WBBL in great shape and ready to stand alone

NAOMI Stalenberg is measured up for another two seasons with the Sydney Thunder in what she reckons will be two of the biggest years yet for WBBL.

NAOMI Stalenberg is measured up and locked in for another two seasons with the Sydney Thunder and she reckons it will be two of the biggest years yet for WBBL.

When the fourth season gets underway in just over two weeks’ time, it also marks the start of separation from the men’s competition and WBBL standing as its own product.

Some clubs will charge entry this season and the finals will be their own event for the first time and by 2020 the women’s competition will sit in its own slot on the calendar.

And if the cricket that is being played at the World T20 at the moment is anything to go by, it will be one of the best seasons to date on-field too.

Naomi Stalenberg has re-signed for two more seasons with Sydney Thunder. Pic: Adam Yip

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“It’s all going to start from this World T20 on at the moment, as many players over there will come back and play Big Bash cricket,” Stalenberg said.

“With the MOU and female cricketers being able to earn a lot more money, be able to train full-time, that’s really important for this competition (WBBL).

“I definitely think WBBL is growing very fast and looking on to next year with more standalone games and moving into 2020 (T20) World Cup here on home soil; that’s what the big build up is. Women’s cricket is definitely getting stronger each year.”

Stalenberg wants to be a clutch players at the crease. Pic: AAP

Thunder have four players currently competing at the World Cup in Australia’s Rachael Haynes and Nicola Carey, as well as West Indian Stafanie Taylor and India’s Harmanpreet Kaur.

All have been in blistering touch which is sure to give Thunder confidence they can push beyond their semi-final finish of last season.

While it is only a short one-week turnaround from the end of the World T20 to the start of the WBBL, Stalenberg expects the players to show no ill effects.

“Professional cricket is going in the direction where you do have to play a lot of games and do have to play back-to-back series and competitions,” she said.

“They’re all well and fit and they’re able to back up after many big tournaments.

Rachael Haynes has been performing well for Australia. Pic: Getty Images

“We’ve had three players of ours in the KSL (Kaur, Haynes and Taylor) and then they’ve gone to the World T20 and then go straight into Big Bash.

“It can have its up and downs, positives and negatives, but the biggest positive is that they’ve come away from playing so much cricket that hopefully they’re in a fair bit of form. That will be a big plus for us.”

Stalenberg, who was at MJ Bale to unveil the Thunder’s 2018/19 playing strip, is hoping to push her game to another level too.

Thunder player Nicola Carey during a World T20 warm-up match. Pic: Jan Kruger-IDI

After a strong showing for Thunder last season, the allrounder is focused on doing all she can to have the team factoring in finals again.

“Last year I had a consistent season and this year is just about taking it to the next level and putting some big scores on the board.

“Mostly just bat my team to victory any time I can.

“That’s what is going to be really important for me. Just always showcasing my skills on and off the field and representing a club that I love in Thunder.”

Originally published as WBBL in great shape and ready to stand alone