Shorter Big Bash, new T20 tournament part of plan to grow women's cricket

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Cricket Australia has unveiled its new plan to grow the game for women and girls, hoping the approach will increase revenue and participation in the sport. 

The Women and Girls Action Plan was announced on Tuesday with notable changes to the summer schedule.

The Women's Big Bash League will be reduced to a 40-match regular season — in line with the men's BBL — while a new domestic women's T20 competition will be introduced.

The WBBL will have all matches televised, with half of the regular season games broadcast by the free-to-air Seven Network.

The plan sets out the following goals to be reached by 2034:

• 600,000 average annual attendance for all women's cricket in Australia
• Growing total revenue from women's cricket to $121 million (an increase of $100 million)
• Increasing participation by 5-12-year-old girls from 25,000 to 100,000
• $500 million invested in infrastructure for women's and girls' cricket
• At least 40 per cent female representation in key positions across Australian Cricket (including executives, boards and community cricket roles)
• Winning gold medals at the 2028 and 2032 Olympics

Two-time ODI World Cup winner Ellyse Perry said the new plan was vital to capitalise on the appetite for women's sport.

"Sport at its very best is fully inclusive and it's been a great privilege to collaborate with some of the best leaders in Australian sport on a plan that will ensure more women and girls are involved in cricket in every role," she said.

"Australian Cricket has been at the forefront of the growth in women's sport, providing some of the best opportunities for players with resourcing and remuneration and it's reassuring to know this commitment will not only be sustained, but greatly enhanced over the next 10 years.

"With viewing audiences increasing, the public appetite for women's sport is now indisputable and we would love to see major stadiums filled with fans for our international and WBBL games and more girls inspired to play cricket.

"It is also extremely important that the increased interest in women's sport is reflected in sponsorship and broadcast deals, and I hope this plan will continue to drive this growth so that women's cricket continues to thrive."

CA chief executive Nick Hockley said the plan was a continuation of the progress cricket had made over the past decade.

"Building on its long and proud history, the growth of cricket as a sport for women and girls over the past decade is one of the great success stories of Australian sport and we are confident this action plan will provide the focus and energy to ensure we accelerate cricket's leadership position," he said.

"There is so much more opportunity and work to be done to ensure big crowds in big stadiums more often, that our incredible role models are given the profile they deserve, that all facets of the game are gender balanced, that through imaginative partnerships we drive commercial growth, sustainable investment and ultimately that more women and girls are inspired to love and play cricket."

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