WBBL|03: All you need to know guide

When does it start?

This weekend! The Rebel WBBL|03 starts up with a monster two days of Twenty20 action on Saturday and Sunday. Six teams will face off in a two-day carnival at North Sydney Oval, with plenty of fun, music, food and entertainment to keep everyone in the family entertained around some bumper cricket action. Nickelodeon will be on site with plenty of awesome activities and fun for the kids – keep your eyes out for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

The WBBL love will spread to Glenelg in South Australia with the Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes set to face off in a double-header weekend at Gliderol Stadium.

From there, it’s all go-go-go until the finals in early February. Check out the full fixture here.

Where is it?

The WBBL is going far and wide in its third season. From the hallowed turf of international venues like the MCG, SCG, WACA and Gabba, regular WBBL hotspots North Sydney Oval and Allan Border Field, to Premier Cricket grounds like Camberwell in Victoria and Penrith in New South Wales, as well as some brand-new locations.

In total, there are an incredible 23 venues the WBBL will be played at this summer, including – for the first time – Traeger Park in Alice Springs, Kardinia Park in Geelong, UTAS Stadium in Launceston and Manuka Oval in Canberra.

What happened last season?

It was another thrilling race to the finals and another nail-biting decider in WBBL|02. The Sydney Sixers redeemed their championship loss from the first season, but it was more heartbreak for the Perth Scorchers, who lost by just seven runs in the big one – a year after they suffered an eight-run loss in the semi-final.

Brisbane Heat made their finals debut, but were overpowered by an impressive Scorchers unit in the semis, while Hobart again showed they were not to be taken lightly, making their second finals appearance and defying the naysayers.

For the second year running, the Stars were consigned to fifth spot on the ladder after a shattering final-round loss to the Hurricanes in a final-over epic, while WBBL|01 champions Sydney Thunder found themselves out of the race in sixth spot.

The young Melbourne Renegades rose a spot to seventh on the back of some very impressive work from their young list, while Adelaide Strikers struggled to live up to their potential, finishing with the wooden spoon.

How can I tune in?

This season, you will be spoiled for choice with where to get your daily dose of WBBL action. Network Ten is broadcasting nine matches on its main channel during the regular season, with both semi-finals to be shown on One, before the final returns to Ten. All remaining matches will be live streamed free on cricket.com.au and via the CA Live app.

This year, Australia’s No.1 editorial brand for women, Mamamia, has jumped on board and joined forces with Cricket Australia. The partnership will see Mamamia carry all 47 cricket.com.au live-streamed matches.

How can I go to a game?

The great news is, all WBBL standalone games are free to attend! Rock up at the ground, walk through the gates and get ready to enjoy a few hours of pulsating cricket entertainment with your family and friends.

Tickets for the WBBL-BBL double-headers can be purchased here.

Is there a WBBL Fantasy competition?

This summer there is a revamped Big Bash Fantasy competition, featuring the WBBL for the first time! The WBBL Fantasy will look slightly different to the men’s, with a new team of five players able to be picked each game day. Select two batters, two bowlers, a wicketkeeper and you’re right to go!

Details on the new-look competition are here, while you can sign up for Big Bash Fantasy here.

Who’s playing?

Across the WBBL, there are eight clubs with 15 primary players on each list. Among those 120 players, there are Australia stars, international signings, exiting young talent and seasoned veterans of the Australian domestic cricket scene. On top of that, each club can name an overseas replacement player - as the Scorchers have done to cover the loss of injured Meg Lanning, and likewise with the Heat for the injured Grace Harris.

There has been a fair bit of movement this season, with club lists starting from scratch and multi-year deals on the table for the first time in the WBBL. See below to see how each club's list has shaped up:

ADELAIDE STRIKERS

Squad: Suzie Bates (C) (NZ), Rhiannon Dick, Annie O’Neil, Ellie Falconer, Tammy Beaumont (Eng), Sophie Devine (NZ), Megan Schutt, Amanda Wellington, Samantha Betts, Tahlia McGrath, Katelyn Pope, Alex Price, Tabatha Saville, Tegan McPharlin, Bridget Patterson

In: Suzie Bates (Scorchers), Rhiannon Dick (Sixers), Ellie Falconer, Annie O'Neill 

Out: Sarah Coyte, Charlotte Edwards, Sarah Elliot, Shelley Nitschke (all retired)

BRISBANE HEAT

Squad: Kirby Short, Beth Mooney, Jess Jonassen, Grace Harris (inj), Deandra Dottin (WI), Holly Ferling, Kara Sutherland, Georgia Prestwidge, Delissa Kimmince, Jemma Barsby, Haidee Birkett, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Tess Cooper, Laura Harris, Courtney Hill, Laura Wolvaardt (SA)

In: Grace Harris (Renegades)

Out: Smriti Mandhana

Overseas replacement player: Laura Wolvaardt (SA), for Grace Harris (knee)

HOBART HURRICANES

Squad: Corinne Hall (C), Emma Thompson, Erin Fazackerley, Brooke Hepburn, Georgia Redmayne, Veronica Pyke, Katelyn Fryett, Celeste Raack, Sasha Moloney, Veda Krishnamurthy (Ind), Lauren Winfield (Eng), Meg Phillips, Stefanie Daffara, Nicola Hancock, Hayley Matthews

In: Veda Krishnamurthy, Lauren Winfield, Stefanie Daffara (Thunder), Nicola Hancock

Out: Erin Burns (Sixers), Julie Hunter (retired), Amy Satterthwaite (Renegades), Heater Knight (injured)

MELBOURNE RENEGADES

Squad: Amy Satterthwaite (C) (NZ), Molly Strano, Sophie Molineux, Jess Duffin, Leah Tahuhu (NZ), Hayley Jensen, Emma Inglis, Maitlan Brown, Claire Koski, Georgia Wareham, Chamari Atapattu (SL), Tayla Vlaeminck, Kris Britt, Rhiann O'Donnell, Jennifer Taffs

In: Jess Duffin (Stars), Hayley Jensen (Stars), Amy Satterthwaite (Hurricanes), Emma Inglis (Stars), Claire Koski (Thunder), Chamari Atapattu (SL), Rhiann O'Donnell, Jennifer Taffs

Out: Grace Harris (Heat), Rachel Priest (Thunder), Nicole Goodwin, Kirsty Lamb, Natalie Plane, Annabel Sutherland (Stars), Dannielle Wyatt, Amy Yates

MELBOURNE STARS

Squad: Kristen Beams (C), Makinley Blows, Hayleigh Brennan, Mignon du Preez (SA), Georgia Elwiss (Eng), Nicole Faltum, Emma Kearney, Alana King, Anna Lanning, Lizelle Lee (SA), Katie Mack, Erin Osborne, Gemma Triscari, Chloe Rafferty, Annabel Sutherland

In: Mignon du Preez, Georgia Elwiss, Lizelle Lee, Erin Osborne (Thunder), Nicole Faltum, Chloe Rafferty, Annabel Sutherland (Renegades)

Out: Jess Duffin (Renegades), Hayley Jenson (Renegades), Meg Lanning (Scorchers), Morna Neilsen, Natalie Sciver (Scorchers), Emma Inglis (Renegades), Lily Bardsley, Danielle Hazell

PERTH SCORCHERS

Squad: Ellyse Villani (C), Nicole Bolton, Katherine Brunt (Eng), Meg Lanning, Megan Banting, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Lauren Ebsary, Heather Graham, Mikayla Hinkley, Emma King, Chloe Piparo, Natalie Sciver (Eng), Emily Smith, Katie Hartshorn

In: Mikayla Hinkley (Thunder), Meg Lanning (Stars), Natalie Sciver (Stars)

Out: Suzie Bates (Strikers), Emma Bliss, Anya Shrubshole

Overseas replacement player: Thamsyn Newton (NZ), for Meg Lanning (shoulder)

SYDNEY SIXERS

Squad: Ellyse Perry (C), Sarah Aley, Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jodie Hicks, Marizanne Kapp, Carly Leeson, Emily Leys, Sara McGlashan, Ange Reakes, Lauren Smith, Dane Van Niekerk, Clara Iemma

In:  Erin Burns (Hurricanes), Lauren Cheatle (Thunder), Clara Iemma

Out:   Rhiannon Dick (Strikers), Lisa Sthalekar, Haylee Hoffmeister

SYDNEY THUNDER

Squad: Alex Blackwell (C), Sam Bates, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Maisy Gibson, Lisa Griffith, Rachael Haynes, Rachel Priest, Naomi Stalenberg, Harmanpreet Kaur, Rachel Trenaman, Hannah Trethewy, Belinda Vakarewa, Rene Farrell, Stafanie Taylor

In: Lisa Griffith, Rachel Priest (Renegades), Rachel Trenaman, Hannah Trethewy, Hannah Darlington

Out: Stef Daffara (Hurricanes), Mikayla Hinkley (Scorchers), Claire Koski (Renegades), Erin Osborne (Stars), Lauren Cheatle (Sixers)