda Krishnamurthy
Melbourne Renegades Melbourne Victoria (Australia) Victoria Etihad Stadium Lachlan Stevens Amy Satterthwaite Jess Duffin
Molly Strano[b]		 New ZealandLea Tahuhu
New ZealandAmy Satterthwaite
Sri LankaChamari Atapattu
Melbourne Stars Melbourne Victoria (Australia) Victoria Melbourne Cricket Ground David Hemp Kristen Beams Kristen Beams
Erin Osborne		 South AfricaMignon du Preez
South AfricaLizelle Lee
EnglandGeorgia Elwiss
Perth Scorchers Perth Western Australia Western Australia WACA Ground Lisa Keightley Elyse Villani Elyse Villani
Nicole Bolton
Meg Lanning[a]		 EnglandKatherine Brunt
EnglandNatalie Sciver
New ZealandThamsyn Newton
Sydney Sixers Sydney New South Wales New South Wales Sydney Cricket Ground Ben Sawyer Ellyse Perry Ellyse Perry
Alyssa Healy
Lauren Cheatle[b]
Ashleigh Gardner[b]
Sarah Aley[b]		 South AfricaDane van Niekerk
South AfricaMarizanne Kapp
New ZealandSara McGlashan
Republic of IrelandKim Garth
Sydney Thunder Sydney New South Wales New South Wales Spotless Stadium Joanne Broadbent Alex Blackwell Alex Blackwell
Rene Farrell
Rachael Haynes[b]		 JamaicaStafanie Taylor
IndiaHarmanpreet Kaur
New ZealandRachel Priest

a Meg Lanning won't be participating in the 2017/18 WBBL season due to injury.[13]
b These players have not played a sufficient number of recent international matches and do not count towards the cap of 5 Australian/international players per match.[14]

Tournament results

Season Final Final host (note) Final venue
Winner Result Runner-up
2015–16
Details		 Sydney Thunder
7/116 (19.3 overs)		 Thunder won by 3 wickets
Scorecard		 Sydney Sixers
7/115 (20 overs)		 Melbourne Stars Melbourne Cricket Ground
2016–17
Details		 Sydney Sixers
5/124 (20 overs)		 Sixers won by 7 runs
Scorecard		 Perth Scorchers
7/117 (20 overs)		 Perth Scorchers WACA Ground, Perth
2017–18
Details		 Sydney Sixers
1/100 (15 overs)		 Sixers won by 9 wickets
Scorecard		 Perth Scorchers
99 (20 overs)		 Adelaide Strikers Adelaide Oval

Team performances

Suzie Bates batting for Perth Scorchers against Sydney Thunder at Lilac Hill Park, Perth, on 21 January 2017. The wicketkeeper is Alex Blackwell.
Team 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18
Adelaide Strikers 7th 8th SF (4th)
Brisbane Heat 6th SF (3rd) 5th
Hobart Hurricanes SF (2nd) SF (4th) 8th
Melbourne Renegades 8th 7th 6th
Melbourne Stars 5th 5th 7th
Perth Scorchers SF (4th) R (2nd) R (3rd)
Sydney Sixers R (3rd) W (1st) W (1st)
Sydney Thunder W (1st) 6th SF (2nd)
Notes

Media coverage

2015/16 Season

The 2015/16 season initially planned to have 8 of the 59 matches (including the final) air live on Australian free-to-air network One. TV ratings success encouraged the Ten network to also add coverage of the semi-finals and move two of the remaining three matches to its main channel (Ten).[15] ITV4 sought broadcast rights also.[16][17]

The high TV ratings for the Women's Big Bash League convinced Network Ten to move the broadcast of the WBBL Melbourne Derby clash between Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades from One to Ten, their main broadcast channel.[18]

The WBBL commentary team was led by Andrew Maher with former Australian players Mel Jones and Lisa Sthalekar. The Free-To-Air broadcast of the WBBL covered the following games:

  • Saturday 19 December 2.30pm AEDT Live on ONE - Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers
  • Sunday 20 December 11.30am AEDT Live on ONE - Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers
  • Thursday 31 December 2.30pm AEDT Live on ONE - Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers
  • Friday 1 January 2.30pm AEDT Live on ONE - Hobart Hurricanes vs Brisbane Heat
  • Saturday 2 January 1.30pm AEDT Live on TEN - Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades
  • Saturday 9 January 2.30pm AEDT Live - Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder
  • Saturday 16 January 1.30pm AEDT Live on TEN - Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder
  • Thursday 21 January 2.30pm AEDT Live on ONE - Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers (Semi-Final 1)
  • Friday 22 January 2.30pm AEDT Live on ONE - Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers (Semi-Final 2)
  • Sunday 24 January 1.30pm AEDT Live on TEN - Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers (Final)

2016/17 Season

Network Ten broadcast 11 games in the 2016/2017 season. The commentary team was again led by Andrew Maher and featured Mel Jones and Lisa Sthalekar alongside Jason Bennett and Pete Lazer. The following WBBL matches were televised on Channel Ten and One. [19] [20]

  • December 10: Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Renegades (2:10pm on TEN and TEN HD)
  • December 10: Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars (6:10pm on TEN and TEN HD)
  • December 11: Perth Scorchers vs Hobart Hurricanes (11:10am on TEN and TEN HD)
  • December 11: Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat (2:10pm on TEN and TEN HD)
  • December 31: Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers (2:10pm on TEN and TEN HD)
  • January 1: Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades (2:10pm on TEN and TEN HD)
  • January 8: Hobart Hurricanes vs Brisbane Heat (2:10pm on TEN and TEN HD)
  • January 14: Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder (2:10pm on TEN and TEN HD)
  • January 21: Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars (12:10pm on TEN and TEN HD)
  • January 24, 25: WBBL semi-finals (3:10pm on ONE)
  • January 28: WBBL final (2:10pm on TEN and TEN HD)

All the WBBL games were also able to be watched live and free, streamed via the internet on the WBBL page on Facebook[21] and the WBBL page on Cricket.com.au[22]

2017/18 Season

A total of twelve matches were televised on free-to-air in the third season of Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) on Network Ten, including four on the opening weekend.[23] The remaining 47 matches were live streamed on the Cricket Australia or MamaMia websites as well as the Cricket Australia Live App for mobile.

Match No Teams Average TV Ratings
National 5 metro cities
Session 1 Session 2 Session 1 Session 2
1 Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder [24] 226,000 331,000 146,000 241,000
3 Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars [25] 376,000 469,000 249,000 297,000
4 Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat [26] 159,000 251,000 99,000 150,000
6 Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers [27] 335,000 421,000 210,000 275,000
15 Sydney Sixers vs Hobart Hurricanes [28] 186,000 307,000 110,000 182,000
23 Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat [29] 179,000 275,000 106,000 172,000
34 Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers [30] 193,000 343,000 113,000 223,000
42 (note) Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades [31] 107,000 172,000 62,000 97,000
49 Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes [32] 143,000 229,000 88,000 149,000
Semi Final 1 (note) Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers [33] 100,000 75,000 63,000 48,000
Semi Final 2 (note) Sydney Sixers vs Adelaide Strikers [34] 68,000 41,000 113,000 73,000
Final Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers [35] 198,000 313,000 119,000 190,000
Notes
  • ^1 The Super Over of match 42 drew ratings of 296,000 nationally, and 185,000 in the 5 metro cities.[36]
  • ^2 Both semi finals were broadcast on Network Ten’s secondary channel ONE.

2018/19 Season

It was announced in April 2018 that, as part of the new cricket broadcast rights deal made by Cricket Australia, 23 matches of the tournament will be aired live on the Seven Network and on the new Fox Sports dedicated cricket channel Fox Cricket. The remaining 36 matches not televised will be live streamed on the Cricket Australia website.[37]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Women's Big Bash League announced by Cricket Australia, teams mirrored to men's competition". ABC News (Australia). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  2. ↑ David Knox (25 November 2015). TEN confirms Women’s Big Bash League commentary team – TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  3. ↑ (25 November 2015). "rebel throws support behind Women's BBL" – Cricket.com.au. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Proposed women's T20 league 'awesome' - Bates". ESPN Cricinfo. 2014-05-19. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  5. 1 2 Alison Mitchell (2014-05-27). "Women's Twenty20: New IPL-style league planned by Australian pair". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  6. ↑ "Women's International Cricket League vows to continue plans". BBC. 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  7. ↑ "Possibility of Women's Big Bash League". Ninemsn. 19 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "Eight teams announced for Women's BBL". cricket.com.au. 19 February 2015.
  9. ↑ http://www.cricket.com.au/news/womens-big-bash-league-to-align-with-mens-big-bash-league-clubs/2015-02-19
  10. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-10/cricket-australia-launches-women27s-big-bash-league/6611526
  11. ↑ http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/cricket/current-australian-cricketers-pledge-20-million-towards-growth-of-game/story-fnii0bxd-1227568072689
  12. ↑ WBBL: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW bigbash.com.au. Retrieved on 4 Dec, 2015
  13. ↑ "Lanning shoots from Stars in WBBL shock". Cricket Australia. 28 August 2017.
  14. ↑ "Final WBBL03 squads for each club". Cricket Australia. 5 December 2017.
  15. ↑ http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/958647.html
  16. ↑ Knox, David (11 July 2015). "Women's Big Bash League coming to ONE". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  17. ↑ "Cricket Australia launches Women's Big Bash League". ABC News. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  18. ↑ WBBL derby promoted to main channel cricket.com.au. Retrieved on 23 Dec, 2015
  19. ↑ "Rebel Women's Big Bash League Fixtures 2016-17". Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  20. ↑ "WBBL live stream: How to watch the Women's Big Bash League online or on TV". The Roar. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  21. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/WBBL/
  22. ↑ http://www.cricket.com.au/series/wbbl02-womens-big-bash-league/RoS_MsbkqkmOKF5LPWQ_Wg
  23. ↑ "Expanded Big Bash season announced". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  24. ↑ Sat TV #WBBL03 #TEN Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 10 December 2017
  25. ↑ Sat TV #WBBL03 #TEN Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 10 December 2017
  26. ↑ Sun TV #WBBL03 #TEN Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 11 December 2017
  27. ↑ Sun TV #WBBL03 #TEN Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 11 December 2017
  28. ↑ Sat TV #TEN #Rebel #WBBL @tensporttv Sydney Sixers vs Hobart Hurricanes twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 24 December 2017
  29. ↑ NYE TV #TEN #Rebel #WBBL03 @tensporttv Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 1 January 2018
  30. ↑ Saturday TV #TEN #Rebel #WBBL03 @tensporttv Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 14 January 2018
  31. ↑ Saturday #TEN #Rebel #WBBL03 @tensporttv Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 22 January 2018
  32. ↑ Saturday #TEN #Rebel #WBBL @tensporttv Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 28 January 2018
  33. ↑ Thursday #ONE #Rebel #WBBL03 @tensporttv First semi final: Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 2 February 2018
  34. ↑ Friday #ONE #Rebel #WBBL03 @tensporttv Second semi final: Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 4 February 2018
  35. ↑ Sunday #ONE #Rebel #WBBL03 @tensporttv #WBBLFinal: Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 17 April 2018
  36. ↑ Saturday #TEN #Rebel #WBBL03 @tensporttv Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades twitter.com/MediaweekAUS. Retrieved on 22 January 2018
  37. ↑ "CA announces new broadcast deal". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
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