Ashleigh Gardner: WBBL will need to adapt to lure the best players


image-l91q3csuAshleigh Gardner (PC: Twitter)

Ashleigh Gardner is slated to reprise her role for the Sydney Sixers in the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League (BBL 2022) season. The Australian all-rounder recently described the annual women’s event as the best tournament in the world. However, she also added that it needs to adapt to counter rising T20 league competition from other countries.

Ashleigh Gardner says WBBL needs to attract more marquee players

The first edition of the WBBL took place back during the 2015-16 Australian home season. The tournament has proven to be highly successful in promoting women’s cricket, and has also strengthened the core of Australia women’s cricket team as evidenced by their success in ICC events.

Amidst WBBL’s success, several other boards have now decided to monopolise the T20 market of women’s cricket.

In 2021, the ECB decided to launch the women’s version of The Hundred, which ran in tandem with the men’s competition. The West Indies Cricket Board also launched their women’s CPL and women’s 6IXTY, with the first editions of both events taking place this year.

Moreover, T20 bigwigs IPL is also slated to have its women’s competition next year, as repeatedly hinted out by the BCCI.

Speaking on the rising competition from other countries in women’s T20 league market, Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has opined that the WBBL needs to recruit more marquee players to attain bigger traction.

While speaking with ESPNCricinfo, the cricketer said:

“I think is the best tournament in the world, we have the best domestic players in the world, and that's where the Big Bash needs to think about how we are going to keep the best internationals coming over.”

The 25-year-old also did not rule out the possibility of reducing WBBL games. She said:

“It's a long commitment to come here for 14 games and potentially finals. We need to have some good things to lure the best players in.”


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