WBBL 2021: Women's Big Bash League fixtures, teams and which England cricket players are playing in Australia?

The WBBL is back for its seventh season and will run from 14th October until 27th November 2021.

What is the Women’s Big Bash League?

The Women’s Big Bash League is the biggest domestic T20 women’s competition in the world and consists of eight city-based franchises who all compete in a double round-robin tournament before going into knockout stages.

The franchises are branded identical to the men’s Big Bash League and are made up of current and former Australian national team members; the country’s best young talent and up to three overseas players.

The structure of the WBBL and BBL is similar to that of the Indian Premier League, however, the IPL does not have a women’s competition as yet.

In the 2019/2020 season the WBBL finally had enough popularity and media coverage to be able to move to a standalone schedule rather than running alongside the men’s BBL which it had been doing for the previous four seasons.

Here is all the information regarding this year’s WBBL competition.

What are the teams in the Women’s Big Bash League 2021?

The eight franchises are the Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder.

Brisbane Heat are currently captained by Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen.

Hobart Hurricanes are captained by former New Zealand batter Rachel Priest

Melbourne Renegades are led by Australian all-rounder Sophie Molineux

Melbourne Stars are captained by the current captain of the Australian national team Meghann Lanning

Perth Scorchers is led by New Zealand international cricketer and hockey player Sophie Devine

Sydney Sixers are captained by Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry

Sydney Thunder are led by the current vice-captain of Australia, batter Rachael Haynes

Brisbane Heat, Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder are the three teams that have won the previous tournaments, winning two titles each.

The Sixers are however the most successful team as they have not only won two titles but have also appeared in each of the first four finals.

Sydney Thunder, the Sixers crosstown rivals, are the current champions of the competition.

When are the WBBL 2021 fixtures?

• Round Robin Stages: Thursday 14 October 2021 - Sunday 21 November 2021
• The Eliminator: Wednesday 24 November 2021
• The Challenger: Thursday 25 November 2021
• Final : Saturday 27 November 2021

Which English players are competing in the WBBL 2021?

Last year’s finalists the Melbourne Stars have signed English players Linsey Smith and Maia Bouchier.

This year, the Stars will be mourning the loss of English internationals Katherine Brunt and Nat Sciver who are not taking part in the 2021 competition.

Linsey Smith was a crucial spin bowler for the Northern Superchargers during this summer’s The Hundred picking up nine wickets for her team.

A 2021 England debutante, Bouchier made an impressive 92 runs from 64 balls in her role as middle-order batter for The Hundred runners-up, Southern Brave.

The Melbourne Renegades have signed 29-year-old Eve Jones for this year’s campaign. During The Hundred, the Charlotte Edwards Cup and the Raphael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Jones scored over 800 runs resulting in the left-handed batter becoming the first non-international to pick up the PCA Women’s Player of the Year award.

Issy Wong is the final English player to be competing in the WBBL tournament this year signing for this year’s defending champions Sydney Thunder. The 19- year-old signed as an injury replacement for South Africa quick Shabnim Ismail.

She currently bowls at speeds in excess of 70mph and has already declared that she has aims of becoming the first woman to top 80mph.

How to watch the WBBL 2021

The tournament is available to watch in the UK through Sky Sports Cricket, with selected matches also being shown on Sky Sports Main Event.

Cricket Australia will be live streaming the matches on their website.

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