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.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the fixtures for the second edition of the Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), which will be held in Trinidad from August 21 to 29. For the first time, three WCPL matches will be played as double-headers alongside West Indies men's T20Is against South Africa.The WCPL, which debuted in 2023, has become a strategic priority for CWI, showcasing the growing popularity of women's cricket in the region. The double-headers will provide fans with an unprecedented opportunity to witness both world-class international men's cricket and the best female cricketers in the Caribbean competing alongside top overseas players.All WCPL games will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, with the double-headers scheduled for August 23, 25, and 27. The inaugural WCPL edition was won by the Barbados Royals, led by Hayley Matthews.CWI CEO Johnny Grave expressed excitement about the new concept, stating, "Women's cricket continues to be a strategic priority for Cricket West Indies, and this is another exciting new concept for WCPL 2024. We are certain that there will be huge interest from people in Trinidad in these double headers."Pete Russell, CEO of the Caribbean Premier League, added, "We are very excited to be able to work with Cricket West Indies to have the WCPL take place at the same time as these Men's T20 Internationals. It is another example of how the two organizations are working in harmony to provide the best outcome for fans, players, and cricket in the region."South Africa's tour of the Caribbean will begin with two Tests in Trinidad and Guyana from August 7, followed by the three-match T20I series at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad from August 23. The two teams will also play a four-day warm-up game ahead of the Test series in Tarouba.

Lauren Winfield-Hill, the England batter and Northern Diamonds stalwart, has expressed concerns over the ECB's decision to defer Yorkshire's entry into Tier 1 of the new women's domestic competition. The move, which will see Durham host the northern-most region from 2025 onwards, has raised questions about the future of women's cricket in Yorkshire.Winfield-Hill, who has been a key figure for the Diamonds, believes the decision could have detrimental effects on the county's women's cricket program. With the majority of Diamonds players based in and around Leeds, the prospect of relocation or lengthy commutes could discourage participation."The general feeling was just unsettled," Winfield-Hill said. "Northern Diamonds is Northumberland, Durham, and Yorkshire, but in terms of our host, 80 percent of our cricket has been Yorkshire."The ECB has stated that Yorkshire's entry into Tier 1 was delayed due to the county's ongoing racism scandal. However, Winfield-Hill believes the decision could have wider implications for the development of women's cricket in the region."I'm not necessarily concerned cricket-wise, because I've probably done enough, at that level, to be valued in most teams," she said. "But if you look at some of the youngsters, like Katherine Fraser, who moved to Leeds University because she wanted to get her education as well as pursue cricket, the landscape changes, doesn't it?"Winfield-Hill also raised concerns about the practicalities of the decision. With Yorkshire's entry delayed by two years, players may face difficult choices regarding their future."Using Katherine Fraser as an example, do you forego a professional contract for the next couple of years and wait for Yorkshire to be a Tier 1 county? Or if you're looking at a relocation, do you go for three or four years, or do you want to come back?" she said.The decision has also raised questions about the competitiveness of the new competition. With Yorkshire and Glamorgan joining Tier 1 in 2027, there are concerns that the two teams may struggle to build competitive squads due to the delayed entry."The last thing you want is two teams that are hampered because they're late to the party," Winfield-Hill said.Overall, Winfield-Hill believes the ECB's decision could have significant consequences for women's cricket in Yorkshire and the wider domestic competition. She urged the governing body to reconsider the decision and ensure that the future of women's cricket in the region is protected.

Sri Lanka, fresh from securing their berth in the Women's T20 World Cup, will host West Indies for a three-match ODI and T20I series from June 15-28. The tour will serve as a crucial preparation for Sri Lanka ahead of the T20 Asia Cup, which they will also host starting July 20.For Sri Lanka, the series against West Indies will be their second bilateral T20I assignment this year, following their successful tour of South Africa in March and April. They are also scheduled to tour Ireland in August.West Indies, on the other hand, recently concluded a month-long tour of Pakistan, where they emerged victorious in both the ODI and T20I series. This tour of Sri Lanka will be their final competitive outing before the Women's T20 World Cup in October.The last time these two teams met in a bilateral series was in 2017, when West Indies swept Sri Lanka in both T20Is and ODIs. West Indies hold a dominant head-to-head record against Sri Lanka in T20Is, with 18 wins to Sri Lanka's 14. In ODIs, the contest has been closer, with West Indies winning 18 and Sri Lanka 14.However, this tour promises to be a more competitive affair, with Sri Lanka entering the series on the back of historic series wins over England, New Zealand, and South Africa in the past year.The ODI series, which is part of the ICC Women's Championship, will be played in Galle from June 15-21. The Women's Championship serves as a pathway to the 2025 ODI World Cup, with the top four teams apart from hosts India earning direct qualification. West Indies are currently seventh on the Women's Championship points table, while Sri Lanka are eighth.The T20Is will be held in Hambantota from June 24-28.

South Africa's women's cricket team will embark on a comprehensive tour of India, featuring a three-match ODI series, a one-off Test, and a three-match T20I series. The tour will commence with a warm-up match against a Board President's XI side in Bengaluru on June 13.The ODI series will follow, with matches scheduled for June 16, 19, and 23, all to be played in Bengaluru. The one-off Test will take place in Chennai from June 28 to July 1, marking India's third Test match in seven months. The T20I series will conclude the tour, with matches scheduled for July 5, 7, and 9, also in Chennai.The inclusion of the one-off Test is a significant development, as it was not originally part of the ICC's Future Tours Programme (FTP). However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have been actively promoting women's Test cricket. This will be South Africa's second Test match since their return to the format in 2022, while India will be playing their third Test in the past year.The tour is strategically designed to provide continuity in formats ahead of the T20 World Cup, which will be held in Bangladesh in September-October. By playing the T20Is at the end of the tour, both teams can maintain their focus on the shortest format.In addition to the international matches, the BCCI has also reintroduced a red-ball tournament into the women's domestic calendar. The inter-zonal competition, featuring five matches, aims to provide more opportunities for women cricketers to develop their skills in the longer format.The South Africa-India women's tour promises to be an exciting and competitive series, showcasing the growing strength of women's cricket in both countries.

India's women's cricket team completed a comprehensive 5-0 series sweep against Bangladesh with a 21-run victory in the fifth and final T20I in Sylhet on Thursday.After posting a competitive 156 for five, India's bowlers, led by Radha Yadav's three-wicket haul, restricted Bangladesh to 136 for six.Richa Ghosh's quickfire unbeaten 28 off 17 balls provided the impetus for India's total. The wicketkeeper-batter struck three fours and a six to help India recover from a mid-innings wobble.Smriti Mandhana (33) and Dayalan Hemalatha (37) had earlier laid the foundation with a 60-run partnership for the third wicket.Bangladesh's chase began promisingly, with Sobhana Mostary hitting three fours in the first over. However, Yadav's athletic catch to dismiss Mostary set the tone for India's bowling performance.Yadav then removed Dilara Akter, Nigar Sultana, and Rubya Haider in quick succession to leave Bangladesh reeling at 52 for five.Ritu Moni (37) and Shorifa Khatun (28 not out) staged a brief fightback with a 57-run stand for the sixth wicket. However, Asha Sobhana broke the partnership by dismissing Moni in the 17th over.Despite the rearguard action, Bangladesh fell short of the target, handing India a comfortable victory.Yadav finished as the series' leading wicket-taker with 10 dismissals, while Mandhana was the leading run-scorer with 116 runs.

In a thrilling encounter at Beckenham, Northern Diamonds emerged victorious over South East Stars by a narrow margin of three runs in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Despite a valiant century from Sophia Dunkley, the Stars fell agonizingly short of what would have been a record-breaking run chase.The Diamonds, batting first, posted a formidable total of 311 for 9. Hollie Armitage (66), Bess Heath (63), and Sterre Kalis (52) all contributed significant half-centuries. However, a devastating spell from Phoebe Franklin, who claimed three wickets for three runs in six balls, restricted the Diamonds' progress.In response, the Stars got off to a shaky start, losing Tash Farrant early. Dunkley, who had been omitted from England's squad to face Pakistan, showcased her class with a magnificent 130 from 136 deliveries. She formed a crucial partnership with Bryony Smith (52), but the Stars' hopes were dashed in the final over.With just four balls remaining, Dunkley was inexplicably run out by Erin Burns after failing to ground her bat. Bethan Miles was unable to hit a boundary off the last delivery, leaving the Stars three runs short of their target.The Diamonds' victory was a testament to their resilience and depth. Armitage, Heath, and Kalis provided a solid foundation with their half-centuries, while Jess Woolston's unbeaten 23 helped push the total past 300.For the Stars, Dunkley's century was a standout performance, but it was ultimately not enough to secure victory. Phoebe Franklin's three-wicket haul and Aylish Cranstone's 41 were also notable contributions.The match was a thrilling spectacle that showcased the high quality of women's cricket in England. The Diamonds' victory keeps them in contention for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title, while the Stars will be determined to bounce back in their remaining matches.

Thunder's resilience was tested to the limit as they narrowly escaped with a one-wicket victory over The Blaze in a thrilling Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy encounter. Bolstered by the return of four England players, Thunder looked poised for a comfortable win after a solid start. However, a dramatic collapse saw them lose six wickets for 39 runs, giving The Blaze a glimmer of hope.England A batter Seren Smale (58) and opener Emma Lamb (44) had provided a solid foundation for Thunder, guiding them to 89 without loss in 15 overs. But the Blaze spinners, led by Kirstie Gordon (3-23) and Lucy Higham (3-28), fought back valiantly, exploiting the conditions to restrict Thunder's scoring.As the wickets tumbled, it was left to last-wicket pair Phoebe Graham and Hannah Jones to hold their nerve and guide Thunder to victory. Jones struck the winning boundary in the 45th over, securing a hard-fought triumph.Earlier, The Blaze had been bowled out for 174 in 46.4 overs, with England's Mahika Gaur (3-33) and Jones (3-37) sharing the spoils. Gordon's 43 provided some resistance, but it was ultimately not enough to prevent Thunder from claiming their second win of the campaign.