At just 21 years of age, Courtney Webb from the Melbourne Renegades is just one of a host of younger players that have been given increased opportunity as part of WBBL07.
At the Sydney Thunder, 19-year-old Hannah Darlington has assumed the captaincy and Phoebe Litchfield has been elevated up the order, to third.
Tahlia McGrath has been a standout at the Adelaide Strikers following her Player of the Series-winning performance against India.
For Webb, she has also been given increased responsibility this year. Generally Webb was a middle-order batter being used by the Renegades to finish matches. But this year has seen Webb elevated up the order to third.
“It’s a pretty different role to what I have played over the last few seasons,” said Webb.
“I had felt really comfortable in that fifth or sixth spot and coming in to finish the innings, but I have really enjoyed having a go closer to the top of the order.
“Hopefully I can make the most of the opportunity over the next few games.”
Webb’s view is that the strength of Australia’s domestic competitions, particularly the WNCL and WBBL have given increased opportunity to younger players to play cricket against not just the best talent in Australia, but also the world.
“There are so many young women coming through and getting good opportunities to play cricket,” said Webb.
“It’s a really exciting time for a lot of us and it’s good to see so many younger players being included in the Aussie team too.”
While this WBBL will see the Renegades travel to five different locations including Hobart, Perth, Adelaide and Mackay, Webb was particularly excited about returning to Launceston.
Webb grew up in Launceston and her club was South Launceston CC.
“Given the pandemic, we have to be adaptable,” said Webb.
“Last year was a shock for everyone and again things haven’t been easy this year, so it’s certainly been difficult for everyone around the country and meant some scheduling changes to the WBBL.
“But it is so good to be playing cricket again and being from Tasmania, it has been great to start the tournament here.”
Rumour has it that Webb even had her own personal cheer squad when the Renegades played in Launceston.
“There’s a famous fan club among the Renegades group made up of some friends of mine from school and from my old cricket club,” said Webb.
“They came to watch last Saturday when it was pouring with rain. They waited a couple of hours for the game to start and even when the game was called off, they waited until we left the rooms to see me.
“I have some awesome friends down here and it was so special to play in front of them again.”
The Renegades have had a positive start to the WBBL season, winning three out of their first four games (with their fixture against the Perth Scorchers being abandoned due to rain).
But for Webb, one of those victories in particular stands out. That was the Renegades’ seven-wicket win over the Sydney Sixers.
Some tight bowling from the Renegades saw the Sixers restricted to just 118 runs and meant that when it came to their batting innings, the Renegades were firmly in control.
“That game against the Sixers was a big one to set the tone for how we are planning to play this season,” said Webb.
“They are a quality side so to get those key early wickets and to be in control after we got their top three out meant we didn’t feel too much pressure for the rest of the game.
“It was a huge win for us and hopefully we can carry that momentum into our next couple of games.”
But it wasn’t just the Renegades bowlers that put on a show that day. Opener Eve Jones scored 38 runs off 30 balls and Harmanpreet Kaur ended up on 35 not out with two 6s to finish off the innings.
Webb is also relishing the opportunity to learn from the Renegades internationals.
“Harmanpreet is an incredible player, just unbelievable.”
“She seems like she gets her eye in at the start and then backs herself 100 per cent to clear the rope.
“You can’t give her too many balls; once she has faced eight balls she is in and ready to explode.
“I love watching her play whether it’s from the sidelines or at the other end of the crease.”
Paul
Roar Guru
There's no doubt the faster bowlers in women's cricket have become quicker. More to the point, they can still do enough with the ball at pace to make them a serious threat. I look forward to watch the development of this aspect of women's cricket over the next few years. What I hope doesn't happen is the quicks stop trying to bowl fast because of the amount of white ball cricket the women are playing. Unless a fast bowler is an exceptional talent, bowling rapidly, especially in T20 matches is cannon fodder, yet that same bowler can be outstanding in red ball cricket.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Thanks for this recap, I just loved it!!
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Paul, I feel like the fielding is the area of the women's game which has improved the most in recent seasons. I think the next big area of improvement is the fast bowling - given the likes of Darcie Brown and Stella Campbell coming through, you can really see how much benefit those young women have received from such a strong pathway.
Clear as mud
Guest
it's quite weird, Ferling only just arrived at the Gades. And with Wolfie out, you would expect her to get a bowl. Verma very disappointing. Mind you she's not getting much "learn by watching" from the rest of the Sixers. Another poor season unfolding.
Simoc
Guest
I find Harry Kaur way to polite. She can hit most balls for six but because its womans cricket decides that she should do the the right thing and respect each ball. Shafali on the other hand has been terrible when I've watched. One foot down the middle and slog across the line. She is a way better batter than that as she has demonstrated previously. I can't understand Holly Ferlings role at the Melbourne Renegades. Doesn't get a bat at number 11 and doesn't get a bowl because the captain doesn't rate her. Time to move on from that outfit Holly. I'de like to see the Australian woman doing better than they are in WBBL. So many haven't come on from previous seasons. It seems to be the same names scoring the runs all the time.
Clear as mud
Guest
actually it was Aley who droped the catchy, Smithy was in the misfield, and then misfielded again after the runout. Pressure... last over here. Drama! https://www.cricket.com.au/video/courtney-webb-six-to-win-last-over-wbbl05-sixers-melbourne-renegades-big-bash-highlights/2019-11-17
Clear as mud
Guest
It's two years ago now but Courtney Webb first really jumped onto our radar "that day" at Drummoyne. We'd been to a family do and caught the score, the Sixers all over the Gades in the chase of 140. I did the maths and realised we could get there for the last 4 overs or so, always great to be around Drummoyne after a game, and for my daughter, especially for a Sixers' win. And pretty easy bus-train-bus trip back to Marrickville, nice on a school night. We ran in the side gate just as Wolfie got out. 10 an over, only 4 wickets left. only the unknown Courtney Webb... 15 off 21 and looking no real threat. We realised Pez looks off - she has done the shoulder... condition unknown. Aley bowls a classy over, 4 off. Erin Burns gets Maito Brown and had 2-15 off 3 (and a catch and a runout). Gades need 28 off 12 with squad depth players Webb and Leeson out there. It's Leeson that tees off, she crunches Aley for 13 including a 6 and a 4. Suddenly we start to get "the feeling", the "they could actually win this..."... nah, it's Kappie to bowl the last. This over... it's the best, it's the worst. Sums up the madness of T20, as good as the dual last ball semis at the same ground 10 months earlier. Up there with Wes Hall's ridiculous last over in the Tied Test. Leeson takes 1. Then Webb is dropped, a sitter. They get back for 2. The next ball is crunched to long on, Ash Gardner and another fielder look at each other and nobody gets the ball...4! 8 needed off 3. Next ball, Lozza Smith redeems herself for her earlier drop and runs Leeson out with a direct hit at the bowler's end (her arm... just incredible!). It's now 7 off 2. Webb on strike. They hassle for 2 getting her not Strano on strike. 4 to tie, 6 to win. Kappie bowls the quintessential Kappie ball, great in the powerplay, but here it is just in Webb's zone... a wide yorker and at worst they get a super over....and over long on it sails. Never not 6. Courtney Webb has taken 16 off the great Kapp to win the game! And looks a bit lost. An hour later, the Gades players are still buzzing, Tahuhu is still wearing her pads, still next to go in. The pregnant Satterthwaite stands proudly by, joking that the finish almost made her give birth. The Sixers look stunned. They do the fence signing thing but are a bit shellshocked. Still, Pez halts her interrogation from the physios to thank us for coming as we walk by to the gate - there's no more professional human than Our Ellyse (meant sincerely - incredible "product", great person). A few things from that: 1. You can trace the Sixers' decline to that game I reckon. They fell apart that season, yes the loss of Perry was difficult, but the loss of confidence more so. The Hurricanes did another steal a week later (another mad dash from us), Chloe Tryon monstering Kapp all over Nth Sydney. The Sixers only won one more game, a dead rubber at Hursy. I don't think they have recovered. And they don't look like doing it any time soon. Tangled by Webb... 2. Webb is now ready to capitalise on that talent. Clearly a good hitter. She's got a strange but effective technique, great hands and a steady head, Batting her at 3 ahead of Duffin is a huge vote of confidence. She's also a handy bowler, weird variations. And a brilliant fielder - as Paul says, that catch! It's no knock on her that she is about 100th in line for national duties. But she could also be about to go "bang" and be the next Tahlia McGrath. I think the Sixers or Thunder would kill for a player of her allround ability, they have great young speed kids but none of whom can bat. (Shout out to Leeson as well, generally forgotten, but her cameo was vital that day.) --- 3. And really missing going to the games. AT least we got to a few last year, incuding Sciver's screamer and Ismail and SammyJo destroying the Stars in the final. Thanks for these stories Mary!
Paul
Roar Guru
It's great to see so many young talents coming through the female ranks. What's even better is the opportunities these younger players are being given and the apparent ease that they're taking to the bigger stages. I know many guys have issues with women's cricket but there at least one area where the women are on par with the guys and that's in catching and outfield catching in particular. That grab by Courtney Webb is as good as it gets in any form of the game.