The WBBL could face a shortage of overseas players as the tournament’s 10th season begins just seven days after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, but the shortened tournament format will see greater use of technology to play matches in the evening slots.
“Clubs are working really hard in the market at the moment through players and agents,” BBL chief executive Alistair Dobson told ESPNcricinfo as the WBBL fixtures were released. “Obviously the schedule for players in the women’s game is going to be really busy at the moment, particularly this year.
“We have high expectations for the players we have signed and we will see over the next month or two how they prepare for the World Cup and how eager they are to get to Australia, whether that is when the competition starts or when there are a few games. We know the competition remains one of the most attractive competitions for players around the world and we expect to see big names return.”
Gabba joins the Stadium Series
The tournament’s stadium series has been expanded and brought forward as Cricket Australia looks to replicate the increased attendances experienced at the WPL and Hundred.
The Gabba will host its first standalone match. The WBBL was last played in 2019 as part of a doubleheader with the BBL. Two games will be played at the MCG and SCG again. Adelaide Oval will host the opening doubleheader on October 27 before hosting the third game of the season, which will see defending champions Adelaide Strikers replay last year’s finalists Brisbane Heat to kick off the tournament.
The WBBL returned to major venues last season, with 12,379 attending the grand final at Adelaide Oval, but attendance growth still lagged behind figures achieved in England and India.
The Stadium Series schedule includes the Sydney derby between the Sixers and Thunder on November 10 and the Melbourne showdown between the Stars and Renegades on November 15.
“Introducing the Stadium Series to the WBBL last year was a huge success,” Dobson said. “I think it showed that when we put the best cricket league in the world for women into the best cricket stadium in the world, we’ve got a great product. The spectators loved it, the players loved it and our broadcasters loved it.
“We’ve taken a lot from there. We’ve added a big game at the Gabba. Brisbane Heat at the Gabba is iconic. We’ve brought the game in a week or so earlier than last year, which means there’s a greater chance that the game will be broadcast live and the way we promote those games will be a big focus for us.”
The final three days of the regular season overlap with the Australia-India Test in Perth, with the WACA playing the game at nearby Optus Stadium immediately following the second day’s action. CA see this as an opportunity to cross-promote and inspire the Test audience.
As competition periods have shortened, games have been significantly reduced during the harder-to-sell weekday afternoons.
Third referee for all matches
Full WBBL 2024-25 Match Schedule
27 October: Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Oval (1.10pm)
27 October: Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Oval (4.40pm)
27 October: Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars, WACA (5.30pm)
28 October: Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder, Blundstone Arena (6.10pm)
29 October: Sydney Sixers v Adelaide Strikers, North Sydney Oval (6.10pm)
October 30: Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Renegades, Allan Border Field (6.10pm)
October 31: Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes, North Sydney Oval (7.15pm)
November 1: Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder, North Sydney Oval (3.45pm)
November 1: Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars, North Sydney Oval (7.15pm)
November 2: Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes, CitiPower Centre (11.30am)
November 2: Melbourne Renegades v Perth Scorchers, CityPower Centre (3pm)
November 3: Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes, CitiPower Centre (10.10am)
November 3: Melbourne Renegades v Adelaide Strikers, CityPower Centre (1.40pm)
5 November: Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat, WACA (5.10pm)
November 6: Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers, Blundstone Arena (6.10pm)
November 7: Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat, WACA (2.05pm)
7 November: Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades, WACA (5.35pm)
November 8: Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers, CityPower Centre (11am)
November 9: Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars, CityPower Centre (3pm)
November 9: Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers, Gabba (6.15pm)
November 10: Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers, SCG (10.10am)
November 10: Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder, SCG (1.40pm)
November 11: Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Renegades, Karen Rolton Oval (5.40pm)
November 12: Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers, Drummoyne Oval (6.10pm)
November 13: Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers, Blundstone Arena (6.10pm)
November 14: Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat, North Sydney Oval (3.30pm)
November 15: Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder, MCG (3.45pm)
November 15: Melbourne Stars v Melbourne Renegades, MCG (7.15pm)
November 16: Adelaide Strikers v Hobart Hurricanes, Adelaide Oval (3pm)
November 17: Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat, Drummoyne Oval (1.55pm)
November 17: Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers, Drummoyne Oval (5.25pm)
November 19: Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers, Karen Rollton Oval (5.40pm)
November 20: Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars, Drummoyne Oval (6.10pm)
21 November: Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers, Blundstone Arena (3.45pm)
November 21: Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades, Blundstone Arena (7.15pm)
November 22: Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars, Allan Border Field (7.10pm)
23 November: Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder, CityPower Centre (10am)
23 November: Perth Scorchers v Hobart Hurricanes, WACA (5.30pm)
24 November: Melbourne Stars v Adelaide Strikers, CityPower Centre (10am)
November 24: Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers, Allan Border Field (7.05pm)
November 27: Knock Out
November 29: Challenger
December 1: Finals (preliminary date December 2)
