Changes for WBBL may involve major alteration to finals scheduling as big plan for women’s cricket unveiled

A reduction to the WBBL has been confirmed as part of Cricket Australia’s ambitious long term plan for the women’s game and a major change to the finals structure is being considered. See the full plan HERE.

Cricket Australia is looking at ensuring home-ground advantage is locked in for all Women’s Big Bash League finals as part of the revamped competition unveiled on Tuesday.

Under the current iteration, the fourth-ranked and third-ranked teams at the end of the regular season play at the venue of the second-placed side for the right to face the second-ranked team at the same ground.

The winner of that match proceeds to a decider against the top-ranked team, at the highest-placed side’s venue.

It meant that Brisbane Heat played Sydney Thunder in a final at Perth’s WACA Ground last year.

However head of Big Bash Leagues Alistair Dobson confirmed to this masthead on Tuesday that CA was looking at whether three standalone finals with home-ground advantage would work for next season, which has been reduced to 40 regular season matches.

BBL General Manager Alistair Dobson speaking in December. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images for Cricket Australia

The shortened season has largely been received well by players and broadcasters, although there has been pushback from Victorian and NSW clubs concerned that one-team states will receive a leg-up through the additional state-based T20 competition that will supplement the WBBL and help ensure domestic players don’t miss out on opportunities as a result of the streamlined WBBL.

Contentious WBBL move confirmed as part of women’s plan

The Women’s Big Bash League’s divisive reduction was confirmed earlier on Tuesday, but a new state-based Twenty20 competition will be added to the calendar as female player wages soar further.

The revamped schedule for women’s domestic cricket comes as part of Cricket Australia unveils an ambitious women and girls action plan for the next decade.

However amid pressure from leading players and a calendar crunch related to this year’s women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, CA has cut the league back to 10 matches per side, bringing it in line with the men’s Big Bash League.

However a state T20 league has been added, supplementing the calendar and allowing the average domestic female player salary to increase to $163,322.

Meg Lanning playing for Victoria earlier this year. Picture: Getty Images

The move has been controversial, particularly in Victoria and NSW where there are fears one-team WBBL states will get a leg-up from their sides being able to largely stick together in the state competition.

CA chief Nick Hockley said there remained considerable untapped potential in the women’s game.

“Building on its long and proud history, the growth of cricket as a sport for women and girls over the past decade is one of the great success stories of Australian sport and we are

confident this action plan will provide the focus and energy to ensure we accelerate cricket’s leadership position.

86,174 fans piled into the MCG for Women's T20 World Cup final. Picture: AAP Image

“We’ve seen what is possible with transformative moments such as 86,174 fans packing the MCG for the T20 World Cup final, which remains the highest attendance for a female sporting event in Australia.

“There is so much more opportunity and work to be done to ensure big crowds in big stadiums more often, that our incredible role models are given the profile they deserve, that all facets of the game are gender balanced, that through imaginative partnerships we drive commercial growth, sustainable investment and ultimately that more women and girl are inspired to love and play cricket.

“Thank you to everyone across the game who has contributed to development of the action plan. I am so excited to work together to bring it to life.”