Perth Scorchers have the perfect opportunity to fine-tune their skills ahead of the Weber Women’s Big Bash League season, after Cricket Australia confirmed fixtures for the inauguralT20 Spring Challenge this morning.
Fixtures Unveiled For T20 Spring Challenge
The new nine-team competition – which features all eight Big Bash League franchises, as well as a side from the ACT – will take place immediately before WBBL|10 begins on Sunday 27 October.
Each team plays four times, with the top four progressing to a play-off series featuring two semifinals and the final.
Perth launch their campaign against two-time WBBL champions Adelaide Strikers on Friday 11 October at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide, before taking on Melbourne Renegades (Saturday 12 October) and Hobart Hurricanes (Monday 14 October) at the same venue.
They will then round out the ‘regular season’ against Sydney Thunder (Wednesday 16 October) at North Sydney Oval, leading into the semifinals (Saturday 19 October) and final (Sunday 20 October) at Cricket Central in Sydney.
The T20 Spring Challenge ensures there will be the same amount of elite women’s cricket as last summer, with the WBBL being shortened to a 40-game home-and-away season in line with the KFC Big Bash League.
Under the tournament’s rules, domestic players who hold State and WBBL contracts will prioritise their franchise, meaning NSW-contracted fast bowler Stella Campbell will represent the Scorchers.
Broadcast details for the T20 Spring Challenge, as well as Perth’s squad, will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Comments attributable to Perth Scorchers Head Coach Becky Grundy:
“We’re really looking forward to being part of the T20 Spring Challenge, which is an exciting new concept.
“It adds another layer to the women’s domestic calendar and provides players – whether contracted for the WBBL or not – with the forum to show their strengths as T20 players.
“In particular, we see this as a perfect opportunity for our younger players to test themselves against top quality opponents.
“We’re also hopeful the competition will allow our WBBL-contracted players to hit the ground running when WBBL|10 begins.”
Perth Scorchers Schedule for T20 Spring Challenge
Friday 11 October: vs Adelaide Strikers at Karen Rolton Oval
Saturday 12 October: vs Melbourne Renegades at Karen Rolton Oval
Monday 14 October: vs Hobart Hurricanes at Karen Rolton Oval
Wednesday 16 October: vs Sydney Thunder at North Sydney Oval