WBBL undergoes restructuring; CA condenses tournament to 40 games, fresh state-based T20 tournament to be incorporated

Since the inception of the trailblazing Women's Big Bash League with the 2015-16 season being the curtain-raiser of the tournament, the league has always featured a total of 59 games across its entirety, including the semi-finals and final. 

In a fresh development, Cricket Australia has taken a call to slim down the WBBL to 40 games, including the knockout games. This verdict has been made with the prime intention of adapting the WBBL parallel to the BBL and seamlessly integrating it into the growing women's cricket calendar.

In a bid to provide more openings to domestic and local talents, CA has also fabricated a new state-based T20 competition which will see a rise in monetary compensation and will be placed adjacent to the Women's National Cricket League. 

Furthermore, CA's focus on the 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games underscores its strategic vision for the future of women's cricket. By setting clear objectives and investing in long-term initiatives like the ten-year Women and Girls Action Plan, CA has its eyes set on laying the groundwork for sustained success and global recognition of the sport.

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The anticipation surrounding the reduction in the WBBL season's duration had been prevalent for quite some time now. It has long been proposed considering the impending T20 World Cup to be played in Bangladesh in the months of September and October of 2024, along with the three-match ODI series between Australia Women and India Women scheduled to span from 5th to 11th December.

To compensate for the reduction in games in the WBBL, the installation of the new state-based T20 league as mentioned above, according to CA, will not only serve ample opportunities to youngsters but will also double up as an ideal warmup for the WBBL.

The governing body also announced ambitious targets for the next decade, aiming to achieve significant milestones in women's cricket. These include a bold AU$100 million increase in total revenue, a fourfold rise in participation for girls aged 5-12 from 25,000 to 100,000, a substantial investment of AU$500 million in women's cricket infrastructure, and a commitment to attaining at least 40% female representation in key positions across Australian cricket, encompassing executives, boards, and community roles.