Victoria, NSW pressure brings changes in new T20 tournament

Australia’s new domestic women’s T20 tournament is to be aligned with eight WBBL clubs, alongside the ACT, and not state teams after pressure from Victoria and New South Wales over the proposed structure.

Under the resolution issued by the states and CA, there will now be eight teams under their WBBL banners and an ACT team playing in the WNCL one-day tournament. This tournament will be held before the WBBL season, each team will play four games and the top four teams will advance to the semi finals.

The timing of the tournament means that it will coincide with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh so that the Australian players are not involved, which will open the way for the teams and the international stars are not expected to be seen in the spotlight.

The challenge will be with the ACT who have many players contracted to WBBL clubs including key hitter Katie Mack who plays for the Adelaide Strikers.

Since the WBBL has been adjusted to match the BBL with the aim of controlling the increase in the work of the best players in the game, to ensure that international names still want to join, to encourage the growth of the crowd and the termination of non-playing games, there was a big push to ensure that the games of the state cricketers were not completely reduced.

An overhaul of the local women’s program was announced at the launch of CA’s Women’s and Girls Action Plan last month but since then the position of Victoria and New South Wales has required an overhaul of the original plans.

“Cricket NSW has always been committed to the success of the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder and the tournament announced today will assist both of our clubs in their pursuit of WBBL success and the development of Australian players,” New South Wales chief executive Lee Germon said. .

“That improved player approach is in the best interests of Australian cricket and provides another opportunity for the continued success of our national women’s teams.”

Delays in confirming the structure of the competition also meant that state contracts, which were normally confirmed at the end of April, were put on hold amid uncertainty.

The new T20 competition will increase the average female domestic player salary in 2024-25 to AU$163,322 while the current WBBL salary cap is maintained meaning there is no reduction in player payments.