MELBOURNE: The Rebel Women’s Big Bash League has announced that the final of the competition in 2019 will be a standalone one for the first time ever, which is likely to take place on January 26, which happens to be Australia Day and possibly as a lunch time fixture during the third day of the Day-Night Men’s Test between Australia and Sri Lanka in Brisbane, cricket.com.au reports. The final will be hosted by the top ranked team of the Big Bash.
Cricket Australia aims to ensure that this step will enable the Women’s Big Bash to take place separately the following season as compared to the men’s competition, giving it its own identity. The October-November slot for the 2019-20 season has been kept in mind, leading up to the preparations for the Women’s World T20 that will follow, which will be hosted by Australia.
As the country’s packed cricketing summer will be jointly broadcast by Seven and Fox Sports, it remains to be seen whether the ideal balance is struck between scheduling men’s and women’s matches. It is also likely that the women’s final will run parallel with the Australian Open Women’s Singles final, which will be broadcast on Channel Nine.
“For the first time ever we are moving the WBBL finals to standalone fixtures separate to the men’s competition, in a move that is sure to please players, clubs and the fans,” WBBL chief Kim McConnie was quoted as saying to cricket.com.au.
“Both semi-finals will be played on Saturday, 19 January, at the same location, hosted by the top-ranked team of the regular season, while the final will be played on Australia Day. Giving the WBBL its own window for finals is an important step for the League as we look ahead to a standalone fixture in the 2019-20 season.
“Our new landmark partnership with Fox Sports and Seven West Media has enabled us to almost double the number of broadcast matches to 23, which will help us on our journey to be the leading sport for women and girls in Australia.
“We know there is a demand for women’s cricket, with more people than ever before tuning in to watch the sport, so the strong relationship we are forming with our new broadcaster partners will continue to reinforce the WBBL position as a competition that inspires young girls to understand that cricket is a game for girls too, and that they can make a career from the sport – not just at the top level.”
Earlier, it is believed that players and teams were unhappy with the decision of conducting women’s semifinals and final matches as curtain-raisers to the men’s Big Bash playoff matches. This seemed to have adversely affected teams getting a vital, deserving home advantage during knockout matches.
Elyse Villani, the Perth Scorchers captain and Australia women’s star player had spoken to ESPN last season over the importance of the women’s Big Bash not running parallel with the men’s competition.
“I definitely do, heading towards the T20 World Cup in 2020, that’s a standalone competition,” Villani had said.
“So I think that’s a move Cricket Australia will make pretty soon and we’re definitely ready for it and looking forward to the challenge of continuing to create our own brand.”
