Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Thunder’s title defence set to begin on 16 October at North Sydney Oval
Sydney Thunder’s Women’s Big Bash League title defence will kick off at North Sydney Oval when the seventh edition of the world’s premier female domestic T20 tournament begins on Thursday 14 October.
Thunder will open their season just two days later on Saturday 16 October when they take on the Adelaide Strikers, before a blockbuster Sydney Smash against cross-town rivals the Sydney Sixers the next day.
The 59-game WBBL|07 will be taken back to fans around the country this summer with matches to return to metro and regional venues in all six states as the schedule, announced today, reverts to its national, festival-based structure after the WBBL|06 season was played entirely in a bio-secure hub in Sydney.
A three-game, top four Finals series remains. Finals Series matches will be played on Wednesday 23 November and Thursday 24 November, with the Final itself to take place in primetime following day one of the historic Vodafone Men’s Test between Australia and Afghanistan in Hobart.
A record 47 matches will be broadcast nationally on television this year – an almost five-fold increase since the league’s inception just seven years ago.
The remarkable growth of the WBBL – Australia’s fourth most-watched sporting league after the KFC BBL, AFL and NRL – was underscored with today’s schedule release.
In the WBBL’s first season, ten matches were televised, followed by 12 in WBBL|02 and WBBL|03, 23 in WBBL|04 and WBBL|05 and 36 last season.
The 47 matches to be televised by Seven and Foxtel in 2021-22 confirms the WBBL’s enormous popularity with Australian audiences and standing as the best women’s T20 league in the world.
All 59 matches will also be streamed live on Kayo Sports and cricket.com.au, and available on ABC Radio.
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, said:
“We’re excited to announce a WBBL|07 schedule today that takes the competition back to our passionate and loyal fans around the country.
“This schedule rewards our fans for their patience, with many not having seen their teams play in person for almost two years. By visiting 13 metro and regional venues across all six states this season, we’re hoping to give as many fans as possible the opportunity to watch their teams live.
“Like all sporting leagues, we remain conscious of the need to be agile in response to the challenges of the pandemic. This schedule provides us with significant flexibility should we need to pivot, and the lessons of WBBL|06 and KFC BBL|10 stand us in good stead should we need to do so.
“We’d like to thank our League partners CommBank, Vodafone and KFC, as well as broadcasters Seven, Foxtel, Kayo, ABC Radio and cricket.com.au, for their unwavering commitment to the WBBL. We also thank all eight Clubs for their passion and dedication and wish them all the best in WBBL|07.”
Further information regarding Memberships and Tickets will be released shortly.
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Sydney Thunder WBBL|07 Fixtures (All AEDT Start Times)
Sat 16 Oct | Vs Adelaide Strikers | 7:05pm | North Sydney Oval
Sun 17 Oct | Vs Sydney Sixers | 1:40pm | North Sydney Oval
Tues 19 Oct | Vs Adelaide Strikers | 3:40pm | Blacktown ISP
Sat 23 Oct | Vs Sydney Sixers | 3:40pm | WACA
Sun 24 Oct | Vs Perth Scorchers | 5:15pm | WACA
Sat 30 Oct | Vs Melbourne Stars | 3:40pm | Metricon Stadium
Sun 31 Oct | Vs Hobart Hurricanes | 10:15am | Metricon Stadium
Sat 6 Nov | Vs Melbourne Stars | 1:40pm | CitiPower Centre
Sun 7 Nov | Vs Brisbane Heat | 10:15am | CitiPower Centre
Tues 9 Nov | Vs Melbourne Renegades | 7:05pm | Blacktown ISP
Sat 13 Nov | Vs Melbourne Renegades | 2:00pm | TBC
Sun 14 Nov | Vs Perth Scorchers | 10:15am | TBC
Fri 19 Nov | Vs Brisbane Heat | 7:05pm | Great Barrier Reef Arena
Sat 20 Nov | Vs Hobart Hurricanes | 3:40pm | Great Barrier Reef Arena
Click here to sync the fixtures to your e-cal.
Name of Author: Sydney Thunder
The Sydney Thunder is an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL). Based at Sydney Showground Stadium, the Thunder, along with the Sydney Sixers, succeeded the New South Wales Blues from the defunct KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
