Cricket Australia (CA) has unveiled an ambitious 10-year plan to revolutionize women’s cricket in the country, aiming to boost grassroots participation, infrastructure, commercial revenue, and attendance at elite level matches.
One of the key changes in the plan is the condensation of the Women’s Big Bash League into a 40-day event, along with the introduction of a state-based T20 competition. These changes are expected to provide more playing opportunities for domestic cricketers and increase the average female domestic salary by eight percent to $163,322.
CA is also targeting a significant increase in attendance at women’s cricket matches, aiming for 600,000 fans to attend games each summer by 2034. This is a substantial jump from the 120,000 fans who attended WBBL and women’s international matches last summer.
Australian cricket star Ellyse Perry expressed her excitement about the plan, highlighting the growing public interest in women’s sports. She emphasized the importance of increasing sponsorship and broadcast deals to ensure the continued growth and success of women’s cricket.
With the popularity of women’s sports on the rise, CA’s 10-year plan aims to capitalize on this momentum and inspire more girls to take up cricket. The ultimate goal is to see major stadiums filled with fans for women’s matches, showcasing the talent and athleticism of female cricketers on a larger stage.