| Women's National Cricket League | |
| Country: | Australia |
| Administrator: | Cricket Australia |
| Cricket Format: | Limited overs cricket (50 overs) |
| First: | 1996–97 |
| Last: | 2023–24 |
| Tournament Format: | Round-robin tournament and final |
| Participants: | 7 |
| Champions: | Tasmania (3rd title) |
| Most Successful: | New South Wales Breakers (20 titles) |
| Website: | WNCL |
| Current: | 2023–24 Women's National Cricket League season |
The Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) is the national domestic 50-over competition for women's cricket in Australia.[1] Featuring seven teams—one from every state, plus the Australian Capital Territory—each season's winner is awarded the Ruth Preddy Cup. New South Wales have historically dominated the competition, appearing in the first 24 title deciders and winning 20 championships. The streak of final appearances was broken in the 2020–21 season when they finished in fourth place.[2] Tasmania are the current champions, having won the past three titles from 2021–22 to 2023–24.
Beginning in 1996–97, the WNCL replaced the Australian Women's Cricket Championships which had taken place in a two-week tournament format since 1930–31.[3] In conjunction with its Twenty20 counterparts—the more recently established Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup and its high-profile successor, the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL)—the league is cited as a bedrock foundation for developing the standard of women's cricket in the country, helping to produce world-class talent as well as attracting top international players.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] In particular, it is considered a crucial platform for Australia's finest young cricketers to further develop their skills and strive for national team selection.[9]
The WNCL has experienced a rising level of professionalism since its inception, though the most notable breakthrough occurred in 2017 when the Australian Cricketers' Association negotiated a watershed deal with Cricket Australia to expand the total female payment pool from $7.5 million to $55.2 million.[10] [11] [12] [13]
The tournament features seven teams, with matches played across Australia at a combination of bigger venues including the WACA Ground in Perth and Blundstone Arena in Hobart, as well as smaller grounds including CitiPower Centre in Melbourne and Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide.
Originally a five-team competition, the league was expanded to include the Australian Capital Territory in 2009–10 and Tasmania in 2010–11.[14] [15] Cricket ACT fields a team in the league despite being a non-member association of Cricket Australia.[16] [17]
| Team | Nickname | Home ground | First season | Titles won | Runners-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | Meteors | EPC Solar Park | 2009–10 | 0 | 0 | |
| New South Wales | Breakers | North Sydney Oval | 1996–97 | 20 | 4 | |
| Queensland | Fire | Allan Border Field | 1996–97 | 1 | 5 | |
| South Australia | SA | Karen Rolton Oval | 1996–97 | 1 | 5 | |
| Tasmania | Tigers | Blundstone Arena | 2010–11 | 2 | 0 | |
| Victoria | Vics | CitiPower Centre | 1996–97 | 2 | 11 | |
| Western Australia | WA | WACA Ground | 1996–97 | 1 | 2 | |
| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Most runs | Most wickets | Player of the Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | New South Wales | Victoria | Zoe Goss (VIC) – 629[18] | Jo Garey (NSW) – 15[19] | Zoe Goss (VIC) | |
| 1997–98 | New South Wales | South Australia | Belinda Clark (NSW) – 611[20] | Karen Rolton (SA) – 14[21] | Belinda Clark (NSW) | |
| 1998–99 | New South Wales | Victoria | Karen Rolton (SA) – 435 | Cathryn Fitzpatrick (VIC) – 14 | Belinda Clark (NSW) | |
| 1999–00 | New South Wales | Western Australia | Lisa Keightley (NSW) – 406 | Lisa Sthalekar (NSW) – 15 | Lisa Keightley (NSW) | |
| 2000–01 | New South Wales | Queensland | Karen Rolton (SA) – 492 | Emma Liddell (NSW) – 17 | Karen Rolton (SA) | |
| 2001–02 | New South Wales | Victoria | Karen Rolton (SA) – 509 | Bronwyn Calver (NSW) – 18 | Karen Rolton (SA) | |
| 2002–03 | Victoria | New South Wales | Karen Rolton (SA) – 468 | Cathryn Fitzpatrick (VIC) – 17 | Karen Rolton (SA) | |
| 2003–04 | New South Wales | Victoria | Belinda Clark (VIC) – 622 | Cathryn Fitzpatrick (VIC) – 18 | Belinda Clark (VIC) | |
| 2004–05 | Victoria | New South Wales | Belinda Clark (VIC) – 397 | Julie Hayes (NSW) – 19 | Karen Rolton (SA) | |
| 2005–06 | New South Wales | Queensland | Karen Rolton (SA) – 553 | Emma Liddell (NSW) – 19 | Karen Rolton (SA) | |
| 2006–07 | New South Wales | Victoria | Kate Blackwell (NSW) – 363 | Cathryn Fitzpatrick (VIC) – 25 | Melissa Bulow (QLD) | |
| 2007–08 | New South Wales | South Australia | Karen Rolton (SA) – 384[22] | Renee Chappell[23] (WA) – 14 | Lisa Sthalekar (NSW) | |
| 2008–09 | New South Wales | Victoria | Karen Rolton (SA) – 431[24] | Erin Osborne (NSW) – 15 | Alex Blackwell (NSW) | |
| 2009–10 | New South Wales | Victoria | Karen Rolton (SA) – 498 | Ellyse Perry (NSW) – 22 | Sarah Elliott (VIC) | |
| 2010–11 | New South Wales | Victoria | Kris Britt (ACT) – 297 | Ellyse Perry (NSW) – 13 | Kris Britt (ACT) | |
| 2011–12 | New South Wales | Victoria | Rachael Haynes (NSW) – 402 | Lisa Sthalekar (NSW) – 15 | Poulton, Sthalekar (NSW) | |
| 2012–13 | New South Wales | Queensland | Meg Lanning (VIC) – 509 | Jude Coleman (QLD) – 18 | Bolton (WA), Lanning (VIC) | |
| 2013–14 | New South Wales | Victoria | Nicole Bolton (WA) – 371 | Kristen Beams (VIC) – 14 | Nicole Bolton (WA) | |
| 2014–15 | New South Wales | South Australia | Meg Lanning (VIC) – 440 | Amanda-Jade Wellington (SA) – 12 | Jess Jonassen (QLD) | |
| 2015–16 | South Australia | New South Wales | Ellyse Perry (NSW) – 403 | Megan Schutt (SA) – 14 | Ellyse Perry (NSW) | |
| 2016–17 | New South Wales | Queensland | Meg Lanning (VIC) – 359 | Molly Strano (VIC) – 13 | Meg Lanning (VIC) | |
| 2017–18 | New South Wales | Western Australia | Ellyse Perry (NSW) – 372 | Rene Farrell (NSW) – 16 | Rachael Haynes (NSW) | |
| 2018–19 | New South Wales | Queensland | Heather Graham (WA) – 294 | Rene Farrell (NSW) – 17 | Georgia Redmayne (TAS) | |
| 2019–20 | Western Australia | New South Wales | Nicole Bolton (WA) – 436 | Rene Farrell (NSW) – 21 | Nicole Bolton (WA) | |
| 2020–21 | Queensland | Victoria | Elyse Villani (VIC) – 611 | Molly Strano (VIC) – 14 | Elyse Villani (VIC) | |
| 2021–22 | Tasmania | South Australia | Courtney Webb (SA) – 367 | Samantha Bates (VIC) – 16 | Erin Osborne (ACT) | |
| 2022–23 | Tasmania | South Australia | Elyse Villani (TAS) – 705 | Sarah Coyte (TAS) – 30 | Courtney Webb (SA) | |
| 2023–24 | Tasmania | Queensland | Nicola Carey (TAS) - 696 | Grace Parsons (QLD) - 20 | Nicola Carey (TAS) |
From the inaugural season through to 2006–07, the two top-ranked teams on the points table at the conclusion of the regular season would go on to compete in a best-of-three finals series to determine a champion.[27] Dead rubbers were played out in the first two seasons, though such a practice was discontinued thereafter.
| Season | Final | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings | Result | Player of the Finals | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97[28] | Match 1 Scorecard | Victoria 7/211 (50 overs) | New South Wales 7/214 (49.3 overs) | New South Wales won by 3 wickets New South Wales led the series, 1–0 | Sally Griffiths (New South Wales) | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney, NSW |
| Match 2 Scorecard | Victoria 8/161 (50 overs) | New South Wales 5/162 (49.1 overs) | New South Wales won by 5 wickets New South Wales led the series, 2–0 | |||
| Match 3 Scorecard | Victoria 7/208 (50 overs) | New South Wales 3/210 (44 overs) | New South Wales won by 7 wickets New South Wales won the series, 3–0 | |||
| 1997–98 | Match 1 Scorecard | South Australia 8/146 (50 overs) | New South Wales 4/147 (42.1 overs) | New South Wales won by 6 wickets New South Wales led the series, 1–0 | Belinda Clark (New South Wales) | Albert Park Melbourne, VIC |
| Match 2 Scorecard | South Australia 8/214 (50 overs) | New South Wales 6/215 (48.3 overs) | New South Wales won by 4 wickets New South Wales led the series, 2–0 | |||
| Match 3 Scorecard | New South Wales 5/223 (50 overs) | South Australia 8/215 (50 overs) | New South Wales won by 8 runs New South Wales won the series, 3–0 | |||
| 1998–99 | Match 1 Scorecard | New South Wales 6/153 (50 overs) | Victoria 146 (48.2 overs) | New South Wales won by 7 runs New South Wales led the series, 1–0 | Terry McGregor[29] (New South Wales) | Princes Park Melbourne, VIC |
| Match 2 Scorecard | New South Wales 114 (45 overs) | Victoria 113 (47.3 overs) | New South Wales won by 1 run New South Wales won the series, 2–0 | |||
| 1999–00 | Match 1 Scorecard | New South Wales 4/154 (30 overs) | Western Australia 135 (29.4 overs) | New South Wales won by 19 runs New South Wales led the series, 1–0 | Terry McGregor[30] (New South Wales) | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney, NSW |
| Match 2 Scorecard | Western Australia 7/218 (50 overs) | New South Wales 7/219 (50 overs) | New South Wales won by 3 wickets New South Wales won the series, 2–0 | |||
| 2000–01 | Match 1 Scorecard | New South Wales 5/234 (50 overs) | Queensland 201 (48.3 overs) | New South Wales won by 33 runs New South Wales led the series, 1–0 | Emma Liddell (New South Wales) | Bankstown Oval Sydney, NSW |
| Match 2 Scorecard | Queensland 137 (49.3 overs) | New South Wales 3/138 (34 overs) | New South Wales won by 7 wickets New South Wales won the series, 2–0 | |||
| 2001–02 | Match 1 Scorecard | Victoria 133 (50 overs) | New South Wales 3/134 (42 overs) | New South Wales won by 7 wickets New South Wales led the series, 1–0 | Lisa Sthalekar (New South Wales) | Bankstown Oval Sydney, NSW |
| Match 2 Scorecard | Victoria 9/186 (50 overs) | New South Wales 6/187 (49.4 overs) | New South Wales won by 4 wickets New South Wales won the series, 2–0 | |||
| 2002–03 | Match 1 Scorecard | New South Wales 6/200 (50 overs) | Victoria 7/203 (50 overs) | Victoria won by 3 wickets Victoria led the series, 1–0 | Belinda Clark (Victoria) | Melbourne Cricket Ground Melbourne, VIC |
| Match 2 Scorecard | Victoria 181 (50 overs) | New South Wales 141 (47.3 overs) | Victoria won by 40 runs Victoria won the series, 2–0 | |||
| 2003–04 | Match 1 Scorecard | New South Wales 128 (45.1 overs) | Victoria 4/129 (48.3 overs) | Victoria won by 6 wickets Victoria led the series, 1–0 | Belinda Clark (Victoria) | Melbourne Cricket Ground Melbourne, VIC |
| Match 2 Scorecard | Victoria 8/162 (50 overs) | New South Wales 5/163 (48 overs) | New South Wales won by 5 wickets Series level, 1–1 | |||
| Match 3 Scorecard | Victoria 4/217 (50 overs) | New South Wales 7/218 (48.4 overs) | New South Wales won by 3 wickets New South Wales won the series, 2–1 | |||
| 2004–05 | Match 1 Scorecard | New South Wales 3/200 (50 overs) | Victoria 179 (49.1 overs) | New South Wales won by 21 runs New South Wales led the series, 1–0 | Julie Hayes[31] (New South Wales) | Bankstown Oval Sydney, NSW |
| Match 2 Scorecard | New South Wales 71 (43.4 overs) | Victoria 5/72 (39.1 overs) | Victoria won by 5 wickets Series level, 1–1 | |||
| Match 3 Scorecard | Victoria 6/159 (50 overs) | New South Wales 109 (43.4 overs) | Victoria won by 50 runs Victoria won the series, 2–1 | |||
| 2005–06 | Match 1 Scorecard | Queensland 174 (48 overs) | New South Wales 2/175 (37.4 overs) | New South Wales won by 8 wickets New South Wales led the series, 1–0 | Jude Coleman[32] (Queensland) | North Sydney Oval Sydney, NSW |
| Match 2 Scorecard | New South Wales 154 (50 overs) | Queensland 7/155 (45.1 overs) | Queensland won by 3 wickets Series level, 1–1 | |||
| Match 3 Scorecard | New South Wales 146 (48.4 overs) | Queensland 144 (47.2 overs) | New South Wales won by 2 runs New South Wales won the series, 2–1 | |||
| 2006–07 | Match 1 Scorecard | Victoria 136 (46.3 overs) | New South Wales 9/137 (48.4 overs) | New South Wales won by 1 wicket New South Wales led the series, 1–0 | Cathryn Fitzpatrick (Victoria) | Central Reserve Melbourne, VIC |
| Match 2 Scorecard | New South Wales 144 (49 overs) | Victoria 2/146 (43.2 overs) | Victoria won by 8 wickets Series level, 1–1 | |||
| Match 3 Scorecard | Victoria 7/205 (50 overs) | New South Wales 7/206 (48.4 overs) | New South Wales won by 3 wickets New South Wales won the series, 2–1 |
Coinciding with the introduction of the Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup, the WNCL finals series was reduced to a single match from onward. However, the 2012–13 and 2014–15 seasons utilised an extended four-team playoffs system which included knockout semi-finals.[33] [34]
| Season | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings | Result | Player of the Final | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | New South Wales vs. South Australia Match abandoned due to rain | No result New South Wales were declared champions | N/A | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney, NSW | ||
| 2008–09 | Victoria 117 (44.5 overs) | New South Wales 4/120 (34.2 overs) | New South Wales won by 6 wickets Scorecard | Ellyse Perry (New South Wales) | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney, NSW | |
| 2009–10 | New South Wales 9/206 (50 overs) | Victoria 147 (39.1 overs) | New South Wales won by 59 runs Scorecard | Erin Osborne[35] (New South Wales) | Melbourne Cricket Ground Melbourne, VIC | |
| 2010–11 | Victoria 263 (48.5 overs) | New South Wales 2/193 (34.1 overs) | New South Wales won by 49 runs Scorecard | Alex Blackwell (New South Wales) | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney, NSW | |
| 2011–12 | New South Wales 7/310 (50 overs) | Victoria 240 (41.4 overs) | New South Wales won by 70 runs Scorecard | Rachael Haynes (New South Wales) | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney, NSW | |
| 2012–13 | Queensland 7/232 (50 overs) | New South Wales 4/135 (27 overs) | New South Wales won by 15 runs Scorecard | Jodie Fields[36] (Queensland) | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney, NSW | |
| 2013–14 | Victoria 9/111 (20 overs) | New South Wales 3/114 (18.5 overs) | New South Wales won by 7 wickets Scorecard | Rachael Haynes (New South Wales) | North Sydney Oval Sydney, NSW | |
| 2014–15 | New South Wales 4/279 (50 overs) | South Australia 135 (44.5 overs) | New South Wales won by 144 runs Scorecard | Rachael Haynes (New South Wales) | Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney, NSW | |
| 2015–16 | South Australia 7/264 (50 overs) | New South Wales 210 (46 overs) | South Australia won by 54 runs Scorecard | Sarah Taylor (South Australia) | Hurstville Oval Sydney, NSW | |
| 2016–17 | Queensland 119 (41.1 overs) | New South Wales 1/123 (24 overs) | New South Wales won by 9 wickets Scorecard | Rene Farrell (New South Wales) | Allan Border Field Brisbane, QLD | |
| 2017–18 | New South Wales 6/302 (50 overs) | Western Australia 251 (47.2 overs) | New South Wales won by 51 runs Scorecard | Alyssa Healy (New South Wales) | Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney, NSW | |
| 2018–19 | New South Wales 7/259 (50 overs) | Queensland 228 (47.2 overs) | New South Wales won by 31 runs Scorecard | Nicola Carey (New South Wales) | North Sydney Oval Sydney, NSW | |
| 2019–20 | Western Australia 231 (50 overs) | New South Wales 189 (49.5 overs) | Western Australia won by 42 runs Scorecard | Nicole Bolton (Western Australia) | North Sydney Oval Sydney, NSW | |
| 2020–21 | Queensland 8/317 (50 overs) | Victoria 205 (42.4 overs) | Queensland won by 112 runs Scorecard | Georgia Redmayne (Queensland) | Junction Oval Melbourne, VIC | |
| 2021–22 | South Australia 8/242 (50 overs) | Tasmania 1/245 (47.4 overs) | Tasmania won by 9 wickets Scorecard | Elyse Villani (Tasmania) | Blundstone Arena Hobart, TAS | |
| 2022–23 | Tasmania 264 (50 overs) | South Australia 241 (47 overs) | Tasmania won by 1 run Scorecard | Sarah Coyte (Tasmania) | Blundstone Arena Hobart, TAS | |
| 2023–24 | Queensland 7/248 (50 overs) | Tasmania 4/249(47.4 overs) | Tasmania won by 6 wickets Scorecard | Nicola Carey (Tasmania) | WACA Perth, WA | |
Legend
C = Champions; RU = Runners-up; SF = Semi-finalists; 1st/2nd/3rd/4th/5th/6th/7th = Ladder position after regular season|-! 1996–97 !! 1997–98 !! 1998–99 !! 1999–00 !! 2000–01 !! 2001–02 !! 2002–03 !! 2003–04 !! 2004–05 !! 2005–06 !! 2006–07 !! 2007–08 !! 2008–09 !! 2009–10 !! 2010–11 !! 2011–12 !! 2012–13 !! 2013–14 !! 2014–15 !! 2015–16 !! 2016–17 !! 2017–18 !! 2018–19 !! 2019–20 !! 2020–21 !! 2021–22 !! 2022–23|-align=center| style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || 3rd || 3rd || 3rd || 5th || 6th || 5th || 4th || 5th || 4th || 4th || 5th || 6th || 4th || 7th|- align=center| style="background:lime;"|2nd (C) || style="background:lime;"|2nd (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || style="background:lime;"|2nd (C) || style="background:yellow;"|1st (RU) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:lime;"|2nd (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:lime;"|2nd (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:lime;"|4th (C) || style="background:yellow;"|1st (RU) || style="background:lime;"|2nd (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:yellow;"|1st (RU) || 4th || 3rd || 6th|-align=center| 5th || 4th || 4th || 4th || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || 4th || 4th || 5th || 4th || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || 3rd || 5th || 4th || 5th || 6th || 5th || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || 5th || style="background:#afeeee;"|2nd (SF) || 3rd || style="background:yellow;"|1st (RU) || 5th || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || 3rd || style="background:lime;"|2nd (C) || 5th || 3rd|-align=center| 3rd || style="background:yellow;"|1st (RU) || 3rd || 5th || 3rd || 3rd || 3rd || 3rd || 3rd || 3rd || 4th || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || 5th || 6th || 5th || 4th || 6th || 4th || style="background:yellow;"|3rd (RU) || style="background:lime;"|2nd (C) || 4th || 3rd || 7th || 7th || 5th || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU)|-align=center| style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || style="background:darkgray;"| || 7th || 6th || 7th || 7th || 6th || 7th || 6th || 7th || 3rd || 6th || 3rd || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C)|-align=center| style="background:yellow;"|1st (RU) || 3rd || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || 3rd || 5th || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || style="background:lime;"|1st (C) || style="background:yellow;"|1st (RU) || style="background:lime;"|2nd (C) || 4th || style="background:yellow;"|1st (RU) || 4th || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || style="background:yellow;"|1st (RU) || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || style="background:#afeeee;"|3rd (SF) || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || style="background:#afeeee;"|1st (SF) || 5th || 3rd || 6th || 5th || 4th || style="background:yellow;"|1st (RU) || 6th || 4th|-align=center| 4th || 5th || 5th || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || 4th || 5th || 5th || 4th || 5th || 5th || 5th || 3rd || 3rd || 4th || 4th || 7th || style="background:#afeeee;"|4th (SF) || 3rd || 7th || 6th || 7th || style="background:yellow;"|2nd (RU) || 6th || style="background:lime;"|2nd (C) || 7th || 7th || 5th