Inaugural T20 Spring Challenge to Launch Women’s Domestic Cricket Season in Australia

A new chapter in Australia’s women’s domestic cricket is set to commence with the launch of the T20 Spring Challenge. Starting on October 11, 2024, this new 20-over tournament forms part of the domestic cricket calendar for the 2024-2025 season. It aims to mitigate the impact of the shortened Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) season, which will see a reduction in the number of games from 14 to 10 per club. The inaugural T20 Spring Challenge includes eight teams from the WBBL franchises and an additional team from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), known as the ACT Meteors.

The tournament will span from October 11 to October 20, kicking off in Adelaide and Sydney. Eighteen regular season games are scheduled over a period of seven days. The teams are divided into two pools, playing four matches each, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals and final. The first day’s matches will feature Sydney Thunder against Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers versus ACT Meteors at North Sydney Oval, while Karen Rolton Oval will see Melbourne Renegades take on Hobart Hurricanes and Adelaide Strikers face Perth Scorchers.

These matches are strategically significant, providing teams with a competitive lead-up to the forthcoming WBBL|10 season, set to begin a week after the Challenge concludes. Cricket Australia ensures widespread accessibility to these games, with all matches available for live streaming on Kayo and the CA Live app, while also being open to spectators free of charge.

Venues for the competition’s initial matches include Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide and North Sydney Oval in Sydney. The concluding matches, including the decisive semi-finals and grand final, will be held at Cricket Central in Sydney Olympic Park. Play will continue daily until October 17, wrapping up the regular season fixtures, with semi-finals on October 19 and the final scheduled for October 20.

Despite coinciding with the Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, and thus the absence of most Australian contracted players, the tournament boasts an impressive roster of emerging talents and seasoned WBBL players. Notable participants include Lizelle Lee from South Africa, part of the Hurricanes, and Sydney Thunder’s newly appointed captain, Tahlia Wilson. Cricket enthusiasts will also see performances from Meg Lanning for the Stars, and emerging players like Eleanor Larosa for the Strikers.

The competition’s format offers an opportunity for one team to claim the inaugural T20 Spring Challenge trophy, setting a new benchmark in women’s domestic cricket.

Squad lists for the teams are as follows: ACT Meteors feature Carly Leeson as captain, with players like Alisha Bates and Holly Ferling. The Adelaide Strikers include Jemma Barsby and Amanda-Jade Wellington, while Brisbane Heat are led by Georgia Redmayne with team members such as Lauren Winfield-Hill. Hobart Hurricanes’ squad boasts captain Elyse Villani and big hitter Lizelle Lee. Sarah Coyte captains Melbourne Renegades, which recently added Nicole Faltum. The Melbourne Stars include Meg Lanning, and Perth Scorchers are led by Chloe Piparo. Meanwhile, Sydney Sixers have Mathilda Carmichael as captain, and Sydney Thunder are captained by Tahlia Wilson.