Shorter Big Bash, new T20 tournament is part of plan to grow women’s cricket

Cricket Australia has unveiled its new plan to grow the game for women and girls, hoping the approach will increase income and participation in the sport.

The Women and Girls Action Plan was announced on Tuesday with notable changes to the summer calendar.

The women’s Big Bash League will be reduced to a 40-match regular season, in line with the men’s BBL, while a new women’s domestic T20 competition will be introduced.

The WBBL will have all matches televised, with half of the regular season matches broadcast on the Seven Network free-to-air.

The plan establishes the following objectives to be achieved by 2034:

• 600,000 average annual attendance for all women’s cricket in Australia
• Increase in total revenue from women’s cricket to $121 million (an increase of $100 million)
• Increase in participation of girls aged 5 to 12 from 25,000 to 100,000
• $500 million invested in infrastructure for women’s and girls’ cricket
• At least 40 per cent female representation in key positions across Australian cricket (including executives, boards of directors and community cricket roles)
• Win gold medals at the 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games

Two-time ODI World Cup winner Ellyse Perry said the new plan was vital to capitalizing on the appetite for women’s sport.

“Sport at its best is fully inclusive and it has been a great privilege to collaborate with some of the best leaders in Australian sport on a plan that will ensure more women and girls participate in cricket in all roles,” she said.

“Australian Cricket has been at the forefront of the growth of women’s sport, providing some of the best opportunities for female players with resources and remuneration, and it is reassuring to know that this commitment will not only be maintained, but greatly enhanced over the next 10 years .

“With viewership increasing, the public appetite for women’s sport is now indisputable and we would love to see major stadiums filled with fans for our international and WBBL games and more girls inspired to play cricket.

“It is also extremely important that the growing interest in women’s sport is reflected in sponsorship and broadcast deals, and I hope this scheme continues to drive this growth so that women’s cricket continues to thrive.”

CA chief executive Nick Hockley said the plan was a continuation of the progress cricket had made over the last decade.

“Building on its long and proud history, the growth of cricket as a sport for women and girls over the last decade is one of the great success stories of Australian sport and we are confident that this action plan will provide the focus and energy to ensure that we accelerate cricket’s leadership position,” he said.

“There is much more opportunity and work to be done to ensure that there are big crowds in big stadiums more often, that our incredible role models are given the profile they deserve, that all facets of the game are gender balanced, that through “imaginative partnerships drive business growth, sustainable investment and ultimately more women and girls are inspired to love and play cricket.”