The 2018–19 Women's Big Bash League season or WBBL|04 was the fourth season of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), the semi-professional women's Twenty20 domestic cricket competition in Australia. The tournament ran from 1 December 2018 to 26 January 2019.
Double-defending champions, the Sydney Sixers, ended the regular season on top of the ladder, while captain Ellyse Perry broke the scoring record for a sole WBBL campaign and was named Player of the Tournament.
In the two semi-finals at Drummoyne Oval on 19 January, the Brisbane Heat eliminated the Sydney Thunder before the Sydney Sixers knocked out the Melbourne Renegades. Both matches, notable for their "miracle" endings, were hailed as a showcase of "the irrefutable rise of women's cricket" and "sport with drama, skill and unpredictability – a potent recipe for success".
In the final, also at Drummoyne Oval, the Heat caused an upset by defeating the Sixers with three wickets in hand and four balls remaining to claim their maiden title. Despite suffering from the flu and heat stroke, Beth Mooney managed to play a pivotal innings of 65 runs from 46 balls and was named Player of the Final.
Teams Each squad featured 15 active players, with an allowance of up to five marquee signings including a maximum of three from overseas. Under a new rule, Australian marquees were defined as players who held a national women's team contract at the time of signing on for their WBBL|04 team. This, combined with the introduction of two-year contracts ahead of the previous season, meant that the Sydney Sixers would inadvertently exceed their marquee player limit in 2018–19. To address this inequity, an injured or unavailable Sixers marquee could only be replaced by a domestic player. Team Home ground Secondary grounds Coach Captain Australian representatives Overseas players Adelaide StrikersKaren Rolton Oval (3)Adelaide Oval (2)Albrecht Oval (2)Andrea McCauleySuzie BatesMegan SchuttAmanda-Jade WellingtonSarah CoyteTahlia McGrath Suzie Bates Sophie Devine Danielle Hazell Brisbane HeatThe Gabba (2)Harrup Park (2)Cazaly's Stadium (1)Peter McGiffinKirby ShortJess JonassenBeth MooneyGrace HarrisDelissa Kimmince Suné Luus Laura Wolvaardt Hobart Hurricanes Blundstone Arena (3)UTAS Stadium (2)West Park Oval (2)Salliann BriggsSasha Moloney – Heather Knight Smriti Mandhana Hayley Matthews Alex HartleyMelbourne RenegadesCitiPower Centre (3)GMHBA Stadium (2)Eastern Oval (1)Geelong Cricket Ground (1)Marvel Stadium (1)Tim CoyleAmy SatterthwaiteJess DuffinSophie MolineuxMolly StranoTayla VlaeminckGeorgia Wareham Amy Satterthwaite Lea Tahuhu Danielle Wyatt Melbourne StarsMelbourne Cricket Ground (2)Casey Fields (2)CitiPower Centre (1) David HempKristen BeamsKristen BeamsHolly FerlingErin Osborne Mignon du Preez Georgia Elwiss Lizelle Lee Katey Martin Perth ScorchersLilac Hill Park (3)WACA Ground (2)Optus Stadium (1) Lisa Keightley Meg LanningNicole BoltonMeg LanningElyse VillaniLauren Ebsary Kate Cross Amy Jones Hayley Jensen Sydney SixersSydney Cricket Ground (2)Drummoyne Oval (2)Hurstville Oval (2)North Sydney Oval (2) Ben Sawyer Ellyse PerryLauren CheatleAshleigh GardnerAlyssa HealyEllyse PerrySarah Aley Marizanne Kapp Sara McGlashan Dane van Niekerk Sydney ThunderSpotless Stadium (3) Bankstown Oval (1)Blacktown ISP Oval (1)Drummoyne Oval (1)Manuka Oval (1)North Sydney Oval (1)Joanne BroadbentAlex BlackwellAlex BlackwellRachael HaynesNicola CareyRene FarrellNaomi StalenbergBelinda VakarewaHarmanpreet Kaur Rachel Priest Stafanie Taylor
Personnel changes Local players The table below lists local player movements made ahead of the season. PlayerDeparted→JoinedNotesRef(s)Sarah CoyteSydney Sixers→Adelaide StrikersReturning to the Adelaide StrikersHolly FerlingBrisbane Heat→Melbourne StarsRhiann O'DonnellMelbourne Renegades→Hobart HurricanesNicola HancockHobart Hurricanes→Melbourne StarsThird WBBL club (previously played for the Melbourne Renegades)Celeste RaackHobart Hurricanes→–No longer eligible as a local player due to recent international appearances for IrelandAnna LanningMelbourne Stars→Melbourne RenegadesKris BrittMelbourne Renegades→–RetiredHayley JensenMelbourne Renegades→– No longer eligible as a local player due to recent international appearances for New Zealand Signed as an overseas marquee replacement player for the Perth Scorchers during the seasonAngela ReakesSydney Sixers→Melbourne StarsHayleigh BrennanMelbourne Stars→Perth ScorchersGemma TriscariMelbourne Stars→–RetiredMikayla HinkleyPerth Scorchers→–Signed as a replacement player for the Hobart Hurricanes during the season Changes made during the season included:
Mikayla Hinkley (who had previously played for the Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers) signed with the Hobart Hurricanes as a replacement player.
Overseas players The table below lists changes to overseas player allocations made ahead of the season. PlayerDeparted→JoinedNotesRef(s) Danielle Hazell–→Adelaide StrikersPreviously played for the Melbourne Stars Tammy BeaumontAdelaide Strikers→– Suné Luus–→Brisbane Heat Deandra DottinBrisbane Heat→– Alex Hartley–→Hobart HurricanesReplacement player Heather Knight–→Hobart HurricanesReturning to the Hobart Hurricanes Smriti Mandhana–→Hobart HurricanesPreviously played for the Brisbane Heat Lauren WinfieldHobart Hurricanes→– Veda KrishnamurthyHobart Hurricanes→– Danni Wyatt–→Melbourne RenegadesReturning to the Melbourne RenegadesChamari AtapattuMelbourne Renegades→– Kate Cross–→Perth ScorchersPreviously played for the Brisbane Heat Amy JonesSydney Sixers→Perth ScorchersReplacement player in WBBL|03 Katherine BruntPerth Scorchers→– Nat SciverPerth Scorchers→– Thamsyn NewtonPerth Scorchers→–Replacement player in WBBL|03 Changes made during the season included:
New Zealand marquee Hayley Jensen (who had previously played for the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades) signed with the Perth Scorchers as a replacement player. New Zealand marquee Katey Martin signed with the Melbourne Stars as a replacement player. Martin had performed a similar role with the Melbourne Stars in WBBL|03.
Leadership Coaching changes made ahead of the season included:
Salliann Briggs was appointed head coach of the Hobart Hurricanes, replacing Julia Price.
Captaincy changes made ahead of the season included:
Sasha Moloney was appointed captain of the Hobart Hurricanes, replacing Corinne Hall. Meg Lanning assumed the captaincy of the Perth Scorchers, replacing Elyse Villani.
Captaincy changes made during the season included:
Erin Osborne stood in as acting captain of the Melbourne Stars for eight games, replacing Kristen Beams who was sidelined with Achilles and finger injuries. Elyse Villani stood in as acting captain of the Perth Scorchers for five games, replacing Meg Lanning who was sidelined with a back injury.
Points table
Win–loss table 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. Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 SF F XX6th 3rd() XX8th X4th() XX7th XX5th 1st() X2nd() Team's results→ Won Tied Lost
Fixtures All times are local time
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Knockout phase
Semi-finals
Final
Statistics
Highest totals TeamScoreAgainstVenueDateSydney Sixers1/206 (20 overs)Adelaide StrikersHurstville Oval28 December 2018Hobart Hurricanes6/196 (20 overs)Melbourne StarsWest Park Oval9 December 2018Sydney Thunder4/192 (20 overs)Brisbane HeatNorth Sydney Oval9 December 2018Adelaide Strikers5/189 (20 overs)Hobart HurricanesKaren Rolton Oval8 January 2019Hobart Hurricanes8/189 (20 overs)Adelaide StrikersKaren Rolton Oval8 January 2019 Source: CricInfo
Most runs PlayerTeamRuns Ellyse PerrySydney Sixers778 Sophie DevineAdelaide Strikers556 Beth MooneyBrisbane Heat486 Alyssa HealySydney Sixers445 Suzie BatesAdelaide Strikers421 Source: CricInfo
Most wickets PlayerTeamWickets Heather GrahamPerth Scorchers22 Delissa KimminceBrisbane Heat22 Marizanne KappSydney Sixers20 Sammy-Jo JohnsonBrisbane Heat20 Stafanie TaylorSydney Thunder19 Source: CricInfo
Awards
Player of the tournament 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. Pos.PlayerTeamVotes1st Ellyse PerrySydney Sixers382nd Sophie DevineAdelaide Strikers303rd Grace HarrisBrisbane Heat25=4th Meg LanningPerth Scorchers23=4th Sophie MolineuxMelbourne Renegades23=4th Sammy-Jo JohnsonBrisbane Heat235th Elyse VillaniPerth Scorchers22 Source: WBBL|04 Player of the Tournament
Team of the tournament A twelve-player honorary squad recognising the standout performers of WBBL|04 was named by cricket.com.au: Ellyse Perry (Sydney Sixers) – captain Sophie Devine (Adelaide Strikers) Alyssa Healy (Sydney Sixers) – wicket-keeper Meg Lanning (Perth Scorchers) Grace Harris (Brisbane Heat) Stafanie Taylor (Sydney Thunder) Sammy-Jo Johnson (Brisbane Heat) Heather Graham (Perth Scorchers) Delissa Kimmince (Brisbane Heat) Marizanne Kapp (Sydney Sixers) Molly Strano (Melbourne Renegades) Sophie Molineux (Melbourne Renegades) – 12th player
Young gun award Players under 21 years of age at the start of the season are eligible for the Young Gun Award. Weekly winners are selected over the course of the season by a panel of Cricket Australia officials based on match performance, on-field and off-field attitude, and their demonstration of skill, tenacity and good sportsmanship. Each weekly winner receives a $500 Rebel gift card and the overall winner receives a $5000 cash prize, as well as access to a learning and mentor program.
Melbourne Renegades leg-spinner Georgia Wareham was named the Young Gun of WBBL|04 after claiming 11 wickets and finishing the regular season with the best economy rate in the league.
Attendance A total of 135,861 fans attended WBBL|04—an average of 2,384 per match (excluding the two games abandoned due to rain). This included some double-headers with men's BBL matches, such as the crowd of 14,983 reported for the match between Perth and Brisbane on Boxing Day played at Optus Stadium, and the crowd of 11,136 reported for the New Year's Day match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between the Stars and Renegades.
A new record for the highest attendance at a standalone WBBL match was set on 5 January when the Brisbane Heat played the Adelaide Strikers at Harrup Park in front of 5,650 spectators. A total of 8,735 people attended the knockout stage of the tournament across two weekends at Drummoyne Oval, with all ticket proceeds donated to Dolly’s Dream. The final was announced as a sellout and attracted a crowd of 5,368.
Audience A total of twenty-three matches were televised on Seven Network and Fox Cricket The remaining 36 matches were live streamed on the Cricket Australia website as well as the Cricket Australia Live App for mobile.
Below are the television ratings for every game that was broadcast by Seven Network and Fox Cricket during the season. The semi-final super over between the Sixers and Renegades was watched by a combined average audience of 423,000 (196,000 metro; 133,000 regional; 94,000 subscription). The final was the most-watched WBBL game ever with a combined average audience of 479,000 and peaking at 812,000.
Cricket Australia reported over 3.8 million highlight views on their YouTube channel and almost 10 million minutes viewed on the Cricket Network's live stream, with a 38 per cent rise of minutes viewed in Australia compared to the previous season.