Cricket

The Australian women's domestic cricket landscape is set to undergo a significant transformation with the introduction of a new T20 competition aligned with the eight WBBL clubs and an ACT side. This restructuring comes after pressure from Victoria and New South Wales, who expressed concerns about the proposed state-based model.The tournament, designed to compensate for the reduced WBBL season, will feature eight teams under their WBBL banners plus a side from ACT. Each team will play four matches, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. The competition will take place before the WBBL season, providing opportunities for fringe players and opening up spots in teams due to the absence of Australian players participating in the T20 World Cup.The restructuring aims to address concerns raised by Victoria and New South Wales, who feared that their fringe players could lose out on playing opportunities under the state-based model. The new format ensures that all WBBL clubs have a direct pathway to the domestic T20 competition, providing a clear development pathway for players.The timing of the tournament also aligns with the T20 World Cup, allowing for the inclusion of overseas stars who may not be available during the WBBL season. However, the presence of ACT, which has several players contracted to WBBL clubs, presents a potential complication.The restructuring is part of Cricket Australia's Women's and Girls Action Plan, which aims to enhance the player pathway and increase opportunities for women in cricket. The new T20 competition will raise the average female domestic player salary for 2024-25 to AU$163,322, while the WBBL salary cap remains unchanged.

Josie Dooley, the 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter for the Melbourne Renegades and South Australia, has been hospitalized in Brisbane after suffering a stroke while vacationing in Hawaii.On April 15th, Dooley was on the Hawaiian island of Kauai when she experienced a stroke due to hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by an excessive buildup of fluid in the brain. She was immediately airlifted to Honolulu for urgent neurosurgical treatment.Following surgery, Dooley spent 18 days in the neurosciences ICU of the Queen's Hospital in Honolulu before being transferred to a neurosurgical ward for an additional 12 days. Once medically stable, she was evacuated to her hometown of Brisbane and readmitted to the hospital.Dooley's condition is improving, and she has expressed gratitude for the support of her family, friends, and teammates during this challenging time. The Dooley family has requested privacy at this time.Dooley's cricket career began with the Brisbane Heat in the WBBL in 2018-19. She has since played 65 matches for the Renegades. In the WNCL, she initially represented Queensland before joining South Australia in 2020-21.Dooley has also represented Australia at the Under-16 and Under-19 levels, played for Australia A, and faced England as part of the Governor-General's XI in 2017.

Cricket Australia (CA) has unveiled a comprehensive Women and Girls Action Plan, aiming to transform women's cricket in the country. The plan includes a reduction in the WBBL season to 40 games plus finals, aligning it with the BBL and creating a new state-based T20 competition to provide additional opportunities for domestic players.The WBBL season reduction was driven by the need to accommodate the T20 World Cup and a women's ODI series against India. However, CA has ensured that the number of games on free-to-air TV remains the same. To compensate for the reduced playing opportunities, CA has introduced a new state-based T20 competition that will run alongside the WNCL. This competition will serve as a warm-up for the WBBL and increase female domestic player salaries.Beyond the restructuring of the WBBL, CA has set ambitious goals for women's cricket. The organization aims to increase total revenue by AU$100 million in the next ten years, increase participation for girls aged 5-12 from 25,000 to 100,000, and invest AU$500 million in women's cricket infrastructure. CA also aims to have at least 40% female representation in key positions across Australian cricket.To enhance the visibility of women's cricket, CA has committed to scheduling more matches in major Australian stadiums. The women's Ashes Test at the MCG early next year will mark the 90th anniversary of women's Test cricket. Australia and England will also play women's T20Is at Adelaide Oval and the SCG during the multiformat series.Australian star allrounder Ellyse Perry welcomed the initiatives, stating that they will sustain and enhance the growth of women's cricket in Australia. She emphasized the importance of increased sponsorship and broadcast deals to reflect the growing interest in women's sport.

Cricket Australia is revolutionizing its Big Bash League (BBL) and Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) with significant changes aimed at retaining overseas talent and enhancing the overall quality of the competitions.Overseas Player Multi-Year Deals:Clubs will now be permitted to sign overseas players to multi-year contracts before the draft. These deals will require players to commit to the entire tournament, preventing them from leaving for other leagues. This move is designed to address the issue of players departing the BBL before the finals, which has weakened the competition in recent years.Impact on Draft and Player Selection:The signed overseas players will count towards the minimum of three internationals that each club must select during the draft. They will occupy either a platinum, gold, or silver-round pick based on their salary. Clubs will have the flexibility to poach overseas talent from other franchises, adding an element of strategy to the draft process.Flexibility and Timing:Players who have existing contracts elsewhere will be granted some flexibility next summer. However, from the 2025-26 season onwards, they will be locked in for the duration of their multi-year deals. The timing of the UAE-based ILT20 competition is expected to shift from January-February to November, reducing the pressure on the BBL, as ILT20 teams will no longer be able to raid BBL stocks.WBBL Changes:The WBBL is also set for a shake-up, with a likely reduction from 56 games to 40. This move is intended to create a more balanced schedule and provide greater context for matches. The timing of the Women's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh means the competition could begin without international talent if it maintains its longer season.State-Based T20 League:To compensate for the reduction in WBBL games, Cricket Australia is considering introducing a state-based T20 league. This could provide financial benefits for players, who currently earn match fees in state cricket but salaries in the WBBL.