The Weber WBBL is back, with clubs and fans preparing for another season of record-breaking, world class cricket, beginning with a massive double-header at Junction Oval on Thursday, 29 October.
New marquee matches and an increase in prime-time games headline an enticing Weber WBBL|12 schedule, launching a huge summer of Big Bash cricket.
With 43 games to be played over 38 days, fans can look forward to:
- Historic opening day double-header under lights at Junction Oval
- An epic opening week with home matches across all states
- New marquee matches on Halloween and Melbourne Cup Eve
- A greater proportion of the home and away season in prime time
- An increase in Thursday-Sunday timeslots
- Adelaide Oval hosting an Adelaide Strikers match under lights
- A prime-time early December Saturday night Final
Download the full Weber WBBL|12 Schedule here
Sophie Molineux’s Melbourne Renegades will open the Weber WBBL|12 season when they take on an explosive Sydney Thunder line up boasting Australian stars Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll.
History will then be made when Annabel Sutherland and the Melbourne Stars host reigning champion Hobart Hurricanes in the first ever WBBL match under lights at Junction Oval.
An epic first week of the competition will follow, with home-grown superstars and the world’s best players in action across all six states.
Grace Harris and Brisbane Heat will face Ellyse Perry’s Sydney Sixers at Allan Border Field, while Tahlia McGrath and the Adelaide Strikers will host the Stars at Karen Rolton Oval.
Meanwhile in the west, Beth Mooney and the Perth Scorchers will launch their campaign against the Renegades at the newly renovated WACA Ground.
In new additions to the WBBL|12 fixture, Strikers will host Stars and the Scorchers will host the Renegades for marquee matches on Halloween, while the Stars will host the Scorchers under lights at Junction Oval for a Melbourne Cup Day eve fixture.
Fan favourite blockbusters including the Sydney Smash (November 8 and 28) and Melbourne Derby (November 22 and 28) will take place on dates free of international cricket for the Australian teams, giving them centre stage.
The three-match Weber WBBL|12 Finals series will culminate in The Final on Saturday, December 5, with the team that finishes top of the table going straight through to the decider as hosts.
Every WBBL|12 match will be aired on Kayo Sports and Foxtel, including 20 matches exclusive to Fox Cricket.
As with previous seasons, 20 matches during the regular season and every final will be shown live and free on Seven and 7plus.
Pre-sale for WBBL|12 will start July 30, before being opened for public sale on August 6, with fans encouraged to get in early to make the most of early-bird pricing.
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia Executive General Manager – Big Bash Leagues, said:
“We’re looking to build on a record-breaking summer for viewership last season, with Weber WBBL|12 providing an array of unmissable fixtures from October to through to December.
“The WBBL continues to reinforce its status as the world’s best cricket league for women, and we look forward to welcoming back the world’s best players this summer.
“With more games played across Thursday to Sunday as well as an increase in afternoon and evening timeslots, we can’t wait to see our fans in iconic WBBL venues around the country enjoying the very best of the Big Bash.
“As we prepare for another massive season, we thank our players and Clubs, the Australian Cricketers’ Association, broadcasters The Seven Network and Fox Sports, as well as our League partners Weber, KFC and Toyota, the venues and state governments for their continued support of the WBBL.”
Anna Stone, the Seven Network’s Executive Producer of Cricket, said:
“We’re thrilled to showcase the very best in women’s T20 cricket this coming season with WBBL|12, viewers can once again catch all the biggest matches live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport.
“WBBL|11 was a huge success for the network, up 28% year-on-year for average total TV audience, it is set to be another blockbuster season as the Hobart Hurricanes try to defend their WBBL|11 title with plenty of teams challenging for contention.
“With wall-to-wall cricket across the summer, we’re proud to bring fans all the biggest and best moments from WBBL|12 matches called live from the ground for every Seven broadcast, as the best cricketers in the world return to Australia, all available live and free on Seven and 7plus.”
Joe Bromham, Executive Producer Fox Sports, said:
“The strength of our Big Bash players is there to see on the global stage right now and we can’t wait to elevate the women’s competition again this summer.
“We are proud at Fox Cricket and Kayo SPORTS to be the only place Aussies can watch every match, live and ad-break free during play and delivered by our expert commentary team who haven’t just watched the big moments, they’ve been part of them.”
