AFTER some delays due to ever changing border rules around the country, the 2021/22 Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) season finally gets underway this weekend.

Although only four teams are in action this weekend, there are still some enthralling match ups and brilliant cricket to be played.

WNCL fans will be excited to know that after decades of inconsistent TV coverage of the league, 2021/22 will finally see some consistency. Every game will be streamed on Cricket Australia’s website and on Kayo.

As we head into this new season, let’s take a look at where every state is at, who the contenders might be and take a look at the upcoming action taking place this weekend.

ACT Meteors

The Meteors have always been a middle of the table side, but will certainly be looking to push up the table this coming season.

ACT is often the destination team for younger players from other states who can’t break into their own state’s side. Rebecca Carter, Amy Yates and Nicola Hancock are just some of this year’s squad members that fit that bill.  

They unfortunately lost some key players in Maitlin Brown and Erin Osborne, which certainly will not help their push up the ladder this coming season.

They do bring in Chloe Rafferty from Victoria. She is a young quick and will definitely help fill the void left by Brown and Osbourne.

Both Katie Mack and Maddie Penna had great WBBL campaigns for Adelaide, so will certainly be looking to continue that into the longer form of the game.

Ins: Kayla Burton, Gabrielle Sutcliffe, Chloe Rafferty
Outs: Erin Osborne, Maitlan Brown (NSW), Allison McGrath

Contract list: Angela Reakes, Katie Mack, Madeline Penna, Kayla Burton, Gabrielle Sutcliffe, Chloe Rafferty, Carly Leeson, Matilda Lugg, Olivia Porter, Rebecca Carter, Erica Kershaw, Amy Yates, Nicola Hancock, Zoe Cooke

New South Wales

The Breakers have been a dominant side in the competition for a very, very long time. With a squad list full of Australian representatives both young and old, it’s not hard to see why.

Much of New South Wales’ ins and outs are on the younger end of the scale, with teenagers Jade Allen and

After some delays due to ever changing border rules around the country, the 2021/22 Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) season finally gets underway this weekend.

Although only four teams are in action this weekend, there are still some enthralling match ups and brilliant cricket to be played.

WNCL fans will be excited to know that after decades of inconsistent TV coverage of the league, 2021/22 will finally see some consistency. Every game will be streamed on Cricket Australia’s website and on Kayo.

As we head into this new season, let’s take a look at where every state is at, who the contenders might be and take a look at the upcoming action taking place this weekend.

ACT Meteors

The Meteors have always been a middle of the table side, but will certainly be looking to push up the table this coming season.

ACT is often the destination team for younger players from other states who can’t break into their own state’s side. Rebecca Carter, Amy Yates and Nicola Hancock are just some of this year’s squad members that fit that bill.  

They unfortunately lost some key players in Maitlin Brown and Erin Osborne, which certainly will not help their push up the ladder this coming season.

They do bring in Chloe Rafferty from Victoria. She is a young quick and will definitely help fill the void left by Brown and Osbourne.

Both Katie Mack and Maddie Penna had great WBBL campaigns for Adelaide, so will certainly be looking to continue that into the longer form of the game.

Ins: Kayla Burton, Gabrielle Sutcliffe, Chloe Rafferty
Outs: Erin Osborne, Maitlan Brown (NSW), Allison McGrath

Contract list: Angela Reakes, Katie Mack, Madeline Penna, Kayla Burton, Gabrielle Sutcliffe, Chloe Rafferty, Carly Leeson, Matilda Lugg, Olivia Porter, Rebecca Carter, Erica Kershaw, Amy Yates, Nicola Hancock, Zoe Cooke

New South Wales

The Breakers have been a dominant side in the competition for a very, very long time. With a squad list full of Australian representatives both young and old, it’s not hard to see why.

Much of New South Wales’ ins and outs are on the younger end of the scale, with teenagers Jade Allen and Clarie Moore replacing the like of Hayley Silver-Holmes and Maddy Darke, who have both moved interstate.

They have brought in Maitlin Brown from the ACT. She will be a handy addition after finally breaking into the Aussie side this summer.

As well as their big names like Alyssa Healy, Ash Gardner and Rachel Haynes, keep an eye out for the likes of Phoebe Litchfield and Hannah Darlington. Both are young stars and will be looking to build on strong WBBL form.

Ins: Maitlan Brown, Jade Allen, Claire Moore
Outs: Maddy Darke (WA), Lisa Griffith (WA), Hayley Silver-Holmes (TAS)

Contract list: Alyssa Healy (Captain), Jade Allen, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Emma Hughes, Sammy Jo-Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Lauren Smith, Rachel Trenaman, Tahlia Wilson

Queensland

Queensland were a middle rung team for a long time, but not anymore. They are finally the ones to beat after they broke through for their first WNCL title last season.

The Fire do have Australian stars Jess Jonassen and Beth Mooney in their side, while the big hitting Grace Harris is always entertaining to watch.

There have not been too many changes to this title winning squad. Delissa Kimmince has retired and Tess Cooper didn’t get her contract renewed, while Ruth Johnston is the only inclusion to the team.

In: Ruth Johnston
Out: Tess Cooper, Delissa Kimmince (retired)

Contract list: Megan Dixon, Holly Ferling, Grace Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Ellie Johnston, Ruth Johnston, Jess Jonassen, Laura Kimmince, Charli Knott, Caitlyn Mair, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Georgia Prestwidge, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll

South Australia

Much like Queensland, SA are another side who have been a fairly middle of the table side for some time.

They certainly have the talent to do it.

They have got Australian contracted stars Darcie Brown, Tahlia McGrath and Megan Schutt.

Amanda-Jade Wellington had a standout WBBL season and will be looking to continue that form.

Also like Queensland, they’re a very settled squad this season with only one change made.

Brown’s elevation to Australian contracted status meant South Australia could bring in another player. They brought in pace bowler Kate Peterson.

In: Kate Peterson
Out: None

Contract list: Jemma Barsby, Sam Betts, Emma De Broughe, Darcie Brown, Eliza Doddridge, Josie Dooley, Ellie Falconer, Brooke Harris, Tahlia McGrath, Tegan McPharlin, Annie O’Neil, Bridget Patterson, Kate Peterson, Alex Price, Megan Schutt, Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Tasmania

If there was a prize for best recruiting this off season, Tasmania would certainly win it.

They have been able to bring in some experienced stars and young talent.

They have lost Brooke Hepburn to retirement and Samantha Bates to Victoria. However, they have brought in Hayley Silver-Holmes from New South Wales, and Victorian stars Elyse Villani and Molly Strano.

Villani and Strano in particular are huge inclusions for the Tigers. They will play a massive part in helping Tasmania go one step further then last season and make that WNCL final after just missing out last time.

In: Hayley Silver-Holmes, Elyse Villani, Molly Strano
Out: Brooke Hepburn (retired), Samantha Bates (VIC), Meg Phillips

Contract list: Chloe Abel, Nicola Carey*, Maisy Gibson, Heather Graham, Corinne Hall, Emma Manix-Geeves, Sasha Moloney, Rachel Priest, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Emily Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Molly Strano, Emma Thompson (maternity leave 2021-22), Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani

Victoria

Much like NSW, Victoria have been the other dominant side in the WNCL for a long time. They did however go down in the WNCL final last season to Queensland.

Victoria are a very young side, but do also have a lot of experience. Many of it’s players such as Tess Flintoff, Lucy Cripps and Sophie Day are very young. However, they do have Aussie superstars Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning.

Victoria have also been very busy in the offseason. They have recruited young from the local Premier Cricket Competition, including Tiana Atkinson, Ella Hayward and Rhys McKenna.

They have also lost a fair chunk of experience, losing Elyse Villani, Molly Strano and Sophie Mollineux.

In: Samantha Bates, Tiana Atkinson, Ella Hayward, Rhys McKenna, Rhiann O’Donnell, Lara Shannon
Out: Molly Strano (TAS), Elyse Villani (TAS), Courtney Neale (WA), Bhavi Devchand, Elly Donald, Zoe Griffiths, Sophie Mollineux (injury) Bhavi Devchand, Elly Donald, Zoe Griffiths

Contract list: Tiana Atkinson, Samantha Bates, Makinley Blows, Lucy Cripps, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Ella Hayward, Anna Lanning, Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Rhiann O’Donnell, Ellyse Perry, Lara Shannon, Annabel Sutherland, Amy Vine, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Western Australia

WA had a disastrous season last season, winning only two games for the season. They have gone younger and looked to the eastern states to help rebuild their squad and turn things around.

Maddy Darke and Lisa Griffith come in from the Breakers, while young quick Courtney Neale comes in from Victoria.

Despite these inclusions, they have lost a lot of experience. Nicole Bolton has retired from the one day format, and Emma King has also retied. Piepa Cleary has moved to the UK for personal reasons, while Megan Banting was delisted.

Alana King is a talented spinner, but there’s not a whole lot of experience on that squad list as things stand, so it may be another tough seasons for the West Aussies.

In: Madeleine Darke, Lisa Griffith, Courtney Neale
Out: Nicole Bolton (retired), Emma King (retired), Piepa Cleary, Megan Banting

Contract list: Zoe Britcliffe, Mathilda Carmichael, Sheldyn Cooper, Madeleine Darke, Ashley Day, Amy Edgar, Lisa Griffith, Molly Healy, Alana King, Courtney Neale, Chloe Piparo, Georgia Wyllie

First Weekend of Action

All start times 10am AEDT

Friday

Tasmania vs Queensland – Blundstone Arena, Hobart
Victoria vs NSW – CitiPower Centre, St Kilda

Sunday

Tasmania vs Queensland – Blundstone Arena, Hobart
Victoria vs NSW – CitiPower Centre, St Kilda