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Amid the talks for privatizing the Big Bash League (BBL), Cricket Australia (CA) unveils the full fixtures of its upcoming season for the Women’s Big Bash League’s 12th (WBBL 12) edition, which will start in Melbourne on Thursday, October 29, with the grand finale on Saturday, December 5.
In search of added excitement and more viewership, the cricket board has added an extra number of home matches, rather the prirotisizng matches in neutral venues in this year’s schedule.
Extra home matches for three franchises in WBBL 12
On July 2, CA issued an official release on its official website, describing its latest strategic reforms. The upcoming season of the WBBL will contain 43 fixtures, which will be played over a span of 38 days.
As the cricket board has informed through its official release, two Melbourne clubs, Stars and Renegades, along with Sydney Thunder, have each been awarded an additional game in their home city this season, with only four neutral matches in total for the entire tournament – down from seven in WBBL|11.
Key takeaways from the WBBL 12 schedule
According to the schedule, the twelfth season of WBBL will start with a doubleheader at the Junction Oval. The tournament will start with the Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder match at 3.40 PM, followed by the Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes match at 7.10 PM.
CA has highlighted six specific points ahead of the season, like the duration of the season, opening match of WBBL 12, home matches across every state, more marquee matches and a few other key decisions taken by the officials.
Accroding to the official statement, "43-game season runs from October 29 to December 5, Junction Oval to host first WBBL game under lights on opening day double-header, Home matches across every state in opening week, New marquee matches on Halloween (Strikers v Stars at Karen Rolton Oval, followed by Scorchers v Renegades at WACA Ground), More matches in prime time (25 – up from 22 last season), Strikers to play at Adelaide Oval for a fourth year."
More matches during prime time for TV viewership
With an increased number of matches throughout the weeks, across the prime venues, and during the evening time slots, Cricket Australia is hoping to see more fans in venues.
"With more games played across Thursday to Sunday as well as an increase in afternoon and evening time slots, we can't wait to see our fans in iconic WBBL venues around the country enjoying the very best of the Big Bash," Alistair Dobson, CA's general manager of Big Bash Leagues, said.
He also mentioned that more than fifty percent of the matches will be held during prime time, as they have witnessed a significant surge in their television audience.
"We're up to more than 55 per cent of matches in prime time. We had great growth in our TV audiences last year, and that's underpinned by prime time WBBL, so there's more of that than ever before," he added.
