Cricket Australia has "given the go-ahead for the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League to get under way later this year," featuring eight teams aligned to those in the current men's competition, according to Mike Hytner of the London GUARDIAN. The new domestic league "replaces the existing seven-team Women's T20, with Melbourne and Sydney to be assigned two teams each, meaning there is no place for Tradies ACT Meteors in the reconfigured competition." The new women's franchises will take the names of the men's teams and wear the same colors for the '15-16 season, "although details of the exact format of the competition are still under discussion" (GUARDIAN, 2/18). In Sydney, Andrew Wu reported Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland has hailed the introduction of a
women's Big Bash League next season as the "next evolution" of the
women's game. The sentiment is "being shared among the players, despite
many now facing uncertain futures as CA works to get the event up and
running." Breakers and Southern Stars veteran Alex Blackwell, one of "few full-time
professionals in the women's game, said she was excited" by the
announcement of a WBBL. Blackwell: "I have no certainty where I'll be playing but
that doesn't worry me. I like there's been a shake-up in the competition. I think it brings new enthusiasm for me." Sutherland said the WBBL was a "major part of CA's plan" to make cricket
the No. 1 sport for girls and women. Sutherland: "We believe with increased focus and
promotion of WBBL, girls will follow their dreams and hopefully follow
the path of these great role models" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2/19).
MAJOR CHANGE: In Melbourne, Jesse Hogan reported Brisbane-based CA exec Belinda Clark "reckons young players
currently struggling for opportunities in the seven-team competition
will be among the biggest beneficiaries." Clark said, "There's people
[currently] on contract lists who are now going to get a game, and some
of those are very young and very talented players." She added that while "big-name players would not be forced to leave she hoped some would be willing to temporarily move interstate." Clark: "When you're setting up a new competition what you're after is good,
solid brand, you're wanting people to come and watch the cricket and
understand who the teams are, and you therefore want a really
competitive and balanced competition" (THE AGE, 2/19).
