2020–21 Women's Big Bash League season

2020–21 Women's Big Bash League

Dates	25 October 2020 (2020-10-25) – 28 November 2020 (2020-11-28)
Administrator(s)	Cricket Australia
Cricket format	Twenty20
Tournament format(s)	Double round robin and knockout finals
Champions	Sydney Thunder (2nd title)
Runners-up	Melbourne Stars
Participants	8
Matches	59
Player of the series	Sophie Devine (PRS)
Most runs	Beth Mooney (PRS) – 551
Most wickets	Sammy-Jo Johnson (SYT) – 22
Official website	WBBL
← 2019–20 2021–22 →

The 2020–21 Women's Big Bash League season or WBBL|06 was the sixth season of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), the semi-professional women's Twenty20 domestic cricket competition in Australia. The tournament took place from 25 October to 28 November 2020. It was played entirely in Sydney due to ongoing state border restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Brisbane Heat entered the season as double defending champions, having won back-to-back titles in WBBL|04 and WBBL|05.^[1] The Heat finished the regular season with seven-straight wins but suffered an "epic meltdown"^[2] in a twelve-run semi-final loss against the Sydney Thunder, ending their hunt for a three-peat.

In the final, held at North Sydney Oval, the Sydney Thunder defeated the Melbourne Stars by seven wickets with 38 balls remaining to win their second Women's Big Bash League title. Shabnim Ismail was awarded Player of the Match after taking key early wickets against the top-qualifying Stars team, leading to a "thumping"^[3][4] victory for the Thunder.

Sophie Devine was named Player of the Tournament in her first season with the Perth Scorchers, earning the same award she won in WBBL|05 while playing for the Adelaide Strikers.

Teams

Each squad was made up of 15 active players. Teams could sign up to five 'marquee players', with a maximum of three of those from overseas. Marquees were classed as any overseas player, or a local player who holds a Cricket Australia national contract at the start of the WBBL signing period.^[5][6]

The table below lists each team's marquee players and other key details for the season.^[7]

Team		No. of games at each venue					Coach	Captain	Australian representatives[a]	Overseas players
		BIS	DMO	HVO	NSO	SSS
	Adelaide Strikers	2	4	2	4	2	Luke Williams	Suzie Bates[b]	Tahlia McGrath Megan Schutt Sarah Coyte[c] Amanda-Jade Wellington[c]	Suzie Bates Stafanie Taylor Laura Wolvaardt Katie Perkins[d]
	Brisbane Heat	2	4	2	4	3	Ashley Noffke	Jess Jonassen	Jess Jonassen Delissa Kimmince Grace Harris[c]	Nadine de Klerk Maddy Green Amelia Kerr
	Hobart Hurricanes	2	3	5	2	2	Salliann Briggs	Corinne Hall	Nicola Carey Tayla Vlaeminck[e] Naomi Stalenberg[c] Belinda Vakarewa[c]	Hayley Matthews Rachel Priest Chloe Tryon Hayley Jensen[d]
	Melbourne Renegades	2	2	3	2	5	Lachlan Stevens	Amy Satterthwaite	Sophie Molineux Georgia Wareham Jess Duffin[c][e] Molly Strano[c]	Lizelle Lee Amy Satterthwaite Lea Tahuhu Rosemary Mair[d]
	Melbourne Stars	2	2	3	6	3	Trent Woodhill	Meg Lanning	Meg Lanning Annabel Sutherland Holly Ferling[c] Erin Osborne[c] Elyse Villani[c]	Katherine Brunt Mignon du Preez Nat Sciver Rosemary Mair[d]
	Perth Scorchers	2	2	4	5	2	Shelley Nitschke	Sophie Devine[f]	Beth Mooney Nicole Bolton[c] Heather Graham[c]	Sophie Devine Sarah Glenn Amy Jones Lauren Down[d]
	Sydney Sixers	2	1	1	5	5	Ben Sawyer	Ellyse Perry	Ashleigh Gardner Alyssa Healy Ellyse Perry Sarah Aley[c] Erin Burns[c] Lauren Cheatle[c]	Marizanne Kapp Dane van Niekerk
	Sydney Thunder	2	2	2	4	6	Trevor Griffin	Rachael Haynes	Rachael Haynes	Tammy Beaumont Shabnim Ismail Heather Knight

Personnel changes

Local players

The table below lists local player movements made ahead of the season.

Player	Departed	→	Joined	Notes	Ref(s)
Meg Lanning	Perth Scorchers	→	Melbourne Stars	Australian marquee Outgoing captain (14–10 win–loss record) Returning to the Melbourne Stars	[8][9]
Beth Mooney	Brisbane Heat	→	Perth Scorchers	Australian marquee	[10]
Sammy-Jo Johnson	Brisbane Heat	→	Sydney Thunder		[11]
Erin Fazackerley	Hobart Hurricanes	→	Melbourne Renegades		[12]
Lauren Smith	Sydney Sixers	→	Sydney Thunder		[13]
Georgia Redmayne	Perth Scorchers	→	Brisbane Heat	Third WBBL team (previously played for the Hobart Hurricanes)	[14]
Nicola Hancock	Melbourne Stars	→	Brisbane Heat	Fourth WBBL team (previously played for the Melbourne Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes)	[14]
Angela Reakes	Melbourne Stars	→	Sydney Sixers	Returning to the Sydney Sixers	[15]
Madeline Penna	Melbourne Stars	→	Adelaide Strikers	Replacement player in WBBL|05	[16]
Lisa Griffith	Sydney Thunder	→	Sydney Sixers		[17]
Bhavisha Devchand	–	→	Melbourne Stars	Previously a replacement player for the Perth Scorchers	[18]
Naomi Stalenberg	Sydney Thunder	→	Hobart Hurricanes		[19]
Erica Kershaw	Melbourne Renegades	→	Hobart Hurricanes		[19]
Chloe Rafferty	Melbourne Stars	→	Hobart Hurricanes	Replacement player in WBBL|05	[19][20]
Kirby Short	Brisbane Heat	→	–	Retired Outgoing captain (34–19[g] win–loss record)	[21][22]
Kristen Beams	Melbourne Stars	→	–	Retired	[23]
Alex Blackwell	Sydney Thunder	→	–	Retired	[24]
Rene Farrell	Sydney Thunder	→	–	Retired	[25]

Overseas players

The table below lists overseas player movements made ahead of the season.

Player	Departed	→	Joined	Notes	Ref(s)
Rachel Priest	Sydney Thunder	→	Hobart Hurricanes	Third WBBL team (previously played for the Melbourne Renegades)	[26]
Lizelle Lee	Melbourne Stars	→	Melbourne Renegades		[27]
Sophie Devine	Adelaide Strikers	→	Perth Scorchers		[28]
Laura Wolvaardt	–	→	Adelaide Strikers	Previously played for the Brisbane Heat	[29]
Amy Satterthwaite	–	→	Melbourne Renegades	Returning from maternity leave	[12]
Nadine de Klerk	–	→	Brisbane Heat		[30]
Nat Sciver	Perth Scorchers	→	Melbourne Stars	Returning to the Melbourne Stars	[31]
Katherine Brunt	–	→	Melbourne Stars	Previously played for the Perth Scorchers	[31]
Sarah Glenn	–	→	Perth Scorchers		[32]
Heather Knight	Hobart Hurricanes	→	Sydney Thunder		[33]
Tammy Beaumont	Melbourne Renegades	→	Sydney Thunder	Third WBBL team (previously played for the Adelaide Strikers)	[33]
Hayley Jensen	–	→	Hobart Hurricanes	Fourth WBBL team (previously played for the Melbourne Stars, Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers)	[19]
Lauren Winfield	Adelaide Strikers	→	–	Replacement player in WBBL|05	[7]
Fran Wilson	Hobart Hurricanes	→	–		[7]
Danielle Wyatt	Melbourne Renegades	→	–		[7]
Chamari Atapattu	Melbourne Renegades	→	–	Replacement player in WBBL|05	[7]
Katey Martin	Melbourne Stars	→	–		[7]
Kim Garth	Perth Scorchers	→	–		[7]
Hollie Armitage	Sydney Sixers	→	–	Replacement player in WBBL|05	[7]
Nida Dar	Sydney Thunder	→	–		[7]

Replacement players

Designed to overcome bio-security rules that prevent fresh players being brought into the hub, the replacement player pool includes four New Zealanders and 16 locals, all living inside the WBBL Village. Each player trains with a host club but can be signed by any team, and they are released back into the pool once the original replaced player returns from their relevant injury or availability issue. It is therefore possible that a player from the replacement pool finds themselves lining up for multiple teams throughout the season.^[34]

Replacement players to appear in one game or more during the season included:

• New Zealand's Rosemary Mair played for the Melbourne Stars on 25 October and 17 November, replacing Katherine Brunt (managed).^{[34][35][36][37]} Mair also played five games for the Melbourne Renegades from 3–14 November, replacing Lea Tahuhu (side strain).^{[38][39][40][41][42][43]}
• New Zealand's Katie Perkins played for the Adelaide Strikers on 26 October, replacing Suzie Bates (shoulder).^[44][45]
• Gabby Sutcliffe played for the Sydney Thunder on 1 November, replacing Hannah Darlington (ankle/shin).^[46]
• New Zealand's Lauren Down played seven matches for the Perth Scorchers from 1–11 November, replacing Amy Jones (quad injury).^{[47][48][49][50][51][52][53][43][54]}
• Anna Lanning played three games for the Melbourne Stars from 10 to 22 November, replacing Georgia Gall (finger).^{[36][37][55][56][57][58]}
• Amy Yates played six games for the Melbourne Renegades from 14 to 22 November, replacing Georgia Wareham (shin).^{[59][43][60][61][62][63][64]}
• Rebecca Carter played one game for the Melbourne Renegades on 22 November, replacing Maitlan Brown (hamstring).^[59][65]

Leadership

Coaching changes made ahead of the season included:

• Shelley Nitschke was appointed head coach of the Perth Scorchers, replacing Lisa Keightley who departed to take on the role as coach of England.^[66][67][68]
• As part of Cricket Victoria's cost-cutting organisational restructure, the Melbourne Renegades did not renew the contract of head coach Tim Coyle despite achieving two consecutive finals appearances. Lachlan Stevens, who coached the Renegades in their first two seasons, was announced as Coyle's replacement.^{[69][70][71][72][73]}
• David Hemp parted ways with the Melbourne Stars and was initially replaced as head coach by Leah Poulton. However, a month after her appointment, Poulton resigned from the position to undertake the role of Head of Female Cricket at Cricket NSW. The Stars then announced Trent Woodhill would take over the top coaching job.^{[74][75][76][77][78]}

Captaincy changes made ahead of the season included:

• Jess Jonassen was appointed captain of the Brisbane Heat, replacing Kirby Short (34–19^[g] win–loss record) who retired from cricket at the end of WBBL|05.^[21][22]
• The Perth Scorchers appointed new recruit Sophie Devine as captain, replacing Meg Lanning (14–10).^[79][9]
• Amy Satterthwaite resumed her role as captain of the Melbourne Renegades, after Jess Duffin (7–7) stepped into the position for a season.^[12][80]
• Meg Lanning resumed her role as captain of the Melbourne Stars, taking over from Elyse Villani (2–12).^[81][18][82]

Captaincy changes made during the season included:

• Megan Schutt stood in as acting captain of the Adelaide Strikers for 13 games, replacing Suzie Bates who was sidelined with a shoulder injury.^[83]
• Beth Mooney stood in as acting captain of the Perth Scorchers for two games, replacing Sophie Devine who was sidelined with a back injury.^[84]

Points table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	NR	Pts	NRR
1	Melbourne Stars (RU)	14	8	3	3	19	0.965
2	Brisbane Heat	14	8	4	2	18	0.543
3	Sydney Thunder (C)	14	7	5	2	16	0.344
4	Perth Scorchers	14	6	6	2	14	0.355
5	Sydney Sixers	14	6	6	2	14	−0.084
6	Adelaide Strikers	14	6	7	1	13	0.135
7	Melbourne Renegades	14	4	8	2	10	−1.008
8	Hobart Hurricanes	14	3	9	2	8	−1.143

•   The top 4 teams advance to the knockout phase

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	Pos.
Adelaide Strikers (ADS)	HBH 8 wkts	SYS 9 wkts	SYT 58 runs	PRS N/R	MLS 7 wkts	BRH 18 runs	MLR 6 runs	MLS 5 wkts	BRH 14 runs	SYS 14 runs	HBH 64 runs	MLR 7 wkts	SYT 5 wkts	PRS 3 runs	X	X	6th
Brisbane Heat (BRH)	PRS 7 wkts	MLR N/R	HBH N/R	SYT 14 runs	SYS 24 runs	ADS 18 runs	MLS 23 runs	SYT 8 wkts	ADS 14 runs	HBH 10 wkts	SYS 3 wkts	PRS 4 wkts	MLS 3 wkts	MLR 43 runs	SYT 12 runs	X	2nd (SF)
Hobart Hurricanes (HBH)	ADS 8 wkts	PRS N/R	BRH N/R	MLS 8 wkts	MLR 9 wkts	SYS 9 runs	SYT 1 run	MLR 9 runs	SYS 9 wkts	BRH 10 wkts	ADS 64 runs	MLS 39 runs	PRS 10 wkts	SYT 6 wkts	X	X	8th
Melbourne Renegades (MLR)	MLS N/R	BRH N/R	PRS 18 runs	SYS 8 wkts	HBH 9 wkts	SYT 2 runs	ADS 6 runs	HBH 9 runs	PRS 9 wkts	MLS S/O	SYT 8 wkts	ADS 7 wkts	SYS 6 wkts	BRH 43 runs	X	X	7th
Melbourne Stars (MLS)	MLR N/R	SYT N/R	SYS N/R	HBH 8 wkts	ADS 7 wkts	PRS 8 wkts	BRH 23 runs	ADS 5 wkts	SYT 8 wkts	MLR S/O	PRS 6 runs	HBH 39 runs	BRH 3 wkts	SYS 5 wkts	PRS 7 wkts	SYT 7 wkts	1st (RU)
Perth Scorchers (PRS)	BRH 7 wkts	HBH N/R	MLR 18 runs	ADS N/R	SYT 24 runs	MLS 8 wkts	SYS 36 runs	SYS 5 wkts	MLR 9 wkts	SYT 34 runs	MLS 6 runs	BRH 4 wkts	HBH 10 wkts	ADS 3 runs	MLS 7 wkts	X	4th (SF)
Sydney Sixers (SYS)	SYT N/R	ADS 9 wkts	MLS N/R	MLR 8 wkts	BRH 24 runs	HBH 9 runs	PRS 36 runs	PRS 5 wkts	HBH 9 wkts	ADS 14 runs	BRH 3 wkts	SYT 4 runs	MLR 6 wkts	MLS 5 wkts	X	X	5th
Sydney Thunder (SYT)	SYS N/R	MLS N/R	ADS 58 runs	BRH 14 runs	PRS 24 runs	MLR 2 runs	HBH 1 run	BRH 8 wkts	MLS 8 wkts	PRS 34 runs	MLR 8 wkts	SYS 4 runs	ADS 5 wkts	HBH 6 wkts	BRH 12 runs	MLS 7 wkts	3rd (C)

Team's results→	Won	Tied	Lost	N/R

Last updated: 28 November 2020

Fixtures

Cricket Australia (CA) released the original fixture for WBBL|06 on 15 July 2020 with the stipulation that it was subject to any change that may be required as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[86] On 4 September, CA announced changes to the schedule which would see the tournament begin a week later, on October 25, and be played entirely in Sydney as a result of ongoing uncertainty surrounding state border restrictions.^[87]

On 25 September, CA released the revised schedule, confirming the five venues to be used for all regular season matches: North Sydney Oval, Hurstville Oval, Drummoyne Oval, Sydney Showground Stadium and Blacktown International Sportspark. CA also revealed it would create a "WBBL Village" in Sydney Olympic Park to accommodate players and staff from all eight teams for the duration of the tournament.^[88] As per all previous seasons, WBBL|06 consisted of a 56-match double round-robin, followed by a finals series featuring the top four qualifiers.^[89]

On 16 October, admission tickets were released to the public for all weekend games at North Sydney Oval and Sydney Showground Stadium, as well as Wednesday games at Blacktown International Sportspark. All matches held at Drummoyne Oval and Hurstville Oval would remain closed to the general public. CA also announced several minor scheduling changes to five fixtures: the opening day clash between the Renegades and the Stars swapped times and venues with the encounter between the Scorchers and the Heat; the times and venues of the 15 November Renegades–Stars and Hurricanes–Heat matches were altered; the start time of the Thunder–Scorchers match on 15 November was brought forward.^[90][91]

On 28 October, four additional changes to the fixture were announced. The Sixers–Heat and Thunder–Renegades games on 17 November, as well as the Strikers–Renegades and Thunder–Sixers games on 18 November, were moved to Sydney Showground Stadium, allowing the touring Indian men's team to utilise a bio-secure training environment at Blacktown International Sportspark. The rescheduled matches on 18 November would remain open to the public.^[92]

On 11 November, Cricket Australia announced the finals series would be played in prime time TV slots for the first occasion in the league's history. The semi-finals (on 25 and 26 November) and the final (on 28 November) were all scheduled at North Sydney Oval under lights. Additionally, a reserve day on 29 November was allocated in the event of weather preventing a result in the final's original fixture.^[93]

All times are local time

Week 1

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Week 2

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Week 3

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Week 4

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Week 5

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In front of a sold out reduced-capacity home crowd,^[97] the Sydney Sixers put on a 104-run opening partnership which came to an end during the 13th over when Alyssa Healy was stumped by Josie Dooley off the bowling of Molly Strano for 63. Two balls later, Ellyse Perry was dismissed for 37 by a spectacular diving catch from Courtney Webb, lauded as a contender for the best of the season.^[98][99] Marizanne Kapp (22 not out from 17 balls) and Erin Burns (19 off 11) helped the Sixers finish their innings with a total of 4/166.

On the first ball of the run chase, Lizelle Lee was dropped at backward point off the bowling of Perry. At just 3/70 in the 11th over, Webb joined Lee in the middle for the Melbourne Renegades to form a rapid 73-run stand from 33 deliveries. Sixers veteran Sarah Aley eventually broke through in the 16th over, removing Lee for 79 via a Burns catch in the outfield. Requiring 24 runs from the remaining 26 balls, Webb (46 not out off 28) saw the Renegades across the line with six wickets in hand inside the last over, mirroring her finishing heroics of a similarly tight encounter between the two teams in WBBL|05.^[100] The loss dramatically decreased the Sixers' chances of qualifying for finals heading into the final day of the regular season.^[101]

The match was also shrouded in controversy, and the outcome potentially affected, due to an "administration error" self-reported by the Sixers before the commencement of the second innings. Hayley Silver-Holmes, who had missed several previous games due to injury, was named in the team line-up despite not having yet been granted approval by the W/BBL Technical Committee to be added back into the official squad. Upon discovering the mistake, the Sixers ensured Silver-Holmes took no active part in the game and Maddy Darke replaced her as a substitute fielder, leaving them a bowler short in what was essentially a must-win game. Cricket Australia (CA) fined the Sixers $25,000 ($15,000 suspended for twelve months) with CA's Head of Integrity and Security stating that the breach, "while serious in nature," had a "reduced impact due to the Club's actions" during the game.^{[102][103][104]}

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Knockout phase

	Semifinals					Finals
	1	Melbourne Stars	3/127
	4	Perth Scorchers	8/125
						Melbourne Stars		9/86
						Sydney Thunder		3/87
	2	Brisbane Heat	131
	3	Sydney Thunder	6/143

Semi-finals

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Tammy Beaumont launched the Sydney Thunder off to a fast start with 27 runs from 20 deliveries, though she was brought undone by a Nicola Hancock slower ball during the last over of the powerplay. The Thunder struggled throughout the middle portion of the innings, especially troubled by Brisbane Heat bowlers Nadine de Klerk and Amelia Kerr who collectively managed economical figures of 3/30 from seven overs. Instead of choosing to bowl the 20th over herself, Heat captain Jess Jonassen turned to the medium pace of Delissa Kimmince to close out the innings. Thunder captain Rachael Haynes ensured a respectable total for her team, finishing on 48 not out, as Sydney scored 15 from the final over and set Brisbane a target of 144 for victory.

Thunder spinner Samantha Bates struck early in the run chase, bowling Grace Harris for six, before being hit for three consecutive boundaries in the fourth over by Georgia Redmayne. Soon after playing-and-missing three times in a row to Shabnim Ismail, Redmayne was caught for 25 by Haynes at mid-on off the bowling of Sammy-Jo Johnson. Promoted up the batting order to number three, de Klerk formed a steady partnership with Jonassen, putting on 46 runs together in little more than six overs. When Jonassen fell for 19 (caught-and-bowled by Hannah Darlington) the Heat required a manageable task of 64 runs from 52 balls with seven wickets in hand. In the following over, de Klerk was run out by a direct hit from Beaumont for a run-a-ball 27. Facing her first delivery, Laura Kimmince survived an extremely close call, playing a flighted Bates delivery on to leg stump—the ball, however, did not connect with enough force to dislodge the bails. Kimmince quickly took advantage of her luck, manically compiling 37 runs from her next 15 balls. Although her aggressive strokeplay led to a plummeting required run rate, she was involved in two running-between-the-wickets mix-ups which led to the run outs of Georgia Voll and Amelia Kerr, keeping the door ajar for a miraculous Sydney comeback.

On the last delivery of the 17th over, with the Brisbane Heat needing just 16 runs to win, Laura Kimmince attempted a high-risk reverse slog against Samantha Bates, only to miss the ball which deflected off her thigh before crashing into the stumps—the bails, this time, were sent airborne. Taking the ball in the 18th over, Hannah Darlington struck twice in two balls to put the Heat in the precarious position of needing 14 runs with only one wicket in hand. Sammy-Jo Johnson completed the Thunder's remarkable resurrection on the third ball of the 19th over, removing Delissa Kimmince for a golden duck via caught-and-bowled, sealing a twelve-run victory and cementing Sydney's spot in Saturday's final. Brisbane's sudden "horror"^[109] collapse consisted of losing six wickets for twelve runs, ultimately ending their seven-match winning streak and quest for a three-peat. Media outlets described the match and its unlikely outcome as "chaotic,"^[109] a "rollercoaster"^[110] and "one of the best comebacks in the WBBL's short history."^[111] Seven Network commentator Trent Copeland said "when Kimmince was flying you thought the game was gone," and Fox Cricket analyst Molly Strano commented "I don't think I've seen such massive swings in momentum in a game, ever."^[2]

Final

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From the first over of the match, the Melbourne Stars top-order was dominated by a "fiery"^[112] spell from Sydney Thunder pace bowler Shabnim Ismail, who regularly beat the bat of Elyse Villani and created two catching opportunities against Meg Lanning before dismissing both players for scores of one and 13 respectively. After being dropped on zero by Tammy Beaumont at point, as well as surviving a half-chance which Sammy-Jo Johnson put down at third man, Lanning's seven-ball battle with Ismail came to an end when she edged a seaming delivery through to wicket-keeper Tahlia Wilson at the start of the seventh over. Thunder captain Rachael Haynes was praised for "sensing the moment"^[113] by taking the tactical risk of persisting with Ismail, leading to Lanning's wicket which several media outlets described as the defining moment of the match: writing for The Sydney Morning Herald, Tom Decent said "this was the Thunder's night about a quarter of an hour into the contest,"^[3] while the Australian Associated Press suggested the "Stars' shot at a maiden title was realistically gone inside 37 balls."^[114]

Melbourne could not recover from their poor start to post a significant total, slumping further to 5/37 by the halfway mark of the first innings. Annabel Sutherland scored 20 from as many balls but, like Lanning, did not capitalise on two reprieves afforded to her by the Thunder's underwhelming performance in the field. Wickets continued to flow as every Sydney bowler picked up at least one each. Johnson, having opened the bowling with Ismail and proving similarly difficult to score against, finished with match-best figures of 2/11 off four overs which included claiming the wicket of Mignon du Preez via LBW during the powerplay. Katherine Brunt, ending the innings on 22 not out from 27 deliveries, ensured the Stars lasted the allotted 20 overs but their overall score of 9/86 was nevertheless the lowest-ever in a WBBL final.^[115]

In reply, Tammy Beaumont (16 off 15) and Rachel Trenaman (23 off 26) steadily opened the Thunder's innings, while experienced campaigners Heather Knight (26 not out) and Rachael Haynes (21 not out) completed the comfortable run chase through a flurry of boundaries. With a lofted drive over long-off that sailed for six, Knight hit the winning runs off the bowling of Alana King in the 14th over, clinching a seven-wicket victory with 38 balls remaining. The Sydney Thunder consequently claimed their second WBBL championship, having also won the inaugural title—only Haynes and Samantha Bates were members of both successful squads, the latter missing the WBBL|01 final due to a broken wrist injury sustained earlier in the tournament.^[116][117] The triumph also marked an individual three-peat for Sammy-Jo Johnson, who won the WBBL|04 and WBBL|05 titles with the Brisbane Heat before moving to the Thunder.^[118] Lauren Smith—making her fifth appearance in a WBBL final—earned a third Women's Big Bash League championship as well, having won the WBBL|02 and WBBL|03 titles with the Sydney Sixers.^[119]

A major talking point of the match surrounded the decision made by the Melbourne Stars at the bat flip.^{[120][121][122]} Stars captain Meg Lanning sent her own team in to bat first, a noticeable departure from the tactics she employed throughout the season. In fact, it was the first time a Lanning-led WBBL team would opt against chasing since the 2016–17 season. Explaining the shock choice, Lanning said: "We just thought our batting line-up was in really good form, and we thought we'd back ourselves in to get a decent score."^[121] Stars coach Trent Woodhill implied the decision was swayed by the Brisbane Heat's collapse under pressure two days earlier: "We also saw what happened with the Heat and the Thunder (semi-final) the other night."^[121] The following day, Woodhill added: "It was a sliding door moment. There's no regrets. It was a team decision."^[122]

Statistics

Highest totals

Team	Score	Against	Venue	Date
Sydney Thunder	6/190 (20 overs)	Adelaide Strikers	Sydney Showground Stadium	31 October 2020
Sydney Sixers	5/184 (18.4 overs)	Melbourne Stars	North Sydney Oval	22 November 2020
Perth Scorchers	4/183 (20 overs)	Sydney Sixers	Hurstville Oval	8 November 2020
Melbourne Stars	4/178 (19 overs)	Sydney Sixers	North Sydney Oval	22 November 2020
Melbourne Stars	9/177 (20 overs)	Brisbane Heat	North Sydney Oval	8 November 2020
Last Updated: 28 November 2020

Most runs

Player	Team	Mat	Inns	Runs	Ave	SR	HS	100	50
Beth Mooney	Perth Scorchers	14	14	551	55.10	117.73	75*	0	4
Meg Lanning	Melbourne Stars	15	14	493	41.08	127.72	77	0	6
Sophie Devine	Perth Scorchers	12	12	460	51.11	126.37	103	1	3
Heather Knight	Sydney Thunder	16	15	446	40.54	124.92	83	0	4
Alyssa Healy	Sydney Sixers	13	12	402	33.50	161.44	111	1	2
Last Updated: 28 November 2020

Most wickets

Player	Team	Mat	Inns	Wkts	Ave	Econ	BBI	SR
Sammy-Jo Johnson	Sydney Thunder	16	14	22	14.81	6.63	4/26	13.4
Hannah Darlington	Sydney Thunder	14	12	19	13.68	6.19	3/19	13.2
Nat Sciver	Melbourne Stars	14	12	19	15.89	6.71	4/29	14.2
Sarah Coyte	Adelaide Strikers	14	13	18	16.05	6.51	3/10	14.7
Samantha Bates	Sydney Thunder	16	14	18	16.77	5.94	3/9	16.9
Last Updated: 28 November 2020

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.	Player	Team	Votes
1st	Sophie Devine	Perth Scorchers	31
2nd	Meg Lanning	Melbourne Stars	29
3rd	Heather Knight	Sydney Thunder	28
=4th	Grace Harris	Brisbane Heat	22
=4th	Alyssa Healy	Sydney Sixers	22
=5th	Nat Sciver	Melbourne Stars	21
=5th	Mignon du Preez	Melbourne Stars	21

Source: ^[123]

Team of the tournament

The selection panel for the Team of the Tournament was made up of former players Lisa Sthalekar (Seven Network) and Mel Jones (Fox Cricket), cricket.com.au journalist Laura Jolly and national selector Shawn Flegler. The team is intended to mimic regular WBBL conditions such as a maximum of three overseas players, a realistic mix of batters and bowlers, as well as a captain, wicket-keeper, twelfth man and coach.

• Beth Mooney (Perth Scorchers) – wicket-keeper
• Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers)
• Meg Lanning (Melbourne Stars) – captain
• Heather Knight (Sydney Thunder)
• Nat Sciver (Melbourne Stars)
• Laura Kimmince (Brisbane Heat)
• Alana King (Melbourne Stars)
• Sarah Coyte (Adelaide Strikers)
• Hannah Darlington (Sydney Thunder)
• Taneale Peschel (Perth Scorchers)
• Samantha Bates (Sydney Thunder)
• Darcie Brown (Adelaide Strikers) – twelfth man
• Ashley Noffke (Brisbane Heat) – coach

Source: ^[124]

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 the Women's National Selection Panel based on match performance, on-field and off-field attitude, as well as their demonstration of skill, tenacity and good sportsmanship. The overall winner receives a $5000 cash prize and access to the Rebel Mentor Program, as well as becoming a member of the Rebel Women Program.^[123][125]

The nominees for the WBBL|06 Young Gun were:

• Week 1: Darcie Brown (Adelaide Strikers) – winner^[126]
• Week 2: Rachel Trenaman (Sydney Thunder)^[125]
• Week 3: Amy Smith (Hobart Hurricanes)^[127]
• Week 4: Courtney Webb (Melbourne Renegades)^[128]
• Week 5: Phoebe Litchfield (Sydney Thunder)^[129]

Adelaide Strikers fast bowler Darcie Brown took out the overall award, having claimed ten wickets in her debut season at an economy rate of 5.52 runs per over.^[123][129]

Most valuable players

Each team designated an award to adjudge and recognise their most outstanding contributor for the season.

• Adelaide Strikers: Sarah Coyte^[130]
• Brisbane Heat: Amelia Kerr^[131]
• Hobart Hurricanes: Rachel Priest^[132]
• Melbourne Renegades: Courtney Webb^[133]
• Melbourne Stars: Nat Sciver^[134]
• Perth Scorchers: Beth Mooney^[135]
• Sydney Sixers: Alyssa Healy^[136]
• Sydney Thunder: Heather Knight^[136]

"Player of the match" tally

The table below shows the number of Player of the Match awards won by each player throughout the season. The career tally indicates the number of awards won by a player throughout her entire time in the league at the conclusion of the season, including awards won while previously playing for a different WBBL team.

Player	Team	WBBL|06	Career
Sophie Devine	Perth Scorchers	5	20
Laura Kimmince	Brisbane Heat	3	4
Alyssa Healy	Sydney Sixers	3	15
Heather Knight	Sydney Thunder	3	7
Meg Lanning	Melbourne Stars	3	17
Nat Sciver	Melbourne Stars	3	6
Grace Harris	Brisbane Heat	2	8
Shabnim Ismail	Sydney Thunder	2	3
Sammy-Jo Johnson	Sydney Thunder	2	6
Georgia Redmayne	Brisbane Heat	2	2
Samantha Bates	Sydney Thunder	1	3
Katherine Brunt	Melbourne Stars	1	5
Erin Burns	Sydney Sixers	1	4
Nicola Carey	Hobart Hurricanes	1	4
Hannah Darlington	Sydney Thunder	1	1
Ashleigh Gardner	Sydney Sixers	1	4
Rachael Haynes	Sydney Thunder	1	4
Alana King	Melbourne Stars	1	3
Lizelle Lee	Melbourne Renegades	1	3
Carly Leeson	Melbourne Renegades	1	1
Katie Mack	Adelaide Strikers	1	3
Hayley Matthews	Hobart Hurricanes	1	5
Tegan McPharlin	Adelaide Strikers	1	1
Beth Mooney	Perth Scorchers	1	17
Madeline Penna	Adelaide Strikers	1	1
Ellyse Perry	Sydney Sixers	1	17
Georgia Prestwidge	Brisbane Heat	1	1
Rachel Priest	Hobart Hurricanes	1	6
Annabel Sutherland	Melbourne Stars	1	1
Stafanie Taylor	Adelaide Strikers	1	9
Courtney Webb	Melbourne Renegades	1	2
Amanda-Jade Wellington	Adelaide Strikers	1	1
Laura Wolvaardt	Adelaide Strikers	1	1

Media coverage

Television coverage of the competition increased from previous seasons with the Seven Network broadcasting (and Fox Cricket simulcasting) 24 games, up from the 23 that were aired in WBBL|05. The remaining 35 games were streamed on Cricket Australia's website and app. All 59 matches were also available to watch live and on-demand via Kayo. On 15 October, CA announced Fox Cricket would broadcast an additional twelve matches—the mid-week fixtures at Blacktown International Sportspark—bringing the total number of televised WBBL|06 games to 36.^[137]

See also

• 2020–21 Big Bash League season

Notes

References

External links

• Official fixtures
• Series home at ESPN Cricinfo