Cricket Australia has announced the schedule for the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season, which will feature an opening match at the Adelaide Oval and a return to The Gabba after six years.
An expanded Stadium Series for the WBBL will feature six matches in four venues. A new “optimised” competition structure will feature 40 regular-season games and three Finals.
Sydney Thunder will also play matches at a new home ground, the Drummoyne Oval. A greater proportion of the home and away season will also take in prime time slots to maximise exposure for the league.
The season will start on October 27, with two matches scheduled for the Adelaide Oval: Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Sixers. The Perth Scorchers will also take on the Melbourne Stars at the WACA Ground on the same day.
The Gabba will return to the schedule on November 9 as the Heat host the Strikers. The Stadium Series will also feature matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground on November 10, Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 15, and Adelaide Oval on November 16.
The regular season will conclude on November 24. The three-match WBBL Finals series will follow, culminating with the grand final on December 1, hosted by the team that finishes top of the table.
Each team will play 10 regular-season matches rather than 14, with each club playing three others twice.
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s general manager for the Big Bash Leagues, said: “The Weber WBBL|10 schedule is the perfect platform to celebrate our growth and forge a new era for the world’s best cricket league for women.
“By optimising the season to 43 games, we will deliver fans more marquee matches in big stadiums, an improved broadcast footprint and a more even spread of matches throughout the competition.”
