Cricket Australia is set to make the Women’s Big Bash League a standalone competition during the 2019 spring in a move that could trigger the downfall of the burgeoning competition.
Just as we’re beginning to see in the fledgling AFLW, the WBBL could be heading towards serious trouble.
The players will be denied the chance to play in top-class facilities. Instead they’ll take to far-flung fields in the middle of nowhere devoid of atmosphere and core fan-bases.
Australia’s women cricketers deserve to be playing on the best grounds in the country, not rural fields usually reserved for amateur leagues and premier cricket. Double-headers will be scrapped, which will prevent supporters from enjoying a day out at the Big Bash watching both the men and the women battle it out.
The whole point of the WBBL was to create a league mirroring the BBL. For the supporters to have better access to the league, the WBBL must be played in its current slot, when the summer holidays have started and when the kids can go to the matches. Young girls (and boys) are inspired by their heroes playing in the professional leagues like the BBL and WBBL, but they’ll be unable to watch them when the WBBL is shifted into spring this year.
The weather in October is very different to December, bringing with it a bigger risk fo rain. We’ve already seen two matches abandoned due to rain this season – just imagine what it would be like when cricket is being played in spring.
We’ll also see a clash in 2020 when the T20 World Cup hits Australian shores. The World Cup will be held from 18 October until 15 November, running over the top of the WBBL competition.
Cricket Australia’s idea is to have it enshrined in its own timeframe, allowing supporters and broadcasters to fully focus on the women’s game before the men’s competition kicks off in summer with internationals in late November, but the WBBL will become a second-class citizen with the World Cup running at the same time. It’ll also further reduce access to top venues, which will be taken over by the international tournament.
International players may also not be able to commit to the WBBL next season as international schedules are held during October. Training camps might also be run by the various cricket bodies, preventing players from travelling to Australia for the WBBL.
The only positive I can find in this shift is that the players will now be home for Christmas. Interstate and international players have been unable to celebrate Christmas with their families for the past couple of season, so they will finally be able to return home to celebrate with their loved ones in 2019.
Let’s hope Cricket Australia can seriously think this through and change their decision to shift the WBBL schedule in future seasons.
Bobbo7
Guest
The issue for the WBBL much like the AFLW is that there is too much content. I'll watch WBBL if I see it on, but I'd rather watch international cricket or the BBL. there is only so much time and most are going to watch the higher level stuff.
Paul D
Roar Guru
See, I'd rather watch a game of cricket at a suburban ground than at the Gabba anyway.
Vawdrey Trayler
Roar Rookie
I attended the Strikers home game vs Hurricanes at Karen Rolton Oval this week. I surely felt the playing arena was very suitable for the ladies and provided a good atmosphere for the small but vocal crowd. If this were out of the summer holiday period I feel crowds would be very low. This would be a shame as the quality of the game was very impressive and on the smaller field of play I feel you were able to appreciate more so the athleticism of the players. Please don't ruin Women's Cricket just as it starts to make a small impact.
Queenslander
Roar Guru
Will WBBL matches be played at the MCG? SCG? Adelaide Oval? Gabba? No. No it wont next year. There will be NO double headers which is a shame because I really enjoy going to the WBBL/BBL Double Headers and this won't happen next year. As a member of the Melbourne Stars, we usually have a Members event called the Wrap Party that members get to mingle with members of both squads and this has been scrapped this year because with the staggered finishes and next year with the separate tournaments, they could not arrange a time for the event. It is sad.
Queenslander
Roar Guru
Yes, I hope that the WBBL does well in a standalone tournament but I am worried about the future. I can see that not being held during the school holidays could cause a threat to the future. Watching the Stars v Heat WBBL game today, they mentioned that Kirby Short is a School Assistant Principal- well she will be busy during that time and won't get to play. I hope that CA will go back to the normal timeframe.
reuster75
Roar Rookie
"Australia’s women cricketers deserve to be playing on the best grounds in the country, not rural fields usually reserved for amateur leagues and premier cricket." What evidence do you have that they'll be playing on sub-standard grounds? The Sydney Sixers will play at north Sydney Oval which has facilities suitable for first class cricket and is seen as the home of women's cricket in Australia. The Stars and Renegades you'd imagine would play at Junction Oval which again is suitable for first class cricket and has had a lot of upgrades recently. Also likely to play the odd match in Geelong which is an excellent ground. Brisbane Heat I would presume would play at Allan Border field which often hosts first class matches so again no question marks over its facilities. Hobart - surely Bellereive oval being fairly small already would be suitable?? Cricket Australia do a lot wrong but for me they are the only sporting body in this country that takes their women's competitions seriously and I would imagine they'll do everything in their power to ensure the WBBL is a roaring success.
anon
Roar Pro
I think a standalone WBBL is a great idea. No-one can complain about the men's game cannibalising the league or commanding all the attention. The WBBL will have the chance to stand on its own merits. We'll see just how much the public is interested in women's cricket.
danno
Guest
In WA winning the WBBL final is its most important priority. Winning the Sheffield Shield comes in 3rd. https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/sheffield-shield-decline-a-big-reason-behind-australias-test-woes-ng-b881067908z