Cricket Australia (CA) has unveiled a comprehensive ten-year Women and Girls Action Plan aimed at boosting investment, interest, and participation in women's cricket. As part of this initiative, CA has made significant changes to the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and announced the creation of a new state-based T20 competition.

The WBBL season will now consist of 40 games plus finals, aligning it more closely with the structure of the men's Big Bash League (BBL). This adjustment was necessitated by the crowded women's cricket calendar, which includes the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and a women's ODI series between Australia and India later in the year.

To complement the reduced WBBL schedule and provide additional playing opportunities for domestic players, CA has introduced a new state-based T20 tournament. This competition will run alongside the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) and could serve as a lead-up event to the WBBL. Importantly, these changes will also lead to an increase in salaries for female domestic players, with the average player set to earn AU$163,322, representing a substantial rise from previous seasons.

Beyond restructuring the WBBL and creating new playing opportunities, CA has ambitious goals for the growth of women's cricket over the next decade. This includes a target of increasing total revenue by AU$100 million, expanding participation for young girls aged 5-12, significant investment in infrastructure, and ensuring greater female representation in key positions within Australian cricket.

Moreover, CA is committed to showcasing more women's matches in major Australian stadiums, starting with the women's Ashes Test at the MCG in early 2025, which marks the 90th anniversary of women's Test cricket. This multiformat series against England will also feature women's T20Is at Adelaide Oval and the SCG, underscoring CA's efforts to elevate the visibility and prestige of women's cricket in Australia.

Star allrounder Ellyse Perry has expressed her support for these initiatives, highlighting the importance of sustaining and enhancing opportunities for female cricketers amid growing interest in women's sport nationwide.