WBBL|02: All You Need To Know Guide

What and When

After the phenomenal success of WBBL|01, the second season of the Rebel Women’s Big Bash League starts this weekend, complete with high profile international signings and star Australian players.

Matches will be played throughout Australia at a number of different first-class venues and will run alongside the men's KFC Big Bash League, but with the women’s fixtures more concentrated around the weekends. It will continue to feature the same eight teams as the men's competition, with both tournaments culminating in the season finale at the end of January.

The 'big six' venues of the WACA Ground, MCG, SCG, Gabba, Adelaide Oval and Hobart’s Blundstone Arena will all feature, alongside various other first-class grounds in states across the country.

It all starts this weekend with a two-day, six-match carnival at North Sydney Oval in Sydney. Four of the six matches this weekend will be broadcast LIVE on Channel 10 while the all the other matches will be streamed live on cricket.com.au

How can I watch?

After the resounding success of the competition's inaugural season, 12 matches will be broadcast live and free on Network Ten this summer – two more than during WBBL|01.

All the other 47 non-televised matches will be live streamed by Cricket Australia, free to watch on cricket.com.au, the Cricket Australia Live App, and - in a first for Australian women’s sport - also via the WBBL Facebook page.

What happened in last year's WBBL?

Sydney Thunder were crowned the champions by defeating cross town rivals Sydney Sixers by three wickets in a thrilling final. Melbourne Stars captain Meg Lanning was the standout player with the bat scoring 560 runs while Rene Farrell was the star bowler claiming 26 wickets for the Thunder.

Squads:

Adelaide Strikers

The Strikers welcome England great Charlotte Edwards to Adelaide Oval this summer with the former international captain moving from Perth Scorchers. Edwards will be joined at the Strikers by her former England opening partner Tammy Beaumont. The fast bowling department has been bolstered by the addition of medium pacer Katelyn Pope, while 18-year-old Alice Springs big-hitter Tabatha Saville also joins the Strikers for WBBL|02.

Squad: Tammy Beaumont (OS), Samantha Betts, Sarah Coyte, Sophie Devine (OS), Charlotte Edwards (OS), Sarah Elliott, Tahlia McGrath, Tegan McPharlin (C), Shelley Nitschke, Bridget Patterson, Katelyn Pope, Alex Price, Tabatha Saville, Megan Schutt, Amanda Wellington

Player to Watch: Sophie Devine. The skipper is the Strikers’ X-factor with the bat having belted out an incredible ten sixes last season and her powerhouse performances will be vital to the Strikers’ success with the bat and ball.

Image Id: 7446A1329F5B44A29806056BE54D0BBD Image Caption: The X-Factor Sophine Devine // Getty

Brisbane Heat

The Heat have added some serious international firepower for WBBL|02, signing explosive West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin and rising India star Smriti Mandhana. The Heat have added three first-time recruits with allrounder Haidee Birkett, pace bowler Georgia Prestwidge and bat Tess Cooper joining the squad. Hard-hitting allrounder Grace Harris is the big name to drop out.   

Squad: Jemma Barsby, Haidee Birkett, Tess Cooper, Deandra Dottin (OS), Holly Ferling, Laura Harris, Courtney Hill, Sammy Jo Johnson, Jessica Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince (c), Smriti Mandhana (OS), Beth Mooney, Georgia Prestwidge, Kirby Short, Kara Sutherland

Player to Watch: Deandra Dottin. The West Indies star simply loves to hit the ball out of the park, so much so that she has been labelled the 'Female Chris Gayle'. The 24-year-old right-handed batter, who also bowls medium-pace, is set to dominate in WBBL|02.

Image Id: 00F5304983A44AE7AFE0EA4D75C8E955 Image Caption: Self Proclaimed Female Chris Gayle: Deandra Dottin // Getty

Hobart Hurricanes

WBBL|01 semi-finalists Hobart have retained the bulk of their squad for the second edition of the tournament, with England captain Heather Knight returning to lead the Hurricanes. Wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne is an addition while local player Erin Fazackerley has filled the final spot on their list with some impressive performances in club and interstate cricket.  

Squad: Erin Burns, Erin Fazackerley, Katelyn Fryett, Corinne Hall, Brooke Hepburn, Julie Hunter, Heather Knight (c, OS), Hayley Matthews (OS) Sasha Moloney, Meg Phillips, Veronica Pyke, Celeste Raack, Georgia Redmayne, Amy Satterthwaite (OS), Emma Thompson

Player to Watch: Hayley Matthews. At just 18 years of age, Matthews is already has a heap of international experience in her short career to date, having featured 45 times for the West Indies in both the one-day and T20 formats since her debut in 2014. An off-spinning all-rounder, she is likely to open the batting and can hit a long ball.

Image Id: 355675357EAD4C77B564B8CD20D3958F Image Caption: One of the great entertainers: Hayley Matthews // Getty

Melbourne Renegades

Change is afoot at the Renegades, who will head into WBBL|02 with a new captain and a new marquee player. New Zealand star Rachel Priest returns this summer to take over the captaincy from Sarah Elliot, while the Renegades have added some much-needed firepower to their batting ranks with the signing of Southern Stars allrounder Grace Harris. The bowling will be bolstered by the addition of Kiwi medium pacer Lea Tahuhu and local girls Tayla Vlaeminck and Nicole Goodwin. 

Squad: Kristine Britt, Maitlan Brown, Nicole Goodwin, Grace Harris, Kirsty Lamb, Sophie Molineux, Natalie Plane, Rachael Priest (c, OS) Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Lea Tahuhu (OS), Tayla Vlaeminck, Dannielle Wyatt (OS), Georgia Wareham, Amy Yates

Player to Watch: Grace Harris. The Southern Stars allrounder set the WBBL|01 alight last season with a century off just 52 balls. The hard-hitting batter made the switch south this year to the Renegades and expect some fireworks from her again this season.

Image Id: 27630B89FAE94E95BD87652A9D4E6044 Image Caption: The power hitter: Grace Harris //Getty

Melbourne Stars

The Stars have won the race for the prized signature of former Australian batter Jess Cameron, who has returned to cricket this summer after a break from the game. England off-spinner Danielle Hazell is an ideal replacement for injured leg-spinner Kristen Beams.  

Squad: Lily Bardsley, Makinley Blows, Hayleigh Brennan, Jess Cameron, Danielle Hazell (OS), Emma Inglis, Hayley Jensen, Emma Kearney, Alana King, Anna Lanning, Meg Lanning (c), Katie Mack, Morna Nielsen (OS), Natalie Sciver (OS), Gemma Triscari

Player to Watch: Meg Lanning. The Stars captain will be looking to continue where she left off in WBBL|01, where she scored the most runs in the tournament with 560 at an average of 56. Lanning has been in terrific form of late, scoring a century and a two fifties in the recent ODI series against South Africa. The 24-year-old also scored a blistering ton in the warm-up match this week.

Image Id: CAE3274B70E34898AF6E95EB4E8FB100 Image Caption: Superstar Meg Lanning //Getty

Perth Scorchers

The world's No.2 ranked T20 bowler Anya Shrubsole is headed to The Furnace this summer, where she will join fellow England spearhead Katherine Brunt. Perth have also added the experience of former South Australia captain Lauren Ebsary to the mix, while Hockeyroo Mathilda Carmichael's foray into cricket will see her pad up in orange this summer.

Squad: Megan Banting, Suzie Bates (c, OS), Emma Biss, Nicole Bolton, Katherine Brunt (OS), Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Lauren Ebsary, Heather Graham, Katie-Jane Hartshorn, Emma King, Chloe Piparo, Anya Shrubsole (OS), Emily Smith, Elyse Villani

Player to Watch: Elyse Villani. The Southern Stars batter loves to the hit the ball over and with all her experience is a master at changing gears through her innings. Partnering Nicole Bolton at the top of the order, Villani is expected to have breakout season and be right at the top of the leading run-scorers. 

Image Id: 60A86303EF5C4C23B6703B5C499C6621

Sydney Sixers

Last year’s runners-up, the Sixers have retained the bulk of their squad, with the addition of South Africa skipper Dane van Niekerk. The addition of teenage allrounders Haylee Hoffmeister and Carly Leeson will only strength the formidable squad. 

Squad: Sarah Aley, Rhiannon Dick, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jodie Hicks, Haylee Hoffmeister, Marizanne Kapp (OS), Carly Leeson, Emily Leys, Sara McGlashan (OS), Ellyse Perry (c), Angela Reakes, Lauren Smith, Lisa Sthalekar, Dane van Niekerk (OS)

Player to Watch: Ellyse Perry. Just when we think she can't get any better, Ellyse Perry continues to evolve her in game with the bat and ball. The Sixers skipper has been in stunning form with the bat recently, scoring half-centuries in her last five ODI innings. Expect her to replicate that form in the T20 format and also be on the leading wicket-takers list.

Image Id: F3E32F7E80B642E3A0DB8514050BFDBB

Sydney Thunder

The reigning champions won the prized signature of India vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who was also the first Indian to sign with a WBBL team. Apart from Kaur, the Thunder have retained majority of the players that took them to victory last season. 

Squad: Sam Bates, Alex Blackwell (c), Nicola Carey, Lauren Cheatle, Stef Daffara, Rene Farrell, Maisy Gibson, Rachel Haynes, Mikayla Hinkley, Harmanpreet Kaur (OS), Claire Koski, Erin Osborne, Naomi Stalenberg, Stafanie Taylor, Belinda Vakarewa

Player to Watch: Stafanie Taylor. Ranked as the top T20 batter, the West Indies captain is the backbone of the Thunder batting line-up. She has the reputation as one of the strongest hitters in the game was proven in her recent 51-ball 90.

Image Id: 39827D9DC3084E7991C411E97EA916B9 Image Caption: Free flowing batter Stafanie Taylor //Getty

International cricket is more affordable than ever this summer, with adult tickets from $30, kids from $10 and family packages from $65 across every day of international cricket. Price for purchase at match. Transaction fee from $6.95 applies to online and other purchases. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.