The 2021–22 Women's Big Bash League season or WBBL|07 was the seventh season of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), the semi-professional women'sTwenty20 domestic cricket competition in Australia. The tournament was played from 14 October to 27 November 2021.[1][2] The Sydney Thunder entered the season as the defending champions, having won their second title in WBBL|06,[3] but failed to qualify for the knockout stage.
In the championship decider, played at Perth Stadium, the Perth Scorchers defeated the Adelaide Strikers by 12 runs.[4]Marizanne Kapp was named Player of the Final for her influential all-round performance, scoring 31* off 23 deliveries and producing bowling figures of 1/25 from four overs to help the Scorchers claim their maiden WBBL title.[5]
Each squad was made up of 15 active players. Teams could sign up to five 'marquee players', with a maximum of three of those from overseas. Marquees were defined as any overseas player, or a local player who holds a Cricket Australia national contract at the start of the WBBL|07 signing period.[7]
Jarrad Loughman was appointed head coach of the Melbourne Stars, replacing Trent Woodhill.[45]
On 2 July 2021, the Sydney Sixers announced two-time championship coach Ben Sawyer would not return for WBBL|07, having instead taken on a full-time assistant role for the Australian national women's team.[46] However, on 27 July, it was revealed Cricket Australia agreed to allow Sawyer to coach the Sixers for a seventh and final season.[47]
Captaincy changes made ahead of the season included:
After Sydney Thunder captain Rachael Haynes announced she would be unlikely to participate in the season due to family reasons, Hannah Darlington was appointed to stand in as Haynes' replacement.[50]
Coverage of the league received a boost from the previous season with subscription channel Fox Cricket broadcasting an additional 23 matches, marking the first time every match would be televised. Seven Network would again broadcast 24 matches on free-to-air television, while the remaining 35 matches were free to stream live on cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live app. All 59 matches were also available to watch live and on-demand via Kayo Sports.[8]
Below is a summary of results for each team's fourteen regular season matches, plus finals where applicable, in chronological order. A team's opponent for any given match is listed above the margin of victory/defeat.
As per all previous seasons, WBBL|07 featured a 56-match double round-robin, followed by a finals series featuring the top four qualifiers.[2] The original fixture was released on 8 July 2021, with Cricket Australia (CA) noting the schedule was subject to any changes that may be required in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[54][55]
On 16 September, CA announced the opening fortnight of the competition would be shifted to Tasmania. 20 games featuring all eight teams were scheduled to be played at three venues, beginning with Blundstone Arena in Hobart before moving to University of Tasmania Stadium and its neighbouring Invermay Park in Launceston.[56] On 7 October, CA revealed the revised schedule for the remaining 36 regular season games, which consisted of blocks of matches in Perth, Launceston, Adelaide and Mackay.[8]
Sydney Sixers won by 6 wickets (with 4 balls remaining) Blundstone Arena, Hobart Umpires: Roberto Howard and David Taylor Player of the match: Alyssa Healy (Sydney Sixers)
Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to field.
The match was reduced to 11 overs per side due to rain.
Sydney Sixers won by 5 wickets (with 3 balls remaining) Blundstone Arena, Hobart Umpires: Roberto Howard and David Taylor Player of the match: Shafali Verma (Sydney Sixers)
Adelaide Strikers won by 8 wickets (with 15 balls remaining) Blundstone Arena, Hobart Umpires: Muhammad Qureshi and David Taylor Player of the match: Tahlia McGrath (Adelaide Strikers)
Melbourne Renegades won the toss and elected to bat.
Brisbane Heat won by 5 runs Invermay Park, Launceston Umpires: Roberto Howard and Muhammad Qureshi Player of the match: Laura Wolvaardt (Adelaide Strikers)
Adelaide Strikers won the toss and elected to field.
The match was reduced to 11 overs per side after a wet outfield delayed the start of play.[62][63]
Melbourne Renegades won by 12 runs Lilac Hill Park, Perth Umpires: Trent Steenholdt and Jamie Thomas Player of the match: Jess Duffin (Melbourne Renegades)
Match tied (Perth Scorchers won the Super Over) Lilac Hill Park, Perth Umpires: Jarryd Buscall and Nathan Johnstone Player of the match: Beth Mooney (Perth Scorchers)
Melbourne Renegades won by 6 wickets (with 2 balls remaining) Lilac Hill Park, Perth Umpires: Nathan Johnstone and Jamie Thomas Player of the match: Harmanpreet Kaur (Melbourne Renegades)
Adelaide Strikers won the toss and elected to bat.
Melbourne Stars won by 37 runs Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Simon Lightbody and David Taylor Player of the match: Meg Lanning (Melbourne Stars)
Adelaide Strikers won the toss and elected to field.
The match was reduced to 14 overs per side due to rain.
Perth Scorchers won by 5 wickets (with 27 balls remaining) WACA Ground, Perth Umpires: Jarryd Buscall and Trent Steenholdt Player of the match: Marizanne Kapp (Perth Scorchers)
Hobart Hurricanes won the toss and elected to bat.
Brisbane Heat won by 8 wickets (with 9 balls remaining) Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Dhaval Bhatt and David Taylor Player of the match: Ashleigh Gardner (Sydney Sixers)
Adelaide Strikers won by 18 runs Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Nathan Johnstone and Simon Lightbody Player of the match: Laura Wolvaardt (Adelaide Strikers)
Adelaide Strikers won the toss and elected to bat.
Perth Scorchers won by 10 wickets (with 55 balls remaining) Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Dhaval Bhatt and Simon Lightbody Player of the match: Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers)
Adelaide Strikers won by 8 wickets (with 8 balls remaining) Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Nathan Johnstone and David Taylor Player of the match: Katie Mack (Adelaide Strikers)
Sydney Thunder won by 6 wickets (with 28 balls remaining) Harrup Park, Mackay Umpires: Stephen Dionysius and David Taylor Player of the match: Issy Wong (Sydney Thunder)
Perth Scorchers won by 12 runs Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Harsimran Singh and David Taylor Player of the match: Beth Mooney (Perth Scorchers)
Hobart Hurricanes won by 52 runs Harrup Park, Mackay Umpires: Stephen Dionysius and Nathan James Player of the match: Ruth Johnston (Hobart Hurricanes)
Melbourne Renegades won the toss and elected to field.
Adelaide Strikers won by 8 wickets (with 58 balls remaining) Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Harsimran Singh and David Taylor Player of the match: Darcie Brown (Adelaide Strikers)
Hobart Hurricanes won by 4 runs Harrup Park, Mackay Umpires: Joshua Adie and Stephen Dionysius Player of the match: Belinda Vakarewa (Hobart Hurricanes)
Hobart Hurricanes won the toss and elected to bat.
Perth Scorchers won by 8 wickets (with 17 balls remaining) Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Dhaval Bhatt and Simon Lightbody Player of the match: Alana King (Perth Scorchers)
On 7 September 2021, Cricket Australia announced the WBBL would use a new playoffs format for the 2021–22 season.[76]
The WBBL|07 knockout phase would again feature the four highest-ranked teams at the conclusion of the regular season, though it would begin with an 'Eliminator' between the third and fourth seeds. The winner of the Eliminator would then play the second seed in the 'Challenger'. Both the Eliminator and Challenger matches would be played at the home ground of the second seed.[77] The first seed would automatically qualify for the championship decider, simply known as the 'Final', with home ground advantage against the winner of the Challenger.[78]
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia's General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, said "the League views the Final as a marquee moment in the summer" and the highest-ranked qualifier will not only "have a guaranteed path to the Final, they'll also have the backing of a strong home crowd, with fans given more time to secure their ticket to the Final".[79]
Perth Stadium was selected as the venue for the Final after the Perth Scorchers finished the regular season on top of the points table.[80] The second-placed Melbourne Renegades selected Adelaide Oval as the venue for the Eliminator and Challenger due to border restrictions preventing matches from being played in their home state of Victoria.[81][77][82]
Ending the regular season on top of the points table, the Perth Scorchers qualified for their third championship decider. They previously finished as runners-up in WBBL|02 and WBBL|03, losing to the Sydney Sixers on both occasions. Coach Shelley Nitschke, considered a legend of South Australian cricket,[84] and captain Sophie Devine each played for the Adelaide Strikers in the league's inaugural and subsequent seasons before joining the Scorchers in WBBL|06.
After emphatic victories in the Eliminator and Challenger, the Adelaide Strikers qualified for their second championship decider. They previously finished as runners-up in WBBL|05, losing the final which was defined by a Player of the Match innings from then Brisbane Heat (and now Perth Scorchers) batter Beth Mooney. Members of the Strikers' squad to have won a WBBL title include Sarah Coyte, who was named Player of the Final when the Sixers defeated the Scorchers in 2017–18.
All-rounders Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk were also contributors to the Sixers' past championships but each player moved to new teams, the Scorchers and Strikers respectively, ahead of WBBL|07. They would be the first married couple to compete against one another in a WBBL final—a match-up which garnered media attention with van Niekerk, in an interview days beforehand, noting her own trepidation about facing Kapp's bowling.[85]
While the smaller WACA Ground and Lilac Hill Park serve as their typical home venues, the Scorchers selected Perth Stadium to host the Final, where only two WBBL matches had previously been played. Although the Strikers held an overall 8–6 head-to-head edge coming into the Final, the Scorchers won both encounters earlier in the season—one via Super Over, and the other by 12 runs.[86]
Perth Scorchers won by 12 runs Perth Stadium, Perth Attendance: 15,511 Umpires: Nathan Johnstone and Simon Lightbody Player of the match: Marizanne Kapp (Perth Scorchers)
Adelaide Strikers won the toss and elected to field.
Batting first, the Scorchers made a cautious start, scoring 18 from the opening four overs. With runs beginning to flow—Sophie Devine cutting the leading wicket-taker of the season, Amanda-Jade Wellington, for back-to-back boundaries in the seventh over—Strikers captain Tahlia McGrath brought herself on to bowl with immediate effect, claiming the prized wicket of Beth Mooney for 19. Then, having just reached the halfway point of the innings with her team at 1/65, Devine was run out from a direct hit by Dane van Niekerk. The following over, Chloe Piparo was removed for 19, edging a Darcie Brown outswinger which was caught by wicket-keeper Teagan McPharlin.
Heather Graham and Marizanne Kapp met at the crease in the 12th over, and they put on a partnership of 40 runs from the next 32 balls, ending when Graham was caught at cover for 23. Kapp, in her unbeaten innings of 31 from 23, proceeded to strike two boundaries in the 18th over against Sarah Coyte. Alana King managed similar in the 20th to take the Scorchers to a total of 5/146.
Beginning the run chase in "disarray",[5] the Strikers scored just 12 runs in the first four overs, which included a maiden bowled by Kapp to van Niekerk who played-and-missed multiple times. The Strikers finished the powerplay at 2/16—their worst start to an innings for the tournament. Tahlia McGrath and Laura Wolvaardt combined for 61 off the next 45 balls, but the partnership ended in the 14th over when McGrath was caught at point off the bowling of Taneale Peschel.
In the 17th over Bridget Patterson, after hitting a six and a four, was dismissed by Kapp on the fourth ball, though Madeline Penna scored another boundary on the sixth ball to take 17 runs from the over. Now needing 36 off the last 18 deliveries, the Strikers "remained a late chance".[88] However, Alana King and Heather Graham only conceded seven runs each in their subsequent overs, greatly reducing the chances of a Strikers victory. With her team requiring 22 from the final over, Penna could only muster one boundary while Peschel repeatedly beat the bat at the death to seal a 12-run win for the Scorchers.[89]
Post-match
The post-match presentation to the winning Perth Scorchers, 27 November 2021.
The Perth Scorchers became the fourth team to hold the WBBL trophy aloft, following the Sydney Thunder, Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat. Writing for News.com.au, Tyson Otto said the Scorchers "never really looked like losing" despite "several dramatic moments", and that they were the "clear standout team of the tournament".[90] Owen Leonard of The Sydney Morning Herald commended the "admirable resistance" of the Strikers' McGrath and Wolvaardt, but claimed the Scorchers' "flawless bowling power play" was "too deep to compensate for".[88]
Having overcome illness during the week leading up to the final,[91] Marizanne Kapp was named Player of the Match for her performance with bat and ball. Kapp and Mooney both claimed their third WBBL championships, a feat previously only achieved by Sammy-Jo Johnson and Lauren Smith.[92]
The crowd of 15,511 spectators was the fourth-highest attendance for any WBBL match (the top three attendances were for matches played as double-headers with the BBL), and also the highest for a WBBL final. The most-watched game in the league's history, the Final rated a combined average audience of 535,000 across TV and streaming platforms, eclipsing the 506,000 audience for the WBBL|04 decider.[93]
The Golden Bat award was introduced to the league in WBBL|07.[94] Having already been added as a feature of the BBL in 2019–20, the award recognises the leading run-scorer of the tournament, with the top-ranked player at any given time wearing a distinctive gold-coloured cap rather than their official franchise headwear.[95]
The Golden Arm award was introduced to the league in WBBL|07.[94] Having already been added as a feature of the BBL in 2019–20, the award recognises the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, with the top-ranked player at any given time wearing a distinctive gold-coloured cap rather than their official franchise headwear.[95]
Player of the Tournament votes are awarded on a 3-2-1 basis by the two standing umpires at the conclusion of every match, meaning a player can receive a maximum of six votes per game.
The selection panel for the Team of the Tournament was made up of former players Lisa Sthalekar (Seven Network) and Mel Jones (Fox Cricket), cricket.com.au journalist Laura Jolly and national selector Shawn Flegler. The team is intended to mimic regular WBBL conditions such as a maximum of three overseas players, a realistic mix of batters and bowlers, as well as a captain, wicket-keeper and coach.
Players under 21 years of age at the start of the season were eligible for the Young Gun Award. The winner was chosen by national selector Shawn Flegler.
Sydney Thunder batter Phoebe Litchfield was named the Young Gun for WBBL|07, having scored 263 runs during the season at an average of 21.91 and a strike rate of 109.12.[6]
Most valuable players
Each team designated an award to adjudge and recognise their most outstanding contributor for the season.
The table below shows the number of Player of the Match awards won by each player throughout the season. The career tally indicates the number of awards won by a player throughout her entire time in the league at the conclusion of the season, including awards won while previously playing for a different WBBL team.
^"Teenage Darlington becomes youngest WBBL captain". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 17 October 2021. Reference states "19 years and 262 days" in regards to the date of appointment, which was 2 days before Darlington officially performed the role of captain in a WBBL match.
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