Cricketers from outside the major cricket playing nations may get chance to play in WBBL © Getty Images
Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) has come up with Associate Rookie Program (ARP). The idea was put forward by ICC and Cricket Australia. Cricketers from outside the major cricket playing nations will get a chance to play in the league as per this program. Players from Ireland, China, Netherland, Scotland, Thailand and a few other nations will play in WBBL Associate Rookie Program matches. These players will be nominated from ICC Women’s World T20 Qualifier tournament. It needs to be mentioned here that Big Bash League (BBL) Community Rookie Program (CRP) was a grand success. WBBL Asscoiate Rookie Program is based on the same idea. READ: Indian cricketers likely to feature in Cricket Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League
Cricket Australia’s Senior Manager of Team Performance and ICC Women’s Committee member Belinda Clark were quoted by icc-cricket.com saying, “As a Full Member nation Cricket Australia has a commitment to ensure the growth of cricket around the world. We are committed to developing cricket not only in our own backyard, but also internationally. The WBBL and its clubs are excited to work with the ICC to help broaden the game’s reach in non-traditional cricket markets. With the WBBL clubs having already secured the signatures of a number of highly credentialed Australian and international players, the Rookies will have the opportunity to train alongside and learn from the world’s best players. The program will also assist WBBL clubs in gauging talent of female players outside of traditional strongholds, potentially opening up a wider talent pool from which to recruit future WBBL squads.” Women’s Big Bash League 2015: Jess Jonassen and Grace Harris sign up for Brisbane Heat
Tim Anderson, ICC Head of Global Development said: “The development of women’s cricket is fundamental to our sport’s global growth. The ICC is therefore delighted to be partnering with Cricket Australia on this initiative that will not only provide a great opportunity for the best female players from our Associate and Affiliate Members, but also demonstrates the more integrated approach the international community is taking to developing cricket around the world.”
Meanwhile Alex Blackwell, Sydney Thunder skipper said, “At the ICC EAP [East Asia Pacific] trophy held in Japan in 2014 I had the privilege to spend a week with Samoa, Japan, PNG, Cook Islands and Vanuatu. These nations play with such passion and with their own individual flare. Their players are elite athletes doing their best to be their best despite limited resources. I know all the players selected for these WBBL placements will soak up the experience and take what they learn back to help their national teams”