100%. For me as a Stars member, we have had no WBBL games in Melbourne for two seasons now and in our home coming season, we play only 2 games in Melbourne and I am already away that weekend. This means a third season I will miss out seeing my team play live unless we make a final. Very disappointing
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Ground availability will play a big part this year with the major grounds hosting the T20 world cup
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A new season of cricket kicks off on 13 October in Seven’s schedule with Women’s Big Bash League Brisbane v Sydney Sixers. The game is on the main channel in Sydney and Melbourne. Strangely despite including a Brisbane team it is relegated to 7Mate in Brisbane where that night’s post-7.30 pm main channel schedule is all repeats. While the game starts at 6:40 local time it doesn’t finish until 10pm, so there is plenty of the match that could have been shown instead of Border Security plus Kath and Kim on the main channel.
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WBBL lights up screens on Seven
World’s #1 women’s T20 competition starts tonight
The WBBL will make a triumphant return on the Seven Network tonight, with the world’s best cricket league for women boasting an incredible star-studded line-up in its eighth year.
Tonight, Aussie superstars Jess Jonassen and Grace Harris will lead the Brisbane Heat out onto the pitch against Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy’s Sydney Sixers, in WBBL 08’s first match at 7.30pm AEDT on Channel 7 and 7mate.
That’s just the start of an electrifying opening week of WBBL on Seven that includes live and free double-headers on both Saturday and Sunday, featuring the fan favourites who have taken Australia to the top of world cricket and a spectacular group of international stars for the T20 tournament.
On Saturday on 7mate, Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers at 3.30pm AEDT will be followed by Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars at 7.00pm AEDT.
On Sunday, fans will enjoy Melbourne Renegades v Adelaide Strikers at 10.00am AEDT on 7mate, before Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars at 1.30pm AEDT on Channel 7 in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, and 7mate in Melbourne.
In a blockbuster 2021-22 summer of cricket, Seven will broadcast 24 WBBL matches live and free, including all three finals next month and an epic four weeks of Thursday night prime-time matches at the beginning of the season.
For the first time in three years, WBBL matches will be staged in all six states as well as the ACT, with a total of 14 metropolitan and regional venues to host games.
Seven’s coverage will be led by cricket’s #1 commentary team, which again features Lisa Sthalekar, Erin Holland, Brad Hodge, Trent Copeland, Jason Richardson, Andy Maher, Alister Nicholson and former Melbourne Stars wicketkeeper Emma Inglis, while New Zealand native wicket-keeper Katey Martin and former Brisbane Heat Captain Kirby Short also join the all-star line-up.
Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport, Lewis Martin, said: “The WBBL is in a league of its own as the premier women’s T20 competition, and this season will be the best we have ever seen.
“After a spectacular 2021-22 season headlined by the stars of the world stage, we will once again see international cricket’s biggest names come together on Aussie soil. With the upcoming BBL and an incredible summer headlined by the heavyweight battle of the world – the Australia v South Africa test – Seven is preparing for an outstanding Summer of Cricket.
“You won’t want to miss a moment, live and free, right here on Seven,” he said.
TV broadcast times on Seven:
Thursday 13 October
WBBL Week One:
Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers
Sydney 7.30pm live on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.30pm live on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.30pm live on 7mate
Adelaide 6.00pm live on 7mate
Perth 4.30pm live on 7mate
Saturday 15 October
WBBL Week One:
Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers
Sydney 3.30pm live on 7mate
Melbourne 3.30pm live on 7mate
Brisbane 2.30pm live on 7mate
Adelaide 3.00pm live on 7mate
Perth 12.30pm live on 7mate
WBBL Week One:
Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars
Sydney 7.00pm live on 7mate
Melbourne 7.00pm live on 7mate
Brisbane 6.00pm live on 7mate
Adelaide 6.30pm 7mate
Perth 4.00pm live on 7mate
Sunday 16 October
WBBL Week One:
Melbourne Renegades v Adelaide Strikers
Sydney 10.00am live on 7mate
Melbourne 10.00am live on 7mate
Brisbane 9.00am live on 7mate
Adelaide 9.30am live on 7mate
Perth 7.00am live on 7mate
WBBL Week One:
Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars
Sydney 1.30pm live on Channel 7
Melbourne 1.30pm live on 7mate
Brisbane 12.30pm live on Channel 7
Adelaide 1.00pm live on Channel 7
Perth 10.30am live on Channel 7
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Any expectation for new graphics for WBBL or at least the BBL graphics from last season?
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BBL from last season with some changes (either up or down). Shouldn’t be too much though.
Just realised they had the wrong match listed on the Switch Now image. Australia was playing England, not India…
That would not work, other than the Ashes and World Cups. IPL barely rates and is on overnight, while Australia v West Indies in Barbados won’t get many people watching.
Katey Martin has been a superb addition to the Spark NZ coverage - she’ll be great.
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Is Mel even involved in the WBBL coverage?
Seven wants to get out of its existing rights deal with Cricket Australia, why will it be interested in the next Ashes tour (expected in 2027)? I think 10 should go for it.
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I’m not saying they were. I just came across that post and replied, saying that showing the IPL wasn’t going to make “Seven a ratings winner”.
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Agree, especially if Nine will get Tennis extended/Seven doesn’t want it/Ten didn’t get AFL. I could see it being simulcast on 10/10play/Paramount+, with some games (T20 etc.) exclusive on the latter. Foxtel doesn’t get the rights at all.
This graphic still annoys me. I really don’t know how you’re supposed to interpret it at all.
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Trying to be cool with video game graphics but it means nothing at all
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Any news if 7 will have international commentators this year, given their history, I think it’s most likely going to be an analysts.
for WI they might have Brian Lara since he was part of their BBL before.
Not sure who they might get for South Africa
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Fox have Brian Lara so possibly Ian Bishop for Seven? Dale Steyn could be an option for the South Africa series.
Both of those mentioned will do world feed commentary for the T20 World Cup.
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Steyn or Morkel maybe?
Would love if they could get Bish to stick around.
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